experienced GSD owner confused

[shepherdmom]

Hi all,

Things have calmed down somewhat with our new girl. She is starting to accept my husband. He is as many of you suggested ignoring her unless he is feeding her. Her barking sessions with him dont last near as long or seem as upset. It is more and more like she is trying to talk with him. He is now starting to respond to her a little bit and she seems like it. To be honest she reminds me of a kid throwing a temper tantrum. She is learning sit and down but it is still very much on her terms.

I've got to say I'm quit a bit upset with the person we got her from. I was told originally she was two. When I picked her up I asked her birthday and was told August which would make her 14 almost 15 months, but I have serious doubts this little girl is that old. She is chewing everything in sight. As she is the grandniece of my old man I know the size her lines get. She is not even 50 lbs. My old guy is 98lbs and his brother was 96lbs. She has destroyed several balls, a snugga tugga and a pair of houseslippers. I do know she has been through heat once. My vet has been closed over the holiday so I haven't been able to get her seen yet, but I'm wondering if anyone knows how long teething last because the more time we spend with her the more her actions convince us that she is still just a puppy.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Here's a link to your previous thread in case people aren't familiar with the story: experienced GSD owner needs help

Teething is usually going to happen in the 4-6 month old range, so unless she was born in August of 2011 she should be well past the teething age. That doesn't mean she's going to be past the chewing phase though, I've had dogs that were never destructive chewers, even as a puppy, I've had some that were bad for the first year or year and a half and then outgrew it, and I"ve had others (Halo!!!) who still chew well into adulthood.

[gagsd]

I have had dogs that really chewed on things until 2-3 years of age.

[Freestep]

Some dogs are just aggressive chewers forever--don't think chewing is limited to the teething stage! I sometimes board a GSDx who is about 3 or 4 years old now, and I have to put up everything within his reach or it will be chewed. I can't even put a bed in his kennel--he's eaten every kind of bed I've tried. Now he just eats the doghouse.

[shepherdmom]

This is different. It's like she is having to chew everything testing it out. It may still be nerves being new with us. She is making great progress taking turkey from my husband without even a growl tonight. She is very curious and just watching everything from her kennel when he is home.

[Rott-n-GSDs]

My Rottweiler is a chewer: he wants to destroy everything. He is 3 years old, and I highly doubt he will outgrow it.

My male GSD is a "nervous chewer." He never destroys things, just picks them up and chew chew chew (particularly if they squeak... he'll squeak toys FOREVER if he's nervous/excited). He is 4 years old and again, will not outgrow the behavior.

Your vet will be able to give you an approximate age of the dog. If she's gone through a heat cycle, I highly doubt she's still in a "teething" stage.

[shepherdmom]

We have a vet appointment Monday to get her a Rabies shot and to find out how soon we can get her spayed. She went after one of my tennis shoes this morning, but I filled a kong with the kong stuff and now she is happily trying to get to that. LOL

I think things are going to be ok. She is still scared of my husband but the growls are going away. He fed her some more turkey breast last night with not a single growl. Also when she started barking in her Kennel my husband told her hush now, and she layed right down for him. Will still keep her kenneled for a while until she is totally solid with him but things are looking up.

[ken k]

shes sounds like she might be a "power chewer", get her a nyla bone, she might like that

[shepherdmom]

Are Nyla Bones safe for GS dogs? I've heard horror stories about plastic getting stuck internally and emergency surgery. Big Beef Marrow bones from the butcher, have always worked well for my big doggies (supervised only).

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

You can get her a big old elk antler too.

Ever see someone chewing ice? Lots of theories for it but a lot of time it's a nerve thing/nervous energy. I have a feeling she's doing it for these reasons too.

There are a lot of good websites and resources available - like the Shy K9 group on Yahoo. Check that out - you will find lots in the archives.

ETA - I am going to combine your threads - it helps to keep everything in one place.