7-month old GSD biting

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7-month old GSD biting

Posted : 8/22/2010 7:44:51 PM

My Mom and I have a 7-month old German Shepherd (just over 50 lbs.); for the most part Nikita is pretty good however she has this thing with biting. Whenever I went to my Mom's when Nikita was 3-4 months old, she used to jump and bite when I would come in the house. I started ignoring her and the behaviour has been getting better. However, when my husband and I go over to my Mom's, Nikita gets so excited, she jumps up at him and bites; when I take her by her collar, she latches on to my arm and bites down to the point that I have had bruises on my arms for months now due to constant biting. My husband tries to dominate her by putting her down on the ground but that just makes her bite more and she gets a wild look in her eyes. I've asked him to ignore her but she persists on jumping and biting and he insists on putting her on the ground.
People have told me she'll stop and the breeder said she was going through a phase not long after we brought her home at 8-weeks of age but this is REALLY becoming frustrating. As I said, she's 7-months old and this needs to stop. I've tried the pennies in a can trick, telling her 'no', putting bitter apple on my arm and nothing is getting through to her. She is very strong headed and persistent.
It seems she bites when she's anxious or excited or maybe frustrated. She also tries to bite when you take her by her collar when you want her to go somewhere that she doesn't want to go (i.e. in her crate or when it's time to come in the house).
We've taken her to puppy class and she did well, my Mom takes her on long walks and they meet other people and dogs so she is constantly being socialized. I tell my husband that the reason she's acting like this towards him is because he keeps doing it and she thinks it's a game. Then when I go over to my Mom's during the week, she starts biting me again. She also takes things when I go over to my Mom's...like my shoes, a towel that's hanging, newspaper, the remote control for the stereo, etc...anything she can get her paws on.

HELP! How can I get her to stop this behaviour??

glenmar

Posted : 8/22/2010 8:03:56 PM

Sounds to me like this dog is ruling the roost. She needs to be crated BEFORE you and your hubby enter the house, and she needs to be crated away from the doors and traffic areas of the house. More training is absolutely in order and I strongly suggest that anyone who has daily contact with this dog be involved in the training. Remember that the trainer does NOT train the dog, but the people who handle the dog. Your husband IS making matters worse with his dominance with the dog....it doesn't work and the dog is aggressing more because of it.

GSD's bond very strongly with one person. I'm thinking that part of the problem is that she is confused, and that she really needs only ONE handler.

Liesje

Posted : 8/22/2010 8:17:17 PM

Many GSDs especially at this age can have an anxious "edge" to them. She probably is anxious and/or frustrated like you say. She's "loading up" and unfortunately, loading up into your arms. It's not really uncommon with the breed, even for the dog to load into its own handler, if the handler doesn't have a respectable working relationship with the dog. Does she have any sort of outlet like hard exercise? (sprinting fetch, going on a long jog) Playing tug? Not just walks or pet type training for food and praise but this dog probably needs more mental and physical stimulation so she has an outlet for the frustration and prey drive.

And you are correct that your husband is just playing her game by trying to "dominate" her. She would be better off with the owner sternly telling her "No!" and immediately crating or confining her out of sight. GSDs are very bonded and sometimes social corrections work really well. That would mean removing the dog and totally ignoring her for 5 minutes or so and if she is calm and quiet she can come out and try again. If you watch "It's Me or the Dog", Victoria Stillwell uses this strategy quite often. Basically the dog needs to learn rules and boundaries. She is NOT being aggressive, dominant, or doing anything that any one of us wouldn't expect from this breed at this age with no boundaries. She needs to earn her privilege of being free when guests arrive. Until the rude behavior is tackled, confine or crate her when people come over and if she behaves appropriately, she can come out and socialize. If not, put her away again.

I also agree with Glenda, the primary owner/handler needs to work on this. Other people should NOT correct or discipline the dog at this age, it is a very impressionable age and there are enough nerve problems with the breed. If your mom is the primary owner, she should work on this issue and prevent the dog from mouthing other people until it is under control. Socialization is key but if the dog is out, your mom should have her under control on a leash and not for so long that the dog gets overstimulated. I like my GSDs to view people as neutral, so I often take them out places and walk them around but they aren't necessarily approaching people or physically interacting. If the dog is allowed to continue the behavior, it will escalate and it also becomes self-rewarding. If other people are allowed to attempt to correct it, the dog may have some bad experiences and become fear-aggressive and also distrust the owner.