We got a nice puppy from a good breeder. He's sweet and has a nice disposition. Even loves the cat, but he STEALS things!

I will be in one room and hear him chewing something odd and come in and he has stolen yet ANOTHER thing he doesn't need to be chewing.

This is not just shoes, clothes, etc. He will steal vitamin bottles, he stole an bottle of embossing powder last month and had it in his mouth, all the glitter, and we had to rush him to the vet. Luckily he didn't ingest much of it, and was okay.

The month before it was an entire bottle of drano! I mean, the list goes on and on.


When I tell the puppy no, he doesn't listen! He is of hunting stock and very pleasant to be around, but also VERY stubborn.

When he goes outside he will steal the pots with plants in them and round around til all the dirt and the plants are vacant from the pots!

Arggh, it's so annoying, and not to mention dangerous for him!

What does one do to stop this?

Is this typical for a 5 month old puppy? Been a long time since I raised a puppy.

shazamataz

The below information is taken from this website: Raising A Large Breed Puppy - Animal Frequency
It details about owning a large breed.

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This is a guide for anyone considering a large breed puppy for their family, from my experience on what it takes to raise a healthy, happy German Shepherd Dog or any large breed.
BODY: Selah Shepherds
(Pause and Think) Raising a Large breed puppy!
As with any large breed , We believe fast growing puppies need "Free Will" movement. Exercise at will ! Muscle development is very important for bones and joints to properly develop.. . This means to us a puppy NOT being in a crate more than 3 hrs. a day total. Prefer not in a crate at all. Save the crate for traveling purposes only. They need a large area they can move and play in.. Movement is all part of what a puppy needs and play is what all puppies crave. Walking a puppy in a park once a day is not enough. Continued free will movement is.. A puppy with another dog to play with,or lots of toys and a large area to be in is sufficient. Young puppies with these pleasures will get enough exercise. .As they grow bigger, they will need even more exercise. If you work long hrs. A puppy is better off in a large kennel , fenced in yard outdoors,or a kitchen blocked with a gate, than in a crate they can barely move around in. Yes, a crate is the fastest way to house break any dog, but don't set yourself up for problems, figure out another method of house breaking, We can help you with suggestions on this depending on your situation. They will need all the attention and love that you can give! Over exertion is not good for their joints, trying to get all their exercise in all at once is hard on them, let them be a puppy, let them be a dog. They will exercise just the right amount. They need to play and be able to play when they want. This is natures way and is important they can do this! German Shepherd puppies grow fast, they can not develop enough muscle tone if they are in a crate a lot!!! I can not stress this enough!



Do not do any type of agility programs with your puppy until at least one yr. of age, and at this point it should only be an introduction for going into the second year, a large breed puppy is still not fully mature. The repetition of agility is stressful on maturing joints.( Its not a natural way of going). Their bones are not completely calcified until two yrs. of age.! Please keep this in mind. A one yr. old pup may look like a mature dog, but are very much still a pup. This would also include going up and down long stairs on a daily routine several times a day is unnatural stress in repetition!



We really like to encourage a lot of outdoors for your pup, They love it!! Sunshine, fresh air, grass and nature. Puppies find them selves intrigued and entertained! Take short walks, making a habit of playing a lot outdoors, helps them mature into a sound mind and body. German shepherds are high energy, working dogs, give them the outdoors and this will make a much calmer easier dog to manage indoors. A toy breed gets enough exercise inside, but these guys , are large to giant size need much more room. Fence in your yard. This is all tips for puppy buyers to think on for a success on raising a happy,well developed,and easy to train German Shepherd Dog.

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Basically you should not be doing repatitive exercie like walking for such a long amount of time, it WILL damage their joints.

Well... you need to do what works for the dogs, if you will not resort to such measures then you may always have a ill behaved dog.

Yes he may always chew, I know quite a few dogs that still act like puppies even though they are in their old age.

The cat may grow to like him once he calms down (if he does) It is hard for older animals to accept a new older one, something that needs to be considered before getting a new animal.

shazamataz

I'm a huge fan of citronella!
My parents bought a citronella collar for their great dane...

Now if he goes to bark all they have to do is pick the collar up off the table... he doesn't even wear it anymore!

Mind you, I think Prada's medication would work just as well... poor little things, it really tastes foul.