I have had GSD's in my life for most of my life....i raised one before this puppy from a 3 month old pup, to an 11.5 year old senior...13 years ago...she died last year.....i didnt have the internet and i did what in todays standards would be ALL wrong.
I bought her at a pet store...
I fed her Iams her whole life..from puppy to senior for LB/Milk Bones
I trained her without classes.....
I exercised her when i could and weather permitting/or she went in the yard.
She went through her crazy pup stages, but nothing like im dealing with now.
Her ears were perfect...she had an amazing patient personality...loved everyone and everything...from kids to cats to hamsters...and people, loved people.
She was the best and i miss her every day...
Fast Forward...we brought Abbey home last June at 8 weeks...from a breeder....
We feed her Nutro Ultra puppy....LB adult switching over currently
Nutro biscuits...plenty of chew toys/balls....exercise...walks/dog park at least once a week...puppy classes at Petsmart...which she passed beginner...failed intermediate....because she wouldnt pay attention and threw tantrums, tail spinning/chasing...she attacks my 11 year old Eskimo who looks at me like, were you nuts when you got this dog kind of look
her ears are soft, which im not afraid to admit drive me nuts....we take her in the car...to stores etc...i come to these forums to educate myself because it has been years since i dealt with a teen GSD...
Trainer at petsmart tells me, who i love....as everyone else has, she is afraid of her own shadow...she has separation anxiety in public with me...or at home come to think of it...she howls and barks like someone is killing her if i walk away from her...she is a "little" better about meeting new dogs but its usually a disaster that i keep her separate at the dog park, i keep her in the small dog area so she can sniff out the other dogs first so there isnt an issue....she is crazy strong, i dont want injuries at the dog park...she barks at stupid things like mystery sounds, balloons, the lamp anything that might make a subtle move. Trainer also going to put me in touch with a woman who trains untrainable GSD's on a farm close to me.
She is sweet at home, loves people after they have come in the door...she sits for me when i come in, because i have done it all, the ignore, turning my body, not paying attention to her..and it has worked to a degree...she attacks my mother when she comes in where i have to put her away while we eat etc...if she is over....i now have to leash her at night to the couch...so i can let the eskimo hang out in the LR with us as we watch TV etc, we returned her to the spot we wanted her to sit and stay in at least 35 ( we took turns it went on forever)...times last night before she got it because all she wants to do is attack the little guy...he is 20lbs...he snaps at her and tries to show her some manners, and she doesnt get it...it snagged her nose a couple of times and she goes in for more....she doesnt care about anything when she wants what she wants......
Please dont point me in the direction of another thread...really need solid advice how to move forward...i dont want to resent this dog...i know she is young...but i dont remember it being like this with the other dog, then the trainer tells me it might be bad breeding..she has seen 3 other GSD's in her classes with the same issues?...what the heck...i did my HW...i have the computer, and its all going south, and fast...my husband is frustrated...im frustrated, however we do remain calm and assertive, we get like all Cesar Milan on her..but its seems she needs his rehabilitation center, like sending her into a pack of dogs that know how to act, because at times it seems she doesnt have a clue...we are trying so hard to do it all right, its turning out all wrong.
we are in central NJ....
any and all suggestions would be great.
Lorraine
please dont get the wrong idea, i love this dog very much, and im not trying to replace the other dog...i have kids as well....older, but i have them...cant compare i get it trust me....but, this one has an extra hard head, but i also dont want her to live in her crate, and i dont want my eskimo to live in our finished basement for the rest of his life.