Thread: 14 week old GSD way too friendly

You need to become the centre of your dogs universe. Perhaps star by allowing the dog to go to people who have been instructed to show no affection or even acknowledge the dog. When the dog returns its focus to you it is greeted with alot of excitment food rewards games what ever you prefer. Once the dog has shown the right behaviours in this situation you can slowly move onto more people, strangers then nuetral unexcitable dogs. When you do decide to allow the dog to interact with other people make it learn that it only gets attention when displaying a calm attitude. The hardest part is teaching others how to react to your dog. Be ready to correct your dog if it is doing things like jumping at people or pulling at pant legs because these can often be self rewarding behaviours. It is hard to give you the tools needed over the internet so I suggest you find a good trainer in your area to work with one on one.

Also once your dog has learnt to behave you should still socialise him. You want you dog to be confident not untrusting towards everyone.

At what age do they usually start showing their protective nature? She barks at strange objects in the corrider, e.g a broom with a jacket on to look like a person, but thats only in the corridor, the same object at the front door has no reaction.

Seems like an enviornmental issue to me with the dog showing fear to broom. I would also say that it is way too young to show any real type of aggression or true character this is the time you should be building the character through socialisation and start with an experianced trainer in your area. Dogs will only show true defensive and fight drive after a certain age once they have matured somewhat and have experianced training in protection, which all starts from prey drive.

I live in Adelaide, am going to take her to the Adelaide Sportdog Club (Schutzhund), they said we can start laying the foundations, will the Schutzhund club help work on the distraction issue? If not are there any trainers in Adelaide that would be recommended? Thanks

Contact Mark Singer who is also a member on this forum, you can view his website and contact details by visiting his site. Contact

The other club is Euro dog sport club in Adelaide, pm Chris Jones for more info.

[=Sanji's Brother;15853]I live in Adelaide, am going to take her to the Adelaide Sportdog Club (Schutzhund), they said we can start laying the foundations, will the Schutzhund club help work on the distraction issue? If not are there any trainers in Adelaide that would be recommended? Thanks[/]

The Adelaide Sportdog Club don't train in personal protection or security only the sport of Schutzhund. They train in obedience and drive building with puppies which will address distraction issues, but the sport of Schutzhund is not about creating dogs for any form of security work and is more about teaching obedience, responsible dog ownership and training the dogs to play a specific game.

Is you puppy from working or show lines, just interested??.

I was just going to post in discussion about work vs show. Sanji was an old style GSD, beautiful straight backed, Black n gold, really big boned with a deep chest, she was 48 kg in her prime and 69 cm at the shoulder, (when measured at 14 bday), born 9.10.1995 in Canberra and lived to be 14 years and 7mths. can someone please let me know how to post pics up here I really want ppl to see her.
Check THE SANJI FOUNDATION - Home for pics of her and esp check seniors corner for help with elderly GSDs and treatment for DM.
My new puppy is from Queensland, her mom looked just like Sanji, straight back, same colours (black n gold), just a bit smaller, she was from guard dog stock. her dad was a black n tan, he had a slight angulation (very slight), huge big boned head with a predominantly black face. Our pup is def not show lines, she is the one in the litter than looks most like her mom.
I wasn't going to get another dog, and it was way too soon, but Sanji was my only real support system, my rock, without her I was broken, I need Canine companionship, so the new pup my mom n dad got for me as a grief support dog, who I can confide in.
The reason I was concerned about the guarding thing is that alot of the show lines have weak temperaments and barely any protective nature.
I'm going to be pretty harsh here because I've loved GSD's since I was 4 and cannot believe whats happened to the breed. The Roached backed, shortened muzzled GSDs with extremely weak hindquarters who walk like hyenas are not healthy nor what Max Von Stephanitz envisioned. I love how the working GSDs (DDRs and solid blacks) have maintained their straight backs, in Australia its become next to impossible to find Shepherds without angulation in their conformation. I was wondering if people on this forum know of or have seen more of Sanji's type of GSD in Australia, what in Britain is often called Alsatians and are used in the British Police force, (Send in the Dogs is full of them, Sanji and I used to love watching it), and what people think of the angulation issue.
also btw its Sable not Grey, Sable GSDs have the agouti wild type colour, GSDs and Some Huskys are the only breeds of Domestic dogs to share this colouration with wolves and coyotes. (did a lit review on dogs for Vet Sci, will put the reference to the paper, good read) Why the GSD club would want to take that away from our dogs is beyond me.

Hi Sanji's Brother

It is hard to replace such a wonderful bond with a truly unique animal.
Like people every dog has its own character there are no two dogs alike.
They might be similar in looks, they might be the same high or whatever but each animal is also an individual.

Your story is very nice and it reminds me of my GSD that I left in Poland as a kid (12yo).
We to had a special dog that I could not replace. The best think that I can tell you is to remember Sanji for her special qualities and look forward to the new pup to show you her special and unique qualities.

Adam VIPSS