GS pup

Question
Hi there.my wife and I adopted a gs female pup last week,she is 8 weeks old.she is very sociable and loving with me,but not at all with my wife.she would go to her but would not play or spend time with her for more than a few seconds.Can you perhaps give us some tips or pointers we can use to work on the relationship?

Answer
At 8 weeks old, a puppy should be quick to accept new experiences and new people.  Usually it is the other way around with much of the dog breeding being done by women and many puppies never encountering a man until they go to their home.  Your wife does need to avoid common human behaviors dogs find threatening, making eye contact, letting your teeth show in a smile, and patting the dog on the head.  Shepherds even when very young are slower to bond to new people.  

Here are some positive ways of interacting with the puppy:

''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.

Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.