9 month old still biting and chewing everything in sight please help?

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by Tulip

I know exactly what's wrong and that he needs to be corrected. That's why I'm coming here, for advice on how to do that because I'm not used to a large breed dog.

I'm adamant on not rehoming him because I would feel a thousand times guilty, especially because I know if I set my mind to it and discipline myself more I can fix these problems. I'm just here looking for advice on HOW.

and this is great. You've been given advice. Training. Serious training. and exercise. It's a lot and it will take time and dedication. Get involved with a trainer who knows, understands and actually likes GSDs. They can help you a in more personal sense. Schutzhund trainers are trainers in general. They can either help you or they can recommend a trainer who can get you to the point of getting to schutzhund. Toys, bones, appropriate chew toys. I again say go read the puppy bite inhibition threads. Seriously, thats what you have to work with. You are still raising and teaching a puppy.... your puppy is just bigger and probably more stubborn because he's been allowed to behave a certain way for so long and now you're needing to change his world around.

[mego]

I throw the ball for him and walk him as often as i can, but I really don't have that much time with the hours of homework I have almost every night.

As a student I know what it's like to have a lot of homework, but I have advice to how to fix the problem, pick two things most important to you - your dog, your grades, or your sleep.

I suggest exercising him when you are home from school, this may take several hours, and then do your hours of homework late at night and sacrifice your sleep. You will be tired, but when summer comes you will have more time, or you need to be more efficient with doing homework in class while you are at school or doing it quicker/later at night while he sleeps and is all tired out.

He sounds like he will be much better burning off energy. It sucks to have so much on your plate, but it's a responsibility and with effort you two will pull it off and find what works better

[JakodaCD OA]

The first thing you need to do is find a good obedience instructor , forget the schutzhund idea for now, you need to get a good handle on teaching him some basic manners.

This is going to require you to be dedicated in training him. It sounds like he is an ill mannered, untrained , bored dog..

With that, contact your vet's office, ask them if they can refer you to a trainer/class instruction. Unfortunately it's not going to be 'free'

If you can find a trainer who deals in german shepherds that is even better.

Maybe if you post your general location, some here can refer you to a trainer/class in your area.

If your not used to large dogs, nor german shepherds, you are going to need personal help, not just suggestions via the net.

You also might contact your breeder and ask them to help with training

[Tulip]

Originally Posted by mego

As a student I know what it's like to have a lot of homework, but I have advice to how to fix the problem, pick two things most important to you - your dog, your grades, or your sleep.

I suggest exercising him when you are home from school, this may take several hours, and then do your hours of homework late at night and sacrifice your sleep. You will be tired, but when summer comes you will have more time, or you need to be more efficient with doing homework in class while you are at school or doing it quicker/later at night while he sleeps and is all tired out.

He sounds like he will be much better burning off energy. It sucks to have so much on your plate, but it's a responsibility and with effort you two will pull it off and find what works better

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to start doing this.

KZoppa- I'll look for a Schutzhund trainer to get involved with ASAP. Does anyone know of any good ones to check out in the north Dallas area?

[Carriesue]

Well if you got him into a working home or a home that better understood the breed and had the time to give him everything he needs, there would be NO feeling guilty in that! You'd be doing what was best for him and maybe down the line when you're older and have your own place and the time to commit then you could think about getting another dog.

If you really want to try with him then you're really going to need to commit to doing this on your own since you're parents have a lot on their plates(and you too, I'm sorry this is happening and that you're going through all of this too). Have you taken him to any training classes? Group classes are almost always a lot cheaper then private training but they can help you learn the basics of how to control your dog plus he can get used to working and being around other dogs.

Did you take him out when he was a puppy to be around other people and dogs? In my class we have a dobie who's all over the place and is WAY too much for their owners to handle and the trainer is very patient with them and is even meeting with them alone outside of class to help.

He needs more exercise, you have to get out there and walk him... if you can drive maybe look for nearby trails you can take him to also. But he needs walks EVERY day not just whenever you can get around to it. For that type of dog I'd say no less then a one hour walk a couple times a day, more if you can. Have you heard of a flirt pole? Those are a GREAT way to tire your pup out in the backyard.

In the house keep him on a leash and with you at all times, he needs to earn his freedom. Give him a bully stick or something and praise him when he's good and leaves stuff alone. Granted this is not going to happen overnight and will take time. Patience is the key here. First thing you need to start with though is more exercise and more rules and boundaries.

If you can't do those things then I would have to say that he's just not the right dog for you and I am not one to advocate rehoming either. But you need to do what's best for the dog and you. It can work but you really have to commit and not get lazy.

[KZoppa]

Look up clubs online. You should be able to call or email someone involved. They might be willing to work with you on helping train or refering you to a train who can help.

[mego]

Also another suggestion, if you have any friends who like dogs there are TONS of people at my school that offer to come over and play with my puppy if I have tests coming up. Lots of people like dogs, so you can probably find a few friends who would be happy to exercise your dog or you can have him meet up with another dog and you can do your homework while they play because they will tire eachother out.

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by mego

Also another suggestion, if you have any friends who like dogs there are TONS of people at my school that offer to come over and play with my puppy if I have tests coming up. Lots of people like dogs, so you can probably find a few friends who would be happy to exercise your dog or you can have him meet up with another dog and you can do your homework while they play because they will tire eachother out.

please keep in mind this may not be the best idea if your dog hasnt been socialized and exposed to other dogs and people properly and positively. A rowdy puppy could heavily insult another dog and a fight can break out.

[Carriesue]

Second finding a club idea... We're doing some classes at an obedience club and it's been a really good experience so far. The one I'm at is an all breed club but you might be able to find a GSD one. Actually the GSD club near me does FREE classes for GSD's only! I'll be checking those out after we're doing with this class... So definitely worth looking into.

[mego]

Originally Posted by KZoppa

please keep in mind this may not be the best idea if your dog hasnt been socialized and exposed to other dogs and people properly and positively. A rowdy puppy could heavily insult another dog and a fight can break out.

Oh yeah I would definitely mean it could be a supervised thing or only with a dog/person that he's met or isn't bothered by.

I definitely agree that it would be a bad idea if he wasn't socialized to dogs or other people, but her post didn't say anything about prior socialization so I didn't want to assume he was a completely unsocialized dog even though it seems to be the case.

My suggestion is probably better for a little further down the road after a little training has been done, thanks for pointing this out!