Behavior

Question
I have a 4 year old male German Sheppard.  I had been doing some reconditioning with a trainer and it was working well but one thing after another has happened and I haven't any training sessions in a few months.  Really what I wanted to know is when will he calm down???  He runs in circles and will push things into the circle so he can run around it (like the Christmas Tree).  Or will I just have a crazy dog who runs in circles forever?

Answer
German Shepherds are working dogs that need a job.  So, stopping your training was probably a bad idea.  It sounds like he needs more exercise (with a point) and a job to do (agility, obedience, tracking, tricks, rally, herding, or some other sport or activity).  At four, he is in his prime, and may slow down sometime, but I'd be willing to bet your just have a drive-y dog;-)  If he constantly runs in circles obsessively, not just when he's occasionally bored, then he may have what behaviorists call a "stereotypical behavior", and that might require that you contact a behavior expert for help - some dogs need medication and behavior modification combined to address a problem like that.