Dutch Shepherd Forum

All my other dogs pretty much learned to settle down by 1 year of age, with that time fast approaching I don't see my dutchie even close to settling down in the house. I feel bad because I keep him kenneled most of the day, but even on leash in the house he goes after every piece of furniture/pillow/washrag/envelope.

My pup loves those listed things, as well as corners of anything. At 4 months, seems like I habe a ways to go

Radar is 5, and if he's not stimulated mentally and physically, he'll find some mischief to get into.

He's learned that if my wife gets in the shower before he gets his morning walk, he's not going to get one. So, he finds something - usually a shoe - and he drags it to the middle of the living room. He doesn't chew them up much anymore unless he's really pissed off.

The best part is that Leela is a snitch. She's got a special bark for him whenever he does this.

Tyler Durden wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:37 am I keep him kenneled most of the day,

this is your problem.. these dogs are not meant to be kenneled. THey are meant to go all day, running, playing, and mostly working.

Dutchringgirl wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:29 pm

Tyler Durden wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:37 am I keep him kenneled most of the day,

this is your problem.. these dogs are not meant to be kenneled. THey are meant to go all day, running, playing, and mostly working.

Well I made it sound worse than it is...the kennel is huge, and it's in the basement/man cave so he has human interaction while he's in it. I do stimulate him daily with tug/search and obedience work, my problem is he thinks every loose item in the house is a play toy. If he sees a newspaper he will grab it and destroy it. He got a hold of an umbrella and he grabbed it with both hands and would not let go until I choked him off (which is getting MUCH harder to do now that he's so big) I told my trainer about all of this and he laughed it off and said "normal dutch shepherd behavior". He's extremely possessive,like more so than I've ever seen really.

I don’t know if they ever can be trusted but I hope so. I allow Rogue to be off leash when I can watch her well.

Tyler Durden wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:12 pm

Dutchringgirl wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:29 pm

Tyler Durden wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:37 am I keep him kenneled most of the day,

this is your problem.. these dogs are not meant to be kenneled. THey are meant to go all day, running, playing, and mostly working.

Well I made it sound worse than it is...the kennel is huge, and it's in the basement/man cave so he has human interaction while he's in it. I do stimulate him daily with tug/search and obedience work, my problem is he thinks every loose item in the house is a play toy. If he sees a newspaper he will grab it and destroy it. He got a hold of an umbrella and he grabbed it with both hands and would not let go until I choked him off (which is getting MUCH harder to do now that he's so big) I told my trainer about all of this and he laughed it off and said "normal dutch shepherd behavior". He's extremely possessive,like more so than I've ever seen really.

Gotcha ! You need to be firm and consistent all of the time. Sadie was the same way, I used to joke on here about making Sadie soup because I was like a broken record all day " Sadie NO!" "Sadie NO" Yes it is normal, but to laugh it off and not help you is not a good trainer. Keep them on a leash until this behavior is solid. teach them" leave it". Also, clean up after yourself, do not leave things around for them to get. They have a very difficult time with willpower, so if it is there in view, they will go for it..

as soon a you see him going for something, he will be on the leash so you can intervene asap. When you are not able to watch him, either crate him, or if he is staying in the man cave, make sure there is nothing he can get that he is not supposed to.

They are all possessive, they are dogs, they do not understand yet what is theirs and not theirs. Possessive is a human word.

its either time for a new trainer, or you need to up your work with him, or both.

One day, when saide was an adult (cough) I was in the shower, and when I came out, there were feathers ALL OVER the room. She had pulled a Comforter off the bed but it got stuck on the corner of the bed and played tug of war with it.

Joxgirl wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2018 1:30 am I don’t know if they ever can be trusted but I hope so. I allow Rogue to be off leash when I can watch her well.

That is a statement that allows the dog to be in control, they can be trusted when you have put the time into them. If I can trust Sadie, it is possible.

Dutchringgirl wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2018 2:46 pm [

That is a statement that allows the dog to be in control, they can be trusted when you have put the time into them. If I can trust Sadie, it is possible.
[/quote]

This is what I wanted to say. I’m sick in bed and could not make clear statements. But you definitely said it better.