Getting a new dog that is older

I totally agree with every one so far. I know you researched this breed, but the main problem besides not totally understanding this breed. Is you got your dog at a very troubling time. GSD go threw a teenage stage where they challenge every thing and every body if not properly handled from the age of 8 mo to 2 years. Its really no big deal if you know what your going threw and what the dog is going threw. But there are several things going on here. The dog has lost his family or pack, this is very unsettling for a dog. This has most likely made him more insecure than he all ready was. Hence wanting to be in the house with you at night.

German Shepherds love to be around people, they crave it, and really thrive on it. They take direction from their owners hence why they are such good Shepherds, police dogs, therapy dogs, guide dogs for the blind. But if you remove the person in charge of the dog, they feel lost, helpless and will act out as he is doing.

Going threw the house acting like a tyrant, mouthing is most likely his way of acting out, and trying to find who is the leader of the pack in your household. A leader is a serene thing, they are quiet, strong, sure of them self's. And the more stronger the leader is in himself. The more secure and smooth the pack will be. A leader does not fawn or kissy kissy over the members of the pack.

So what are you going to do? Well if you plan on keeping the dog, you need to set up a plan of re-adjustment for the dog. So he understands the rules of the house. Most people make the mistake when they get an older GSD to allow them the run of the house. And have no set rules or plan of action to make it go smoothly. They all have this grand idea living happily ever after with their GSD but it does not come together with out a plan.

1. Control the dogs access in the house, until the rules are firmly established. Using a crate for the dogs peace of mind. You would use this when you can not watch him, or for bedtime and when you gone. This helps him to settle in to the daily routine of your household. A crate is not a prison but a den of safety and security for the dog. Its his place to relax and to just be himself. To think things over after a good training lesson.

2. Setting up the feeding schedule. Dogs in a pack have a set eating ritual, and only the Alpha gets to eat first. So you want to let the dog know that the food comes from you only after you have eaten. So what do you do if you like to feed the dog first. Well #1. you should feed your dog twice a day, as this is healthier for him, less chance of bloat. You know how much he is eating when you get to monitor his food intake. So your preparing his food, you would put it on the counter where he can see his dish. You put his food into the bowl. Then while he is watching you will eat a cookie, cheese or cracker over his food dish. This very simple act is letting your dog know that you eat first, and he is a remember of the pack and will always eat after you. Then I would not allow him any treats or table scraps until you have the behavior you want from him under- control.

3. Next is the regretting ritual. As strange as it sounds, dogs get stressed when the Alpha leaves the pack. The security they want and crave has gone. So when the Alpha returns the regretting of your dog is very important! Now most people get the dogs reaction on returning all wrong. The dog will be all happy, and kissy kissy when you come thru the door. What the dog is actually asking is? How your still the Alpha? Are you still in charge? Did you get hurt while you were gone, did your leadership change at all? So what do most humans do? We get all happy thinking that they missed us. So we return the greeting in the manner they greet us. This is totally wrong. What we are actually doing is returning the power of the pack back onto the dog. By making a big fuss over the dog, it give them the power of leadership. Because the Alpha when they return to the pack come in quiet, serene and ignoring the other lesser dogs. This communicates to them that they are still strong, they did not get hurt while hunting, or forging. That all is well, they are still the leader. The lesser remembers of the pack will greet the Alpha with kissing of their mouth, jumping on them and generally making a big nuisance of them self's. The Alpha ignores this behavior and walks thru the pack bumping the others and turning their face away from the pack. They are just being strong and communicating that all is as it was when they left. Now this length of time can be a little as five minutes or 8 hours. It does not make a difference to dog. Your being gone is being gone and any thing could of happened in that frame of time. So now you have come into your home, you dog is jumping all over you. You will tell your dog nothing, no eye contact, no verbal greetings at all. This is not telling your dog that you do not love them. But that your still in charge and all is well. Now after the dogs goes and lays down. You will wait five minutes to let all this sink in. Now you can greet your dog with talking and body pats. All is well in your doggy world.

4. Next you will use control methods to control the dog to let them know who is in charge. I would have a leash on the dog at all times including in the house. That way you have a way to control the dog, by grabbing the leash. Also having him tethered to you, during the first couple of weeks at least will help with the bonding process and teaches him to look up to you for leadership. You will use sits, downs, stays, crate time, Heel to all control your dogs behavior. Example is, dog is running threw the house. You will grab the dogs leash and tell the dog to sit, and make the dog sit. Then after he has sat for a few minuets you will then praise the dog and reward him with a favorite toy or chewie to reward the dog. This is called re-direction of the dog. If he is misbehaving then you will re-place that behavior with what you want i.e. sit, down, be still, and to stay. The more you do this the better you will get at it. Also it is a lot easier to stop bad behavior before the dog reacts in physical form and only thinking about it. So if you know your dog is thinking about doing something you do not want, then replace his actions with what you want. Then tons of praise, treats, happy voice and body pats and just affections towards the dog. Let him know that he did good!

5. Also you must be in control over the dog in all things. And that includes his potty breaks during his first few weeks and months with you. You should not just let him outside with out supervision. You must take him out on a leash and give him the command to go potty or what ever word you want to use. The point is to direct his every action must come from you, and that your his life line. That he is to take all guidance from you in his new life.

   Now you will also use this control over his walks. At first you will not teach him to heel but to look to you for leadership in his walks. I prefer a prong or choke collar for this next plan of action. I really like flexi leads, but a good leather leash will work fine also. As you leave you house or car for you walks. You want to communicate to your dog that he must look to you for all things including him walks. So has he hits the end of the line you will stop. Do nothing, just stand there. If he looks to you, call him quietly to you. As he steps towards you, encourage him to come to you. Then as he approaches then you may go forward in your walking. Continue this process until he looks to you for leadership in his walks. He must not hit the end of the line, if he continues to do so. I would use the noise of UGG and a good snap of the line to communicate to him that this is not the behavior you want. As soon as you stop and correct him, he should come towards you then praise and use your good voice to reward the dog that coming to you. Looking to you for leadership is the thing you want.

6. Next use your play time with the dog to better bond with the dog. You can use fetch games, and find it games where he gets to find you will help with the bonding process better. I have a saying I tell my dog training clients all the time. The more you do with your dog the more you can do with your dog.

7. Massage this helps teach your dog to relax and to also look to you for leadership and in the process he bonds with you better, and learns that all things good come from you. And to learn to trust you, in the massage process. It feels good, it relaxes him and he learns he must be still and you can you touch him any where and handle him no matter what the situation is. This really helps with Vet visits also.

8. Obedience classes, not with a trainer that trains your dog, but trains you to train your dog. To teach you how to handle your own dog. I can personally with most dogs, have them trained and doing what I want in the first lesson. But that is not the point. The point is YOU MUST LEARN HOW TO HANDLE YOUR OWN DOG.

Well I have given you allot to think about, and allot do to IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR DOG.

The one thing people do not know or understand, is this. They love the German Shepherd they are regal dogs, they are strong dogs. But not everyone can or should own one. They are smart, very smart and can be very dominant dogs. It takes a special person to own a German Shepherd, it takes allot of work, planning and time to get what you want from you GSD. If your not wanting to do everything I have laid out for you for a good relationship with your dog. Then re-home him please! like I said not everyone can or should own a German Shepherd Dog these are very special dogs and take special people to own them.

Good luck in your decision with your dog.

MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE LIKE A GSD.