GSD 2 month old pup

rockygsd123

Is it ok to have your 2 month old gsd puppy out in a kennel or is it too early and I should keep him in the house at this stage of his life?
I intend on using him as a guard dog.
thanks

foreversky

I had my lad in kennel ,he knows now kennel time is bed time door closed.

wolfpawnat

I would have thought it would be too early. But I am not too sure what the correct training for a guard dog is. It will whine, as well, puppies tend to even if they are in a crate indoors. It is fairly warm at the moment, but make sure it's accommodation is as warm as possible. And since puppies bladders are like a childs and they don't get through the night, leave the door open and make sure they can't wander.

paultf

rockygsd123 wrote: »

Is it ok to have your 2 month old gsd puppy out in a kennel or is it too early and I should keep him in the house at this stage of his life?
I intend on using him as a guard dog.
thanks

2 months as in 8 weeks?

I don't know much about GSDs but that doesn't seem right - even if you want him to become a guard dog.

How old was your pup when you got him? What I mean is surely the pup has to be socialised to some degree before being kept in a kennel.

rockygsd123

I just got him 2 days ago at 2 months
yeah I also think it's a bit too early but I wanted to get him used to being in the kennel in the garden so that he gets used to it,
the breeder told me to give him 2 months indoors to make him more at ease so I guess I will do that just wanted to know what other people think

BillyMitchel

Way to early. First get him used to people so knows the difference between friend and foe.

Even leaving him out on his own will not guarantee that he'll guard. Get the dog some training instead of leaving it to chance that he will!

Whispered

BillyMitchel wrote: »

Even leaving him out on his own will not guarantee that he'll guard. Get the dog some training instead of leaving it to chance that he will!

Highlighted bit very true. A dogs natural instincts will kick in and if he's a guarder he will guard. However if he's outdoors then that is where he will guard most, probably ignoring things if you have an indoor intruder so long as they don't go through "his" garden. The most effective guard dogs for a home are those who live in the home in my opinion.

If I were you I'd get him some good basic obedience training, loads of socialisation (they can be nervous so this is very important) and give him time for his instincts to kick in. I'd avoid "guard dog training" to be honest.

rockygsd123

does socialisation not interfere with him being a good guard dog and being wary of strangers?
thanks

wolfpawnat

rockygsd123 wrote: »

does socialisation not interfere with him being a good guard dog and being wary of strangers?
thanks

No, socialization ensures he will be safe around you and your friends and family. You just have to decide who he is socialized with. It is possible to train a dog to be very wary of strangers without him being completely left to his own devices.

rockygsd123

What is the best way to socialise your dog?
this might look like I didn't do my homework before getting the dog but I only started to consider these important points now
this is mainly because I was too eager to get one at first so I kinda rushed it

BillyMitchel

What the last poster said and leaving a dog just on its own could make it become nervous or frightful and could end up just biting everything and anything.

Did you get it from working lines? Does the breeders dogs hold any titles? What do you want the dog to guard?

rockygsd123

No it doesn't hold any titles and it's along haired straight backed gsd, I know that I referred to the person who soled me the dog as a breeder but in fact he is a farmer with a large number of gsd's and I got my puppy off him, he has good experience with them.
I'm guessing it's working line but I'm not sure as I wouldn't be able to afford a top level gsd anyway

rockygsd123

I want the dog to guard our home that's all, we live in a rough neighborhood so I felt I needed one, I also wanted one as a family pet

wolfpawnat

It's good that he has a straight back. Did the farmer give you hip scores?

With regards socialization and basic training I would suggest;

Dog parks once it has had all it's vaccinations. Most of them don't permit GSD as a rule, but very few will argue when they are small puppies.

Let him be around you and your family. Ignore any and all bad or unwanted behaviour such as going indoors and mouthing (nipping). With mouthing, pull the hand away and ignore the dog. With a restricted breed, mouthing will get you in loads of trouble very quickly. Reward good and wanted behaviours with praise and sometimes treats. GSD's are very intelligent and your guy will be fast to pick up anything you teach him.

Whispered

rockygsd123 wrote: »

does socialisation not interfere with him being a good guard dog and being wary of strangers?
thanks

Well if he's really wary of strangers he's more likely to bite, which you don't want. It's important to make sure he's comfortable to welcome people into your home when you welcome them. You don't want a guard dog who feels the need to guard all the time. Imagine every time your door bell goes having to deal with a large and scared dog. Nightmare!

rockygsd123 wrote: »

What is the best way to socialise your dog?
this might look like I didn't do my homework before getting the dog but I only started to consider these important points now
this is mainly because I was too eager to get one at first so I kinda rushed it

For proper socialisation, start now. Introduce him to as many different types of people and dogs as you can. Until he's fully vaccinated, keep it to people you know with vaccinated dogs in their or your home. Then when he's fully covered you can do more outdoor socialisation.

Personally, I would avoid dog parks. Granted it may be because I have two restricted breeds myself and wouldn't be permitted to use a lot of them anyway. I actually found that a lot of people who work with dogs and my vet agrees. There is a worry about the fact that some people don't really know what to look for when it comes to dog/dog behaviour and there are often scuffles etc. Apparently it differs hugely depending on what park you use though.

With a young dog you run the risk of making them fearful if they are "bullied" (for want of a better word) and with a GSD when he gets older you are likely to meet other owners who are uncomfortable with their dog playing with a restricted breed.

If you do decide to go to a dog park, stand outside first and watch how your pup reacts. If he's raring to get in then great, but don't force him. Also, watch how the relationships in the park are. If there are one or two causing problems with their owners ignoring then I wouldn't risk it.

Some places offer supervised socialisation, especially for puppies and their owners. You learn what to watch for, when and how to interrupt rough play etc. The one I know have trainers there for you to ask questions too.

You could consider daycare for your puppy so he can learn to socialise when you're not there, great for when you have to leave your dog when you go on holiday etc.

Or you could simply organise to meet some dog owners in your locality and socialise your dog with them and their dogs. There are loads of options.

With all dogs, but especially an RB, it's very important to socialise carefully and as early as possible.

wolfpawnat

Yes, I should have stated, when they are up to 6 months old most park go-ers will not mind a RB pup that seems to be socialized.

rockygsd123

Whispered wrote: »

Well if he's really wary of strangers he's more likely to bite, which you don't want. It's important to make sure he's comfortable to welcome people into your home when you welcome them. You don't want a guard dog who feels the need to guard all the time. Imagine every time your door bell goes having to deal with a large and scared dog. Nightmare!



For proper socialisation, start now. Introduce him to as many different types of people and dogs as you can. Until he's fully vaccinated, keep it to people you know with vaccinated dogs in their or your home. Then when he's fully covered you can do more outdoor socialisation.

Personally, I would avoid dog parks. Granted it may be because I have two restricted breeds myself and wouldn't be permitted to use a lot of them anyway. I actually found that a lot of people who work with dogs and my vet agrees. There is a worry about the fact that some people don't really know what to look for when it comes to dog/dog behaviour and there are often scuffles etc. Apparently it differs hugely depending on what park you use though.

With a young dog you run the risk of making them fearful if they are "bullied" (for want of a better word) and with a GSD when he gets older you are likely to meet other owners who are uncomfortable with their dog playing with a restricted breed.

If you do decide to go to a dog park, stand outside first and watch how your pup reacts. If he's raring to get in then great, but don't force him. Also, watch how the relationships in the park are. If there are one or two causing problems with their owners ignoring then I wouldn't risk it.

Some places offer supervised socialisation, especially for puppies and their owners. You learn what to watch for, when and how to interrupt rough play etc. The one I know have trainers there for you to ask questions too.

You could consider daycare for your puppy so he can learn to socialise when you're not there, great for when you have to leave your dog when you go on holiday etc.

Or you could simply organise to meet some dog owners in your locality and socialise your dog with them and their dogs. There are loads of options.

With all dogs, but especially an RB, it's very important to socialise carefully and as early as possible.

thank you very much for taking the time

Whispered

rockygsd123 wrote: »

thank you very much for taking the time

No problem at all!

Bullseye1

Personally I would not leave the dog outside until he is fully grown. It is open to being stollen at an early age. If you get him a crate and bed he can be house trained and would be better at alerting you while inside the house. Only put him outside in a well constructed kennel when he is well exercised. Far too many people leave their dog outside unexercised which can lead to anti-social behaviour and barking.

1. Plenty of exercise building up gradually from 10-15 minutes a day up to 1.5 hours a day. If you cannot commit to this length of time then hire a dog walker. Dogs need exercise and stimulation.

2. Puppy classes for socialising is a good place to start ensuring that you have all your shots and vaccinations.

3. Educate your kids on how to act around the dog, no pulling tails or ears etc. this is very very important and never leave the children by themselves with the dog. Don't put the dog or child in a position where an unfortunate accident can happen.

Best of luck with your new best buddy.

Knine

I agree with Whispered.

Believe it or not but a friendly and well socialised dog will be much more likely to make a better guard/watch dog then one who is wary.

My 5.5 kg and extremely friendly Border Terrier turned into a fiend when 2 years ago a hoody clad yob tried to take my phone.

maggiepip

I agree with whispered and knine! And will be much more protective of you if he is socialised as a member of the family and spends lots of time indoors around his pack, much more likely to want to "mind" his family. There is no need to banish him outdoors at all - let him live in the house (long term, not just as a pup but throughout his whole life) with you and he will form a close and loyal bond to you.

Friends of mine have 2 german shepherds - they are house living dogs and great socialised lads treated as family members, but excellent guard dogs too.

fatmammycat

+ whatever number on socialiasation.
A GSD's natural instinct is to be protective of the home, you don't really need to train them to guard; at four/five months my pup alerted whenever he heard anything; at fourteen months he will actively go check if he hears something he's not sure of. in fact I wouldn't do anything at all to trigger a protective response in your dog, quite the opposite.
I know opinion differs, but I think leaving a GSD outside is pretty awful for them, they're such people/family dogs. They want to be with you 24/7, and 8 weeks is way too young to do it in any regard.

I think an unsocialised dog could end up being something of a liability in the long run, and I've seen plenty of skittish nervous shepherds who would not be great around people and are not great guard dogs either. If you have people over you need to be confident that your dogs will be grand around them, a well socialised GSD will be.

As a side note: I agree totally with Whispered on dog parks, but also I"m actually not a big fan of daycare for younger pups, and think sometimes they can be overwhelmed. I think introducing pups to calm well mannered dogs one by one, or in smaller groups is better in the long run for a pup's development. Pups, like people, are individuals, and ought to be treated thusly.

fatmammycat

I forgot to say, best of luck with the pup, they are awesome dogs. Do get plenty of chew toys or be prepared to be chewed a lot: they are not called 'landsharks' for nothing.

hondavfr

We put our GSD pup in a nice warm kennel at 2 months old, we didnt like doing it at first but she was let out a couple of times at night to go to the toilet. She soon got to love her kennel and started to look to go to bed at night.She was well socialised and spends alot of time with us in our home and also on outings etc.She is a very friendly dog with people and other dogs also,she is also a very good guard dog once we leave the house but anyone she knows she will welcome. They seem to pick this up naturally,they are a pleasure to own but they like to chew and also dig holes when they are young!

mymo

I don't have and have never had a GSD but we have had many dogs over the years, every one was a great guard dog, every one lived in the house, with the family. All were very well socialised.

My current two will bark at the door, once I let someone in they are fine, but if someone tried to get into garden, or as the postman (who my dogs know and love) opened the back door to leave in a parcel, got growled at, barked and chased to the gate, i was upstairs and didn't hear him knock. He was shocked since they know him so well and he's come into the house invited many times no problem.

My point is, that every dog we had was a part of the family, was fine with people being let in by us, but guarded their family and home very well. (2 attempted robberies, none succeeded thanks to dogs)

rockygsd123

My only problem with leaving him in the house is that he might go toilet everywhere. Is there an easy way to potty train that you guys recommend? it should be easier since he's 2 month's right :v

andreac

rockygsd123 wrote: »

My only problem with leaving him in the house is that he might go toilet everywhere. Is there an easy way to potty train that you guys recommend? it should be easier since he's 2 month's right :v

How long will he be on his own for during the day? Unfortunately puppies do that, its aprt and parcel of owning a puppy.

It takes weeks even months to house train a pup, and at 2 months they have no control over their bladder, so you need to be very patient.

Bullseye1

As soon as you feed the dog get into a habit of bringing the put outside straight away until he/she has done the business. Its all to do with repetition. But once the dog is house trained your on easy street as they are very clean and will let you know when they want to go outside.