Hi

I can certainly recommend the Sirius Training methods, everyone who has a puppy should read it.

I was luckily enough to work with Ian Dunbar in the UK a few times and apart from being a font of knowledge, he is also great fun, we had some very late nights playing amazing games that made me change the way my dog saw me!!

It sounds like your GSD got 'the wind beneath his tail' over the weekend! Seriously puppies particularly are affected by the weather conditions, as are humans, it may be you didn't take him out as much because of the weather and all this has a knock on effect. As Janice says, don't worry too much about the toilet training, I wouldn't think that is a serious issue, he is still young and bearing in mind the weather.

It is important that you continue to have routine and leadership, being really consistent with this as regards him working for his treats, attention etc. Also try and 'feel' in control and positive, dogs so pick up on our weaknesses and if he has done something and you have sighed in exasperation, he will know this, so think positive, think leadership, think control!!!!

With the nipping it will improve, he is still young, if he was little it wouldn't be such an issue, but a growing GSD - it always seems worse than it is.

Again, be consistent, as soon as his teeth are used, shout 'Ow' (sharply and quickly making it short not drawn out, very loudly and withdraw immediately, turn away and leave him, If you have done it right, he will just sit and look at you, may wag his tail in appeasement, avoid eyecontact and do something completely different, paying your attention to something else - examine the wallpaper if you have to!!!! You need to decide at what stage you are going to use 'ow' to help with his bite inhibition, it may be as soon as his mouth touches, or as soon as his teeth, whatever, me consistent and praise when he is doing it right.

To teach him to be gentle taking food, hold a treat in your fingers, if he goes to grab pull back the treat immediately very quickly and say 'Ah' very sharply, make a fist if you have to, pause a second and offer the treat again and say 'nicely' or whatever you choose, if he does it again, repeat and keep doing this until he takes approaches calmly, when you can release the treat and give him 'calm' praise. It is all in the timing. If he gets wound up, stop, ignore move away and try again later.

It sounds like you have a 'high' dog, think about what you are feeding for a start and try and give calm praise, too often we can go over the top with praising and some dogs just can't deal with this, so praise appropriately.

Ignoring your dog is very powerful thing to do, so any unwanted behaviours do it, he will soon learn what is acceptable. But on the other hand, praise the good.

Eliminate the Negative, Accentuate the positive!

Kate

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