It has been a while since I have posted because the past few months have been a challenge.
After many years of not having a dog I finally got a beautiful gsl puppy. I had told the breeder what kind of temperament I needed and for what purposes I wanted to have her, namely pet, show and therapy dog, and able to go on trail/beachrides with my horse and me. I wanted a dog that I could take pretty much everywhere with me. I was told that she had a wonderful temperament and so the transaction took place and she was shipped to me. She was 11 weeks old when I got her.
The very first sign that I had gotten more than I had bargained for was when I snapped the leash on her at the airport and she pulled very hard against the collar to the point where she was sounding like she was strangling herself. It did not take long after I brought her home that she was, without any provocation, starting to lunge at my arms and lets, biting and tearing my clothing.
From day one I wasted no time in doing obedience training with her
A few days after she arrived we went for a walk along the river where there were other people with dogs. Most of them she was happy to see but every so often she would see one and come totally unglued, lunging at them like an angry dog on a chain. I had never seen a pup as young as her behave like that. I spoke with numerous trainers and tried all sorts of advice to curb this behavior and nothing was making an impression on her. By 14 weeks I had to buy a prong collar, something I had never needed for any of my dogs in the past.
Several weeks later we started puppy kindergarten and you can imagine how I felt when this 15 week old puppy was lunging and snarling at all the other little puppies.
At home things weren't good either with her chasing cats, cornering and nearly killing my parrot, wanting to chase buses, slamming against bird cages and glass sliding doors. I was afraid that one day she would come crashing through the glass. I could go on and on. In the mean time I trained her daily, went to classes, met with private trainers who dealt with difficult shepherds. I took her as many places as I possible could and even though she knew heel, sit, stay etc, she would get so excited that she would refuse to listen. It was even recommended that I not enter her in any shows because of her behavior.
My 16 year old daughter and my husband were both afraid of her.
The last straw was right before Christmas. She was outside and saw one of my cats through the sliding glass door. Once again she threw herself at the door and when I opened it to correct her, she pushed past me and in a deaf frenzy chased the cat down the stairs. Downstairs was my husband who had just had surgery on his leg. The pup went racing into his office and nearly knocked him over. It was at that point that I knew that she had to go. So at 7 months old I sent her back to the breeder. Sure there was a chance that she would have outgrown it as she matured but I have children, grandchildren, cats, horses, neighbors etc. that were at risk of being bitten in the meantime.
Even though I had several people here who would have gladly paid me more than I had paid for her because she will make and excellent schutzhund dog, I honored the contract and gave the breeder first right of refusal. They knew that she will do well in the sport and did not hesitate to take her back.
So here I sit, licking my wounds so to speak and should probably get myself and Elizabethan collar before I lick myself raw. I have spoken with the trainers that I had worked with and they all agree that even though her temperament was over the top for an amateur like me, that I didn't do anything wrong and had actually done a pretty good job of training her.
I am looking for another pup but am not going to rush into it. I know what I want but finding it might be hard but this time when I do I will go myself to pick out the right pup for me. I'm thinking that the best thing for me would be an asl/gsl cross. I want one out of parents who are titled in show and obedience. OFA and dm tested a must and of course a sweet stable temperament that can and will go just about anywhere with me. I want one that I will be able to show in conformation and hopefully even campaign. Most importantly I need a dog who will be safe around my grandbabies.
After many years of not having a dog I finally got a beautiful gsl puppy. I had told the breeder what kind of temperament I needed and for what purposes I wanted to have her, namely pet, show and therapy dog, and able to go on trail/beachrides with my horse and me. I wanted a dog that I could take pretty much everywhere with me. I was told that she had a wonderful temperament and so the transaction took place and she was shipped to me. She was 11 weeks old when I got her.
The very first sign that I had gotten more than I had bargained for was when I snapped the leash on her at the airport and she pulled very hard against the collar to the point where she was sounding like she was strangling herself. It did not take long after I brought her home that she was, without any provocation, starting to lunge at my arms and lets, biting and tearing my clothing.
From day one I wasted no time in doing obedience training with her
A few days after she arrived we went for a walk along the river where there were other people with dogs. Most of them she was happy to see but every so often she would see one and come totally unglued, lunging at them like an angry dog on a chain. I had never seen a pup as young as her behave like that. I spoke with numerous trainers and tried all sorts of advice to curb this behavior and nothing was making an impression on her. By 14 weeks I had to buy a prong collar, something I had never needed for any of my dogs in the past.
Several weeks later we started puppy kindergarten and you can imagine how I felt when this 15 week old puppy was lunging and snarling at all the other little puppies.
At home things weren't good either with her chasing cats, cornering and nearly killing my parrot, wanting to chase buses, slamming against bird cages and glass sliding doors. I was afraid that one day she would come crashing through the glass. I could go on and on. In the mean time I trained her daily, went to classes, met with private trainers who dealt with difficult shepherds. I took her as many places as I possible could and even though she knew heel, sit, stay etc, she would get so excited that she would refuse to listen. It was even recommended that I not enter her in any shows because of her behavior.
My 16 year old daughter and my husband were both afraid of her.
The last straw was right before Christmas. She was outside and saw one of my cats through the sliding glass door. Once again she threw herself at the door and when I opened it to correct her, she pushed past me and in a deaf frenzy chased the cat down the stairs. Downstairs was my husband who had just had surgery on his leg. The pup went racing into his office and nearly knocked him over. It was at that point that I knew that she had to go. So at 7 months old I sent her back to the breeder. Sure there was a chance that she would have outgrown it as she matured but I have children, grandchildren, cats, horses, neighbors etc. that were at risk of being bitten in the meantime.
Even though I had several people here who would have gladly paid me more than I had paid for her because she will make and excellent schutzhund dog, I honored the contract and gave the breeder first right of refusal. They knew that she will do well in the sport and did not hesitate to take her back.
So here I sit, licking my wounds so to speak and should probably get myself and Elizabethan collar before I lick myself raw. I have spoken with the trainers that I had worked with and they all agree that even though her temperament was over the top for an amateur like me, that I didn't do anything wrong and had actually done a pretty good job of training her.
I am looking for another pup but am not going to rush into it. I know what I want but finding it might be hard but this time when I do I will go myself to pick out the right pup for me. I'm thinking that the best thing for me would be an asl/gsl cross. I want one out of parents who are titled in show and obedience. OFA and dm tested a must and of course a sweet stable temperament that can and will go just about anywhere with me. I want one that I will be able to show in conformation and hopefully even campaign. Most importantly I need a dog who will be safe around my grandbabies.
