Could anyone help?

I have just rehomed a male GSD who is 10 years old called Benji,which we were informed was neutered.  The only problem is, is that he keeps trying to mount my other dog (who is definitely neutered) called Jasper and also is trying it on my children a bit. We have checked him and appears to have been castrated, is this a typical GSD thing or not?  Could he have been castrated later in life and this is what happens?  Jasper has been known to give off signals to other dogs to mount him in the past and wonder if this is also something we also have to look at.

The other thing we have noticed is that Benji keeps sniffing the ears of Jasper (as if they smell nice or horrid, not sure which) and trying to nip them, this is not concerning to Jasper but it is to me.   We don't know if he is trying to become to "Top Dog" as we know Benji isn't at the moment.  Jasper is also a rescue dog and is smaller than Benji but is older. Benji has also started to bark at Jasper while i am in the room with them both and doesn't stop unless I stand up.

The mounting is probably a dominance thing, and not sexual at all. My mother-in-law's two shepherds went through a bit of this when the younger one was introduced to the older - both females, one spayed one not - but the older one would climb onto the younger one's shoulders, and this is apparently a show of dominance and assertion. I think that is all it is. I am not sure what the nipping is unless it is trying to goad the other dog to play - like play biting - I am only a new owner myself, but I know that mounting like this is not a GSD thing, as the German Spitz my mother-in-law also has regularly tries to 'hump' the younger GSD (who looks at her in disgust!) as she is trying to assert herself over the younger dog, and make a show of her dominance (although she only does it when the older dog has pinned the younger one down in play, and then the Spitz comes running over for what we refer to as a 'stelth hump' before running away before the younger shepherd gets back up again!)

Hi there

I have a Parson Jack Russell cross who has been done.  We got him through a rescue home when he was about 6-7 months old at this stage he had not had his op.  On taking him to the vet, he did warn us that as he was now an adolescent, his hormones had entered into his body and he could still try to mount even after the op. Although there would be no more hormones entering his blood stream the initial release of hormones encouraged his sexual behaviour.  We had him done and whilst he has calmed down alot, he still tries to mount legs, etc!  At the same time we got our Staffy girl cross, had her done also, etc, Bless her, she has learnt to sit on it and Levi (my boy) soon learnt he was going to get nowhere with her!
Although we got both dogs at the same time and they had played with each other in the dogs home, there was still a power struggle over who was going to be 'top dog'.  This resolved itself as my husband and I being pack leaders, although both dogs had to fight/decide between themselves who was next in the pecking order.  This did resolve itself but whenever I saw one being more dominant over the other, I would step in but ocassionally and providing there is no fear of injury, sometimes its best for them to work it out.  I have recently looked after my two dogs plus my mum's Poodle and my grandmothers Yorkie.  I knew that there would be issues but providing we were firm and every dog knew its place i.e. I'm top dog, they all behaved fine.  There was the odd disagreement but it did resolve itself.  I have heard that biting ears is a dominace issue but it would appear that you have established yourself as pack leader as you have said when you stand up Benji will stop barking. Obviously unwanted behaviour needs to be discouraged and there aer various kews/triggers which will work on getting Benji's attention for you then to give a command.  It does get easier and things will work out.  Two years on with my two and they get on like a house on fire and wouldn't be without eahc other.  I have got the best of them now through good training...

Sounds like normal GSD behaviour to me. The mounting isn't necessarily dominance(I do hate that word)& if it is not behaviour you want try distraction & reward of behaviour you want

Ear sniffing/biting dominance ? in that case my Alpha bitch is being dominated by my youngest cavalier, who spends ages washing her ears(she doesn't object  in fact she I think enjoys it)& my puppy is always chewing on them

GSD do bark they are a very vocal breed & barking in my limited 40+ years experience is an invitation to interact or an attention seeking behaviour. Anyone hearing my GSDs playing in the past would have thought WWIII had broken out