Introduction && Current Issues with my New Pup

[MissChristina]

We are new here. AnnaBelle is my first 'puppy' and my first German Shepherd dog. I got her at 8 weeks old.

I must admit and be honest, I got her from a paper add and it was an impulse buy so please do not scold me for it, I know I should have saved up and found a more reputable breeder now after being around some GSD facebook forums. But, I will not regret my fault either as AnnaBelle is a very smart and beautiful girl.

She is now 5 months old. The people I got her from says her GRANDmother was an import from Germany working lines and her mother carries those bloodlines. Her mother is a coated bi color GSD with a white spot on her chest (just like AnnaBelle). Her father is a traditional saddle back and both parents were on site and healthy when I picked her up. She has no papers, there wasn't a contract, and it was just $250 and take home. Looking back I wonder what happened to all the other puppies and I'm just glad I was able to give AnnaBelle a great home. She was socialized with kids and people there as the people had grand-kids and kids of their own but she was kept outside always and slept under the porch.

Since I have had her, she has gotten all her shots (including parvo, lepto, Bordetella, Distemper and a few others, I forget what they are all called). She has also been kept up to date with Interceptor Heartworm Preventative and Frontline Plus. Also, she has just gotten her microchip a few days ago too!

I also have it set up where she will be spayed at 2 years old and never will be bred since she has no papers about her lines AND I don't think I would know how to handle a bunch of little puppies running around, so I'm doing what I can to be responsible for that by spaying.

AnnaBelle goes to dog training classes as well. She's been going since 10 weeks old. Here is a small list of the classes we are in now:

Monday: Puppy Class 6pm AND Level 1+ Class 8pm (She advanced to level 1+ for doing so well in puppy class... she's a step ahead of the rest). And the plus is also just like 1/2.

Wednesday: Sassy Dog Class 7:30pm It's a dog socialization class that lets you work your dog in close range of other dogs and teaches them that they need to still be focused on YOU and how to behave around other dogs.

Thursday: Puppy Class 7pm

Friday: Beginners Agility 6pm


She loves going as well. The website for my trainer is Ann Gafke's Teacher's Pet Dog Training Kennel I love this place because there are so many options and types of training you can do. From carting, agility, therapy work, and lots of titles/certificates you can earn. Also, the Trainer (Ann Gafke) has been breeding and raising German Shepherds for 35 years and they are 'King's Pride' Shepherds.

On November 12th I am also going to check out a herding class as my dog has been trying to 'herd' other dogs and seems to have that instinct just trying to come out in her.

Issues: I've only had two major issues with her that I am currently working with my trainer on.

1) When she does play with other dogs, she tends to try and 'herd' them is what some people are calling it. What she does is, she picks ONE dog out of a group and just annoys that dog to death by barking right next to its face while running alone side of it and sometimes she will jump up and nip at the top of their necks. She is very noisy and the nipping bothers me because I am afraid she might start biting. I have video's on youtube of her doing this.

2) She is a HORRIBLE submissive pee'r. Anytime you reach over her, try to pick her up, or if she even thinks she might be in the smallest bit of trouble she pee's everywhere. She also pee's if I try to go upstairs for even five minutes to get a drink or snack. She starts whining, barking, and just starts to 'leak' all over the floor. I do not correct her for it as I was told not to by my trainer and the agility classes are supposed to help boost her confidence and hopefully help ease her out of it.

Another small issue I am working with is that she associates a 'leash' to training. When she has her 'leash' on, then she listens... always. But as soon as the leash comes off she barely listens at all. So at home I have been working on finding a 'quiet place' with minimal distractions so she is forced more to focus on me and do training without the leash on, just for basic commands.

Oh and, she tends to be a bit protective over me when it comes to other dogs. She does not like when other dogs jump on me and will growl/snap at them which is something else I am working on with her (with my trainer involved as well).

I have just switched AnnaBelle to FROMM Gold Dry Kibble for Puppies and she just loves it compared to the Purina Puppy Chow. I also feed her Charlee Bear all natural treats and they really work for her. They have a very strong scent and only 3 cals/treat. Since she still has adult teeth growing in I have gotten her these all natural chews made from yak milk, cow milk and lime juice which she has also loved.

She is crate trained and mostly potty trained but since she usually is in a crate at night it has helped her develop a longer hold on her bladder. She only has accidents now when she does the submissive peeing.

Today I bought her a backpack to carry her own stuff in on her back and she doesn't mind it at all! She still would do basic obedience commands with it on (while on a leash of course). Even jumped into the car before I could get it off haha. I was told the backpack would be a good addition for her to have on during walks and training for a better workout.

A little about me: My name is Christina and I'm 21 years old. I have loved all animals since I was born. I've had gerbils, birds, cats, dogs (but never a puppy until now), reptiles, and more. My favorite animals are horses although they are something I have never owned or had myself. I live in Missouri with my parents, grandma, and 9 year old brother. So there is five of us in the house. There is also a gerbil (my little brothers) and a corgi mix that was a rescue that is 4 years old (moms dog). I just moved back in after having to start payments on college loans haha.

My first animal was a black cat that was around 2 years old when she was adopted from the humane society here in Columbia, MO. I decided to go for an adult cat instead of a kitten because of a book my mom always read to me called 'Scruffy'. About a boy who wanted a cat and decided to pick out an adult because it looked lonely in the back of the cage while the kittens in front seemed to get a lot of attention. Of course, the cat I got was also named 'Scruffy' haha. I was young, I don't remember exact age but guessing around 5 or 6.

My first dog was a lab mix. Always kept outside as that was moms rule. Her name was Moe, after a dog on Bethoven haha. I was also obsessed with Dalmatians when I was younger. Because of the 101 Dalmatians movies. I had bedsheets, stuffed animals, wall borders, notebooks, pens/pencils... EVERYTHING haha. But I didn't get a dalmatian until I was around 10 years old and the neighbor one day came over and let her out and she got hit by a car! And no we never did give that neighbor permission to let her out... she had done it several times before as well... She thought dogs should run free like her dog...

My mom was never one to do shots, spay, or anything that included a vet while I was growing up and so I never learned about any of that stuff until I starting reading book after book about all different breeds of dogs. My moms dog now (the corgi mix) was a rescue from the same place I got my first cat. Mom finally caved in after me getting on to her about keeping her UTD on shots (she was spayed when my mom adopted her). I have also educated my mom on feeding portions and talked her into switching dog food to something more nutritional since the vet keeps getting on to us about her being overweight. Since I have moved into the house she now goes on regular walks, is on a diet and I am also working with her on training She has lost 5 lbs the last month here since I have moved back in.

My interest in German Shepherds started when I was younger. My mom dated a guy back then that had one and ever since I have loved the breed and it has become my favorite. Even over Dalmatians! Haha. But my interest in them really increased when I started studying criminal justice and was thinking of becoming a K-9 Police officer.


If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! As you can tell I love to write and I am very dedicated to my puppy. My family even thinks I'm a bit overly obsessed with her but I don't care. They never did 'dog training' or anything like that back in their days so they just don't understand my point of view. I treat my dog like a DOG, but I still consider her my one and only child as I have none and don't plan to for a few more years.

Thanks for reading! I'm happy to join the forums and I know once AnnaBelle is fully trained and grown I will end up with another GSD puppy one day. I can already feel the GSD fever setting in my blood.