New puppy owner Q..

[bowsox88]

Here's the scoop we got our puppy 3 weeks ago and he is being a normal puppy from what i have seen in other puppies i have seen and also what i have read on here, but he bites ALOT and has tore holes in quite a few shirts of our children and drew blood once or twice on them. So we called a local trainner that offers puppy and obediance trainning she only does private trainning, we explained our situation and first thing she said was we got him way to early, thats my first question we got him when he was 6 weeks old is that to early? My other question is she suggested she keep him for a few weeks and we come out there a few times during the week to work with him....is that a good idea?? Any input would be great. Thanks.

[Castlemaid]

Yes, six weeks is too early. Pups should stay with their litter until at least 8 weeks - they learn a lot of doggy social skills and start learning about bite inhibition, though the bulk of bite inhibition teaching comes from you past after the 8 week mark.

GSDs are VERY bitey - it is normal, and a major developmental stage that puppies have to go through. Their puppy nick-name of land-shark is well earned.

The main way to deal with a mouthy, bitey GSD puppy is to re-direct the biting to a toy. Have tons of soft, tug toys around, carry one in your pocket all the time, when pup starts biting body-parts, stuff the tug-toy in his mouth and tug and play to his heart's content. It will take weeks, but he will learn that the proper way to play with people is with a toy. Eventually he will bring you toys for you to play with him, instead of just latching on to whatever limb or piece of clothing happens to be in front of him.

Lots more info here:
Teaching Bite Inhibition

Also, I would NOT send your puppy away. Puppy needs his family and the security of routine and the love of the people he is bonding to. A 9 week old puppy has very limited ability to 'be worked with', so not sure what this trainer has in mind. Pups this age have the attention span of a goldfish so training sessions can't be really more than one or two minutes long at a time. Your puppy is like a baby, what he needs is supervision and management, learning to bond and trust, and learning positive associations with human interactions. None of these things come from formal training, but from day-to-day interaction and enjoyment of your pup.

Welcome to the board, by the way! So glad you are asking questions and open to educating yourself. Your pup sounds like a typical GSD pup, and rare is the household that raised a GSD pup without some bloodshed and ripped clothing, so you guys are right on track.

Hang around, read through the puppy section, ask questions, and post pictures!!! We love to awwwww over cute puppy pics!

[1sttimeforgsd]

As for the age of the puppy, 8 wks is the earliest age that a breeder should let the puppies leave. They learn a lot from their momma and thier siblings during that time and if they are taken away too early they miss out on that. All gsd puppies bite, that is how they play and it's how they got the nickname landsharks. When your pup starts to bite on you give out a loud yelp and stick one of his toys or chews in his mouth, this worked for me. You can also tell him no bite when he does this.

As for the training part with a trainer, someone else will have to try to help answer that one for you. Good luck with your pup, they do get past that stage.

[Emoore]

Yes, six weeks is too early. No, I would absolutely not send your puppy away to live with the trainer. Read the stickies on bite inhibition, correct and re-direct, and be glad it's winter and you're wearing layers.

[cliffson1]

Would depend on how well I knew the trainer and their reputation. Pups are very resilent and at the current age they soak up learning experiences like sponges. Given a choice between the pup being with an experienced person for a couple weeks who will make the right decisions(now this is prefaced by the trainer would have to guarantee me the pup will stay in their house), and the pup continuing in an environment that has no experience.....I think the pup benefits alot from the couple weeks with the trainer. Its not like the pup will stop knowing or loving you because of a couple weeks especially if good imprintinig is being done.
Not telling you to do it, just telling you that it can have some positive benefits to resolving your issues. Again, remember most pups are very resilent and are often hampered by the lack of experience and knowledge of the owners.

[Castlemaid]

I think that the OP's biggest issue right now is the biting - there is no magic formula that a trainer can apply to stop it - still just an issue of managing the biting by giving the pup proper exercise, and proper outlet for its play behaviour. Even if a trainer takes a pup and expertly and consistently redirects, pup will go back to nippy behaviour once returned to the household, unless all household members continue with the consistent re-direction. Might as well just start off redirecting themselves and keeping it up.

Again, I'm not sure what this trainer has in mind for a 9 week old puppy. No, it won't ruin the pup if the person is experienced and caring, and knows what they are doing, but there is nothing magic a trainer can do with a 9 week old that owners with a little bit of coaching can't do themselves.

[bowsox88]

That was one of my thoughts, we really dont know the best thing to do that will last and not cause another issue, like i have read on here that you dont want your puppy to not bite at all you just want him/her to learn to have a soft mouth....so thats one reason i thought maybe a good thing to have him go with the trainner. It has been going through my mind about him not being at home where he belongs just want to do the right thing. Thanks for all the advice.

One other question....he has tried to hump a few times and even seen his "red rocket" a few times, is this normal?

[Emoore]

The red rocket, or lipstick, is completely normal. He's a boy and you'll see it sometimes. The humping is normal, but you should go ahead and re-direct him to a more appropriate play since you don't want it to become a habit.

[bowsox88]

We met the trainner tonite feel very comfortable with them, they have trained most of the police dogs in our city, and we are not letting him go out of the home. They said from what they see with Chance they dont see a problem at all with him becomming a very well mannered GSD. One thing they suggested i thought i would share with him bitting is, it may sound a little difficult to do while your being bit but i have done it several times and it isnt, but when he bites push his upper lip into his teeth....and it has worked great so far he stops right away, but again as i have read on here i would like him to develop a soft mouth so im still doing the "ouch!" treatment.

[jetscarbie]

When mine were younger and mouthy...I would always re-direct with toys. Eventually, they get out of that stage.

Have you looked into puppy classes? Puppies usually love puppy class.