AboutLabman Expertise housebreaking, feeding, training, grooming
PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet.
Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.
Experience
Past/Present clients I have been around the net a long time answering questions including the general dog area of All Experts. I recently discovered a lack of good experts under many specific breeds. I don't have as extensive experience with the GSD as Labs, but still can give good answers to most questions.
I try to base my answers on carefully proven methods confirmed by my own experience. Much of what I know about dogs, I have learned raising a puppy every year since 1991 for a large dog guide school. I am familiar with several similar programs. Nobody is in a better position to know dogs, need ones with long, active life, and share what they know, than the service dog schools. In addition I have done extensive reading. My answers have much more to back them than the limited experience any one dog owner can have.
Expert: Labman Date: 7/6/2008 Subject: German Shepard attackes Begal
Question I have a 8 month old Female German Shepard puppy. I got her when she was 1 month old. Our beagle was there before her and is about 3yrs old. The GS has attacked the beagle about 3 times in different instance. 1 time she was out side and saw the beagle eat a piece a cereal that had fallen on the floor; she attacked when she came in. Another time the beagle was barking at something. This last time a piece of bread was given to each dog and the beagle was throw and thrashed around by the Shepard to where my wife and daughter had to pull her off of the beagle for fear of it life, the beagle was bleeding. 98% of the time the dogs get along and she tries to get him to play with her. Confused and worried about the Shepard's nature. Seems like she just snaps into an attack mode and attacks the beagle. She is very sweet to whole family and we are all very attached
Answer Spay her if not already. Act fast or you will be stuck with going through the hassle, mess, and risks of her going through her season. Part of the behavior problems could be from her approching her season.
The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm
