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We have had our GSD puppy for three months as of today and he turned 7 months this week. We are experienced GSD owners and have had the breed for 20+ years. Since our last few shepherds were rescues, we have not enjoyed a puppy for several years. All of our dogs attended basic obedience classes and we have watched training principles change over the years.
With this pup, we are trying the Positive approach and it aligns with most of our attitudes toward general training...keep things positive and build the dog's confidence. BUT this puppy is very high energy, less interested in listening and less likely to follow a direction than any dog we have ever owned.
This pup knows his basics, and more, but has "selective hearing", especially as he grows into his "terrible tweens".
Our work schedules allow someone to always be home and the pup gets more outside play, training, and activity than any of our dogs, but is rarely tired and always ready for "more". He rarely naps, loses interest in a chew within 15 minutes and then finds trouble. He becomes a cranky, overwound puppy that cannot settle. Our trainer discourages use of the crate for "settle down time" or timeout, but we feel that the pup needs some way to settle down and he's not ready to do so through training.
We are beginning to wonder our pup is not responding to the purely positive training methods. In the past, we were willing to handle counter surfing, chasing our cats, jumping/chewing on furniture/people, and general misbehavior with corrections. We used leash correction, shaker cans, squirt bottles, etc. and our dogs learned quickly. Now, we are encouraged to ignore misbehavior and wait until he makes the correct choice. It doesn't feel like the approach works for a big, active, young GSD.
Any advice on training practices for a very active and young GSD will be much appreciated. We are going to enroll him with a new trainer, but are not certain which principles are best for him.
Thank you!
With this pup, we are trying the Positive approach and it aligns with most of our attitudes toward general training...keep things positive and build the dog's confidence. BUT this puppy is very high energy, less interested in listening and less likely to follow a direction than any dog we have ever owned.
This pup knows his basics, and more, but has "selective hearing", especially as he grows into his "terrible tweens".
Our work schedules allow someone to always be home and the pup gets more outside play, training, and activity than any of our dogs, but is rarely tired and always ready for "more". He rarely naps, loses interest in a chew within 15 minutes and then finds trouble. He becomes a cranky, overwound puppy that cannot settle. Our trainer discourages use of the crate for "settle down time" or timeout, but we feel that the pup needs some way to settle down and he's not ready to do so through training.
We are beginning to wonder our pup is not responding to the purely positive training methods. In the past, we were willing to handle counter surfing, chasing our cats, jumping/chewing on furniture/people, and general misbehavior with corrections. We used leash correction, shaker cans, squirt bottles, etc. and our dogs learned quickly. Now, we are encouraged to ignore misbehavior and wait until he makes the correct choice. It doesn't feel like the approach works for a big, active, young GSD.
Any advice on training practices for a very active and young GSD will be much appreciated. We are going to enroll him with a new trainer, but are not certain which principles are best for him.
Thank you!