Need input, aggression, alpha in puppy

[Tat2Missy]

Hi there. I am so glad I found this forum. I see a lot of answers here.

Let me start by saying I have been around dogs all my life. Most prevalently Scottish Terriers, another working breed. But the GSD is new to us.

We adopted a rescue puppy, from an abandoned litter. The rescue group says he is GSD and boxer mix. I can see the GSD in him for sure.



He is almost 10 weeks old as of today.

We had some runny poo issues, which I am working to clear up now. I figured it was from the water source change, food change and stress of a new place. We started by feeding blue buffalo, but quickly changed to bland human food. He is doing much better on that. I feed him about 1/2 a cup every four hours through the day, with his last meal at about 7pm. But whenever I put the food down, he freaks and eats like he hasn't eaten in days. I tried to give him a bit more, but his little belly got so distended it scared me.

We have an older large dog and cats. He wants to play with everyone, but thus far only 1 cat will tolerate him. The older dog is happy to teach him what is appropriate and what's not in the nipping department. He is happy to meet new people, with his little tail going into overdrive.

I have never seen such a young puppy show alpha seeking behavior or any aggression. Until we got him. Right off the bat he tried to hump my oldest daughter. We simply moved him off of her. He does it to me occasionally. Again, I remove him and say "No". He tries to climb on the cats back. Not aggressively, just relentlessly. He also growls, barks and tries to bite at me. I think he understands that I am the alpha in this house, and he is challenging me, because he mostly only does it to me. I make a point of being the only one to feed him his meals. Making him follow behind me in and out of rooms/outside. Looking him in the eye until he looks away.

Sometimes, he just spazzes out. Growling, barking, trying to bite, and squirming. When he does this, I'll either put him in his area to chill or hold him out from my body where his teeth can't get to me until he calms. It's such an odd behavior I almost wonder if he doesn't have some inbred pitbull in him. That is the only other breed I've seen act like that. It's like he's nuts at times.

And lastly, the nipping biting. I understand teaching bite control. I am wondering if there is a way to teach him it's ok to mouth the grown-ups but not the kids. I have my kids yelping loudly when he puts teeth anywhere on them. So far it's not working. I keep reminding them he is like a newborn, and it will take time, but my youngest is developing a fear of the puppy, which I CAN NOT have. The dog will sense it. I don't want him to think he can rule anyone in this house.

When he is older, he'll be the dog that goes everywhere with the kids. Goes for car rides with me when he can. Sleep with the kids at night. I always think pets should be family members. I want to do this right, and I'm thinking I'm a little out of my element with the GSD.

Any help would be appreciated. Especially in the alpha area. I think most things come easier once the chain of command is established.

Thanks, Missy

[GSDBESTK9]

Originally Posted by Tat2Missy

We adopted a rescue puppy, from an abandoned litter. The rescue group says he is GSD and boxer mix. I can see the GSD in him for sure.

Are you serious?! He looks like a gorgeous Sable GSD to me! Do you have other pictures where we can see him better?

By the way, welcome to the board.

Put a leash on your puppy, let him drag it around, when he is doing something you don't like, give him a pop on the leash.

The nipping and biting is typical GSD puppy. That will pass, but in the mean time, make sure he has plenty of toys and chews. Start teaching him things like sit, down and such. Make his mind work, trust me, mental stimulation will also tire him out. Make him work for EVERYTHING. You want a treat? Sit first! Get the point?

[Tat2Missy]

I don't have any other good pictures of him, but I'll try to get some today. He is beautiful. A little on the small side to be a pure GSD. Maybe 5 lbs at almost 10 weeks. I figured he was a little underfed. He's catching up now. His paws have actually gotten bigger in the 2 weeks we've had him!

I should have said, I'm not really down with corp. punishment. I think it makes dogs hand shy. I don't want him to fear me, only respect me. I know it's early, but the sooner the better for every creature involved.

[GSDBESTK9]

Exactly, that's why you are using a LEASH for corrections. Do you know what I mean by giving him a leash pop??

[Tat2Missy]

Originally Posted by GSDBESTK9

Exactly, that's why you are using a LEASH for corrections. Do you know what I mean by giving him a leash pop??

No, I'm afraid I don't. Should I worry that he'll get hung up on something if he is always wearing the leash?

[GSDBESTK9]

No because you NEVER NEVER NEVER leave a puppy unattended. If you or your wife can't watch him, crate him!

The leash is attached to the puppy's collar, he is dragging it around the house, when he does something bad, you grab the end of the leash and WITH SLACK on the leash, you give it a pop! You do a quick pull and release towards you of the leash thus giving him a collar correction, he won't know what "hit" him! But soon realize, after you being consistant with the leash pop, that it (whatever he is doing) isn't woth it.

[Emoore]

I strongly second what Carolina said about keeping your puppy tethered to you with a leash at all times, and putting him in the crate when you can't watch him. This really makes everything better.

Sounds like you have a little GSD puppy, full of P&V! As far as being "alpha" look up NILIF. It will change your life.

[Tat2Missy]

I read nilif this morning. Sounds like good stuff to me. I assume P&V means p*ss and vinegar? If that's the case, well maybe a little of that and a whole lot of head strong.

I know he's smart. Right off the bat I noticed he won't leave the yard without one of us. Plus it took about 30 seconds for him to learn his name, and when I call him, he comes... usually, unless there is cat food to be munched, then all bets are off. LOL.

I also wanted to ask, for the teething, I have given him a wide variety of stuff to chew, careful to choose things he can actually get in his mouth. I gave him a graham cracker this morning and he really liked it. He chomped on it for a while. That got me thinking about teething biscuits that we give our human babies. Wondering if that might be something good for him to work his teeth on?

I'm also worried his nipping and chasing will get him hurt. My brother already stepped in his paw once, it was horrible. The puppy cried and cried. But it didn't stop him from being under foot. My kids have kicked him in the head, not on purpose of course, but he just appears in front of your feet. I've told the kids to shuffle around the kitchen and go slower.

Are there other things I could be doing better? Should I be the only one asserting alpha, or should the girls do it too?

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by Tat2Missy

Are there other things I could be doing better? Should I be the only one asserting alpha, or should the girls do it too?

Kinda depends on what you mean by asserting alpha? Everyone, down to your youngest child, should be doing NILIF with the puppy. He needs to learn that the kids have authority over him.

Instead of "teething crackers" get him some bully sticks at Bully Sticks - All Natural Value Dog Treats - Best Bully Stick. Also you can get a Kong toy and fill it with something like yogurt or cottage cheese and then freeze it. When my puppy was that age I had two kongs-- one he was working on and one in the freezer. The cold feels good on their teeth. I would not give people food that has any kind of sugar in it.

[RocketDog]

Everyone should practice the same things, so the pup has consistency.

There are far greater experts on here than I, but I would say not to get too caught up in the "Alpha" thing. He is just a curious, active pup. He reacts to you the most because you are probably the one most involved with him. The biting is the most absolute normal thing he could be doing, LOL. Emoore said it best in another thread this morning, about how we all got on here around 12-13 weeks and said "I know GSD's are landsharks, but MY puppy is the WORST!" You can also have everyone STOP IMMEDIATELY AND FREEZE when he's nipping at legs and feet. It's very difficult, especially in socks, etc, but it will help.

You can also try some raw frozen soup bones, those saved my life when my pup was in that phase (and he still likes them to satisfy that chewing). My arms and hands were covered with scabs and scratches--I had blood drawn many times. My hands literally hurt to wash and dry. I was in tears almost much of the time. Redirection at this age is excellent for most everything. The crate will be your friend, too. And lots and lots and lots of exercise. If you have a very safe place you can hike him off-leash, start soon, because at this age is when they will never leave you, and they just train themselves into a great off-leash partner. They're too young to venture much past you and definitely don't like getting out of your sight. Pups have a remarkable sense of self-preservation, and he knows you're his food and safety.


Enjoy him, too.