Hi i was talking to a friend of mine last night.We got onto the subject of dogs.Anyway this lady`s Dad bred dogs for Securicor to use as guard dogs.She told me he bred GSD`s.What he reckoned was that about 9 months old a GSD will turn on its master an depending on how you handle the situation will either make it a well behaved dog or a very awkward dog to handle.In no uncertain term`s her dad ended up "chinning" the dog with an upper cut.I couldn`t believe this and just laughted at her.Surely if it was true his dogs must have been really bad tempered an just bred for agression .Anyway i have a 12 week old GSD puppy.Should i be worried an keep lookin over my shoulder  at 9 months?? or is this a load of cr**??

A load of cow manure I've had GSDs for nearly 50 years & never had one of mine turn on me

At nine months old a GSD is well and truely an adolescent.  Any adolescent dog sometimes takes a few steps backwards, but gentle handling and patience win out over the first hormonal rush of youth.   This is not "turning on" the owner or handler, although if your friend's father is accustomed to beating his dogs it seems to me an appropriate response.

Stacey

< although if your friend's father is accustomed to beating his dogs it seems to me an appropriate response.>

Appropriate ?? beating a dog is never appropriate & I've never had a GSD bite me as youthful behaviour If puppy nipping is taught as being unacceptable there is never a problem even when the hormones kick in

I don't think you meant hitting the dog is appropriate but to be expected from someone who has to hit their dogs to get submission Stacey

Moonmaiden,

I meant a dog who turns on someone who beats it would be an appropriate response from the dog, NOT that beating a dog is appropriate. 

Stacey

Strangely enough dogs rarely turn on owners that abuse them unless it is taunting rather than phusical abuse, I've dealt with a good number of physically abused dogs & most are very very introverted & frightened of physical contact. That's were T Touch comes in

I thought you didn't mean hitting a dog was appropriate in any situation

It's a load of tosh. You've been lied to. No two ways about it.

Hi I have had gsd all my life, and well what you say i just cannot beleive, if you treat this breed with respect you will get that back, if you treat this breed with aggression then that is what you will get back in return, i am sorry there is no need to beat anydog, and if i ever saw anyone giving a dog a upper cut well he/ she would get one back, i hate to see or hear ppl being cruel to animals and i certainly would report them, it is true how ever that gsd are normaly a one man dog, like my simba he was more my hubbys dog, but he loved me and kids also, they will try too get one over you though, if they can be top dog they will be,, you do have to be firm with them from day one, and show them who is boss, but never by beating, i used to just give my gsd a little shake by the scruff and that worked, not hard so that he yelped just a shake and a firm NO does the trick, he did show his teeth at me when i first did that, but then i just shook him again and yelled NO then he just went down and submitted and licked me,,i have never had one turn on me, all GSD wants to do is please their owners, they love to please, like any dog, never hit any dog, or do anything that is going to cause the dog harm, the reason i shook by the scruff is because i was mimicing what the mum would of done, as my vet told me that is the best way to scold them, and it never caused my gsd any harm what so ever, he never yelped when i did it, it was the shock value more than anything, like hey mum is not going to take crap from me, better be good ..lol

Hope this helps, and please please if this guy is a breeder and is treating the dogs in a manner where you think OMG please report him, you dont have to give your name but if you do , they are never told who has reported him/ her, trust me i have reported my next door neighbour for keeping her dog chained up all day and night, with no food or water, and she never knew it was me.

Hugs

Anybody with an attitude like that to handling dogs of any breed is asking for problems IMO. Yes adolescents can get a bit unruly, but all they need is firm consistency. I have worked with Army patrol dogs, all GSD's as well as owning them, and we certainly never treated our dogs like that....recruits..yes, but definatley not the dogs!! :)

Hmm i really cant see my Ambers temprement turning that drastic in 2 months. It just sounds like they are being bred nasty so when they mature they become nasty young dogs probably through lack of socialisation

Sorry!!! I must add this was over 30 years ago.Since then this bloke has emigrated to spain.Thankfully!!