My GSD is a little over a year, and is a recent rescue. She had become quite comfortable with me and lately has started to mouth pretty bad. Anytime I try to pet her, play with her, walk by, put the leash on, place her in her kennel, feed her....get it? She tried to put my hand in her mouth. She isn't bitting, just wants it there. Its getting really annoying and frustrating not to be able to pet my dog!

Any ideas that can help?

Hi, and thank you for adopting.
It is a dog that might has been through traumatic experiences (if only she could talk!!)
I think you need an interview with a behaviour specialist, or books about problematic dog behaviour.
I'm sure it means no harm and has no bad feelings for you, but also it can't help this reaction for the time being.
I think it tries to control your hand, like saying "please don't beat me like those other people did".

None of us knows what goes on in her little mind and heart and soul.

We do know she has been through a lot that are not her fault.

It is still young and behaviour therapy will pay out and result in an excelent dog

Please be patient and very calm with her!!!! The reward coming your way will be great

I have a lot of patients with her. She is a great dog, but has been through so much already. It took a lot for her to even come to me, she still hides under anything she can fit her nose under. We are already working with a trainer, but I think it may be time to move to a behaviorist. Unfortunately I do know what she has been through, as we know the people who abused her. It was awful.

Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated.

Originally Posted by Mamma_Alpha

she still hides under anything she can fit her nose under.
Unfortunately I do know what she has been through, as we know the people who abused her. It was awful.

She is a terified little ANGEL that wonders where LOVE is....

Your task is difficult, believe me GOD can see this!!!!!!

I will just say THANK you for taking up this task. You are curing her soul.

As a professional dog training, your case is extremely common. Rather than going through a traumatic experience, it's more likely that she was separated from her mother at an early age. Puppies need to be with their mother until 8 weeks of age. That's when they learn bite inhibition and when it's okay to mouth (only other dogs and when playing). If they bite to hard, the mother would come down strong on them for the sake of the pack.

But diagnosis of your dog is quite simple and so are the solutions. She doesn't respect you as the pack leader. She's constantly challenging whether you have the skills to be the pack leader. You need to be firm, without instilling fear or bullying the dog. Right now, she's pretty sure she's in charge, if you don't stop it now, it can lead to real, dangerous problems in the near future.

There are some effective solutions that can rid your dog of this behavior in a matter of days. I could list 100 daily items that you need to do to regain control and establish yourself as the pack leader. Here are a couple:

Your dog shouldn't get any affection or treats or even food without earning it. That is not to say don't love your dog but make her sit, then lay down before giving her anything. If you have a new toy, she must sit, then lay down. Put the toy in front of her. If she goes for it, put her back in her palce and start over. Play has to start and end with you. Take the toy away before she is finished with it so she knows you own it and it's only to be played with when you say.

Don't allow her on the bed or couch without inviting her first. If she jumps up, simply bring her down and give her a sit command. Let her watch for your invitation. After 2 minutes (mental challenge for her), invite her up. She willl quickly learn that you are the pack leader and only get on the couch with your invitation.

Eat first, in front of her. Sounds obsurd, I know. But I've tested tons of methods with this type of behavior and when you eat first, it shows the dog that you are in charge and you get the spoils of being the strongest member of the pack.

More exercise and mental stimulation. You should be walking your dog twice a day for an hour eash session. Be sure she is calm at the door, make her sit, then open the door. If she moves, but her back in the sit command and wait until she is calm. Then proceed outside but you must move through the door first. Visit the site below if you are having trouble while out on the walk.

You can also add a dog back pack and put some water bottles in it to add weight. As a working breed, she will focus on the job of carrying the pack and pay less attention to trying to gain pack leadership. The pack will also drain excess energy, twice the amount without the pack.

Remember, all dog problems come from 3 core symptoms. Lack of leadership, lack of an effective and proper walk or a physical ailment (which she doesn't have). Owners fail to correct the underlying problem because they are focusing on the symptom (mouthing) and not the core problem (lack of pack leadership).

Be firm in your correction. If she mouths, snap your fingers at her and make her sit, then praise.

If you learn pack leadership skills and how to effectively walk your dog with a purpose, the behavior will stop, within days. The comination of these two methods have solved so many of my clients dog related issues that I was asked to write two books on the subject. They are truly effective.

Check out this article, it's free (at the bottom) for more information. The course can teach you everything you need to know to get rid of this issue and any other issue that comes up. You will quickly be able to understand why your dog is mouthing (or barking, or digging or chewing, ect, ect). It's simple to understand and implement once you have the correct information. I had similar problems with a 100 pound Rottweiler and now she's listens to me regardless of the distractions. It took one afternoon. But if

Use the skills I listed and learn more. I promise you the solution is simple.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Chad Thompson
http://virtualdogtrainer.com/the-dog-training-secret/
Become the Pack Leader and learn what the real issue is.

As a professional dog training, your case is extremely common. Rather than going through a traumatic experience, it's more likely that she was separated from her mother at an early age.

I agree. I have a rescue dog as well who mouthed horribly! (on the verge of biting). Once I did my research I figured she was taken from her mother too young. She really does not respond to discipline (stern voice, corrections, anything!) and I think she was never taught when enough is enough.

At first she would go into a frenzy, biting our hands and even our noses, thankfully she's a smaller dog! My method of stopping it at first was to try and pin her by the scruff of her neck like a mother would, but that only got her more excited!!! We've found the best method is to ingore her immediately when she does it. Then we say 'gentle' and offer our hand, if she licks rather than bites she gets a big reward

[6Miranda]

I have a near 2yr WGS and she is very mouthy. She is just the loveliest dog, extremely sociable but she mouths way too much. The children play with her, she is one of the lads, but she shouldn't keep mouthing. I have tried different methods from various trainers, on TV, from books and a few in person, but she just keeps doing it. So I have no proven personal method, good luck on it though.

There's always the old trick of making a high pitched noise when they mouth you. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how well it works out though.

Are these techniques applicable to a dog which bites as well as mouths? My 12 week akita goes for my hands if i try to pet him, pick him up to take him outside (he has to be carried downstairs), move him, take toys back - anything really. Yesterday he bit my face as I was carrying him, hard enough to hurt. He also jumps up to the sofa and bites when you push him back down.

I'm getting quite scared of him now, he's always done it but is getting bigger and stronger by the day. We've tried yelping like a puppy in pain, rapping him on the nose and saying no, moving away from him when he bites, removing him from the room, pinning him down, ignoring him, everything we can think of really. Nothing is working.

Otherwise he's very good, can do all kinds of tricks, but I'm sick to death of being bitten every time I go near him.