We have a pure breed German Shepherd and he is about 2 1/2 yrs. WE have had him since he was 4 wks old. We love him and he is great with the kids (in my family the youngest is 6), but lately he has taken to growling and hiding from our 10 year old, 8 year old, and 6 year old. They haven't mistreated him at all. Sometimes it seems that he is depressed or jealous of them. Whenever we leave for a couple of hours, he wil be "mad" at us when we come back. (greeting us with ears down and slinking away) He also seems to have reacurring infections in his ears. Can anyone help? We have take him to the vet repeatedly but to no avail. PLEASE!!???
2006-09-27 19:09:13 · 7 answers · asked by km 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
He is fed twice a day with meals that fill his dish, he gets baloney or salami treats all the time, we always have fresh clean water in his dish and we have over a half an acre of land that he roams...
2006-09-27 19:20:07 · update #1
whenever the kids are outside he is with them doing his job and guarding his "sheep". Our 15 yr old wrestles with him and "races" him. We have 6 children, he has LOTS of attention and love, HE gets smooched, petted, belly rubbed, and talked to.
2006-09-27 19:29:18 · update #2
wow lots going on i used to raise shep. for the ear infections try a new food a different source of protein if your using chicken now try lamb,fish etc. use the new food for at least 2 months that may help with the ear infections. have the younger children be incharge of feeding the dog and giving him the treats. maybe send him to a socializtion class with one of the kids . he may have seperation anxiety ask the vet about medication to help him out. seems pure breed dogs have more trouble then mixed breeds thats why its important to go to a repetable breeder who wont keep breeding bad traits.
2006-09-27 19:42:12 · answer #1 · answered by bakergirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe he need a girl German Shepherd.
If, his ears are sore and smell they may hurt!!! Children may touch around the ears and it hurt!!! So, it may be ear mites. They sell stuff for this or ask here and people tell you what to do. Dogs need attention just like people. He needs to be played with and loved!!!! My woman says I love my dog more than her, but, that not true. I just care about my dog and know he needs attention too.
One more thing at this age. German Shepherds were about the first dogs to start having that Hip Displacea stuff. You may want to ask the vet, if this true then again the Children Playing with him may cause pain and he try to stay away. It really seems how he act there is a relation of pain and how he handled by the children. It normal dog reaction how he doing when they hurt.
2006-09-28 02:21:53 · answer #2 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
German Shepards don't do well as house pets. They were bred to be smart. As smart as children. They were bred to do a job, herding sheep all day, rain and shine.
If you want one as a pet you have to exercise him for at least an hour a day. Hard exercise, not a leisurely stroll around the block. He needs to RUN, consider getting a bicycle and take him for runs.
Consider joining agility, Flyball, or something else that will
stimulate him mentally as well as physically. He needs a job to do everyday.
The behavior you are seeing is going to get worse. In addition to snapping at the kids, he may take to nuisance barking, destroying stuff, spinning in circles and generally being a pain in the butt.
Get him some training and get him something to do.
EDIT
Even all the property you have for him to roam is not enough. He has to have something to do, mentally and physically.
2006-09-28 02:24:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would enroll him in obedience class and have the kids be the primary trainers(under supervision,of course).Also, have the kids be the ones who feed him,and make him sit before he is fed.This will make him look at the kids as "pack leaders' and hopefully,solve your problem.But don't leave the dog alone with the kids,just to be on the safe side.Good luck;GSD is a great family pet.
2006-09-28 02:25:42 · answer #4 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They could be whacking him when you're gone. Or are they pulling o n his ears? We had a GS and he was wonderful with the entire family. Maybe their boisterous voices are hurting his ears.
Time to go to the Vet andfind out
2006-09-28 02:18:07 · answer #5 · answered by Lake Lover 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really sounds like something physical, like someone suggested maybe he is having joint problems and the kids playing is painful for him. His only way to deal with it would be growling and keeping away from them.
Or maybe they were innocently grabbing at his ears and now he is trying to protect himself because it hurts??
2006-09-28 07:19:37 · answer #6 · answered by ontario ashley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you giving him enough exercise everyday??
Does he have enough water and food??
Do you play with him every day??Treats??
If you answered yes to all of them maybe your dog just wants more fun.
2006-09-28 02:13:10 · answer #7 · answered by bhawks19 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋