New first-time GSD owner, couple questions

[branclau]

Hope this is the right section to post....

I just bought a 7 month old GSD from an owner who was injured at work and hadn't received workman's comp for 3 months, so financially couldn't take care of the dog, Titus. Titus is already about 70 pounds and is house trained, they kept him indoors a lot. He is fairly calm for a pup, but we are keeping him mostly outside at the moment(until my wife is more comfortable with him, and with a 6 month old baby in the house, until we learn him better). So he barks right outside the door a lot. Do you think this is most likely because he wants to be inside? What type of corrective action could I do to lessen the barking? He will bark a lot at things going on outside the yard, but I don't have the chance to correct him, because he stops as soon I go outside and puts his attention on me.

He also tends to nip, but only at your hands when you put them close. But it's more like he thinks you have a treat in your hand it seems. I know treats are important in training, but could this be a "side effect" of that? And how should I work with him on not doing that. It's never enough to hurt or anything, but with kids, I don't want it coming to that, or where what doesn't hurt me, hurts them.

One more question, and I know there's lots of opinions, but what intermediate priced dry food do you recommend?

Thanks for all the advice in advance! I'm excited about my GSD and hope to learn a lot here.

Brandon

[Konotashi]

I have no advice for the nipping, but as for the barking, he's probably doing it because he wants to be inside with his family. GSDs are very family-oriented dogs and don't do well when they're outside by themselves. They get bored and lonely quickly.

I feed Taste of the Wild, and Ozzy does excellent on it. It's grain free and good quality, especially for the price.

[branclau]

Originally Posted by Konotashi

I have no advice for the nipping, but as for the barking, he's probably doing it because he wants to be inside with his family. GSDs are very family-oriented dogs and don't do well when they're outside by themselves. They get bored and lonely quickly.

I feed Taste of the Wild, and Ozzy does excellent on it. It's grain free and good quality, especially for the price.

That's what I'm thinking about the barking. I do let him in when the wife isn't home and he does fine. The wife is just timid around big dogs, so need to do some training with her to get her comfortable, lol

[Jack's Dad]

Since you just got him, you do need to be careful around the baby. You don't know how he will act yet. He needs time to get used to your home and rules.

[Dooney's Mom]

Ya he is barking cause he wants to be in the house with you- can you get your wife to allow him in the house if you keep him on a leash away from the baby? when i was introducing dooney to my nephew i kept her on the leash at first. Your wife/baby will never get used to him if he is outside.

I also feed taste of the wild

Congrats on your new pup!

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by branclau

So he barks right outside the door a lot. Do you think this is most likely because he wants to be inside?

Yes. He wants to be with his pack, and that's you and your family.

What type of corrective action could I do to lessen the barking? He will bark a lot at things going on outside the yard, but I don't have the chance to correct him, because he stops as soon I go outside and puts his attention on me.

There you go - he doesn't need to be corrected for barking, he needs to be brought in and treated like part of the family. Keep him on leash so you can control him.

He also tends to nip, but only at your hands when you put them close. But it's more like he thinks you have a treat in your hand it seems. I know treats are important in training, but could this be a "side effect" of that? And how should I work with him on not doing that. It's never enough to hurt or anything, but with kids, I don't want it coming to that, or where what doesn't hurt me, hurts them.

Teach him impulse control around food. This is an excellent game for that, work on it a few minutes every day:

"It's Yer Choice" - YouTube

"It's Yer Choice" - YouTube

Better yet, hand feed him all or part of one of his meals this way. And sign him up for an obedience class!

[doggiedad]

you can't train and socialize the dog
with the dog being in the yard. the dog has
to be around your wife and children to learn the rules.
if my wife didn't feel comfortable around large dogs
i wouldn't get a large dog.

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by branclau

Hope this is the right section to post....

I just bought a 7 month old GSD from an owner who was injured at work and hadn't received workman's comp for 3 months, so financially couldn't take care of the dog, Titus. Titus is already about 70 pounds and is house trained, they kept him indoors a lot. He is fairly calm for a pup, but we are keeping him mostly outside at the moment(until my wife is more comfortable with him, and with a 6 month old baby in the house, until we learn him better). So he barks right outside the door a lot. Do you think this is most likely because he wants to be inside? What type of corrective action could I do to lessen the barking? He will bark a lot at things going on outside the yard, but I don't have the chance to correct him, because he stops as soon I go outside and puts his attention on me.

He also tends to nip, but only at your hands when you put them close. But it's more like he thinks you have a treat in your hand it seems. I know treats are important in training, but could this be a "side effect" of that? And how should I work with him on not doing that. It's never enough to hurt or anything, but with kids, I don't want it coming to that, or where what doesn't hurt me, hurts them.

One more question, and I know there's lots of opinions, but what intermediate priced dry food do you recommend?

Thanks for all the advice in advance! I'm excited about my GSD and hope to learn a lot here.

Brandon

first off, congrats on your new addition.

Second, please stop shunning him to the yard. How is he supposed to get to know you and your wife AND learn how to behave around the baby if he's shunned to the backyard?

As for the barking, to get him to STOP barking at the door, as it sounds like its a learned behavior, you have to ignore him. Only allow him back inside when he's quiet.

The nipping is NOT a side effect of treat training. He is a herding breed. That nip the heels. They use their mouths. You have to train him to realize you dont want to be nipped. Nipping is also considered a sign of affection. Sometimes known as love nibbles. He could very well also be nipping because he's excited someone is paying attention to him.

If he's housetrained and wants to be inside, which is sounds like he does, let him in. Work with him on being a member of your family. You said he's pretty calm already so use it to your advantage!

How is your wife going to be more comfortable with him if he's locked outside? I'm a parent. My daughter will be turning 4 in 2 weeks and my son is 2.5 years. they've grown up with dogs in the house so far. they behave pretty well with the dogs and the dogs do pretty good with them. How do you think they learned it? My kids are constantly shown how to properly interact and the dogs are trained on how to properly behave.

I'm not trying to sound mean or harsh but you brought a dog that has been bred to work closely with their owners into your home. Not to mention you added a puppy to your family. These dogs want nothing more than to be with us, 24/7/365 if its possible. Perhaps you and your wife should look into group training classes where you BOTH learn how to work with him so he's allowed inside. Its also a good way to bond with him. If he is crated trained, i suggest you also use that so he can at least be inside since barking at the door, he obviously doesnt want to be outside without company for very long.

Would you stick your 6 month old out in the backyard if you had a guest who was uncomfortable with babies or kids?

Keeping him on a leash in the house aka dragging it around would make it easy to pull him back from the trash if necessary. Also keep in mind that if you're calm about him being around and around the baby, he wont assume something is wrong and associate it with the baby so negative interactions shouldnt be a problem if you do it right. Obviously, common sense dictates you never leave baby and dog unsupervised together but if you're able to supervise and puppy learns how to interact, you'll be better off for it. Do you want a dog who wonders what is so wrong with the tiny human he's not allowed inside or do you want a dog thats a member of your family?
















I know which i prefer as do my dogs. The above pictures are my kids with my dogs. My dogs are also just as good with other kids because they've been allowed to interact and be a part of the family. I put in the time and training. Two of my dogs were here before the kids and do beautifully with kids. The one picture where my son is SITTING on one of my dogs. She was brought in after my kids. If you're willing to do the time, i'm sure you'll have a great pup who turns into a great adult.

Plus, you'd be amazed at the bonds these dogs develope, even at a young age with babies and children. For all you know it, once he's allowed to be a full family member, he could very well sleep in the babies room next to the crib just to be near his buddy.

[JakodaCD OA]

I would start working on your wife not being afraid of him..Babygate off areas in the house, but this dog obviously lived in someone's home and now wants to BE IN the home, he's not accostomed to being outside looking in

Get him intoa good obedience class, it will help YOU and the dog ..definately supervise supervise supervise.

I have to say, your intentions sounded good, but if your wife isn't on board, this could result in a bad situation for the dog

[Kittilicious]

I had a bad experience with a rottweiler when I was 20 and was scared to death of them (I was naive too). My husband's friend called us one evening and said he just stole a rottie from a party he was at where he witnessed the owner abusing her, but he didn't have a place for her and asked if she could stay with us. Hubby said yes, so he brought her over. (She was severely skinny and very timid) This was about 9pm and my hubby had to leave for work at 10:30. I shut my bedroom door because I assumed she was going to attack me and have me for a midnight snack if I didn't. She barked and whined at my bedroom door and I wasn't going to sleep with that going on so reluctantly I opened the door... she came in, laid on the floor next to the bed and fell asleep.
As long as she was with us (me.. she was very timid around men) she was an angel. She HATED to be alone.
So yep, all he wants to do is come in the house by you guys

The nipping. As long as he isn't nipping hard enough to draw blood, try using a treat and having him give "little bites" (thats what I call it) and have him bite pieces off the treat, very close to your hand. If he nips, he doesn't get the treat, if he does it gentle, he does.