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Hi Dawn! Thank you for taking the time to consider my shepherd's behavior problem: going around in circles, tied to a cable or in a run, when she is outside alone. I bought her when she was six months old, from a friend's kennel. She was a kennel puppy; but, was exercised daily, along with her littermates, in a huge pasture-sized enclosure. She is of predominately American lineage with several Grand Victors in her pedigree. She was shown a few times and did quite well. Then, as she started maturing, she started exhibiting a DISLIKE for male judges, and she appeared to be stressed, so, I had stopped showing her. I had stated to the breeder: "Why is she so hyper?" and she replied: 'All the best for a show dog!' I replied: 'Yes, but, she's WAY TOO HYPER!' When I mentioned this to the handler, she confided, my shepherd's mother (who was not shown) exhibited the same behavior. So, is this trait, inherited, or is it a learned behavior? I know, you are thinking why had I let this go on for soo long, as I previously stated: she is a WELL-BEHAVED, CALM, German Shepherd, when she is around us, both inside and outdoor. I just assumed she behaved that way when she was alone outside. I didn't know about the circling until a neighbor brought it to my attention. This would explain the "knotting up" of the tie-out cable. When I was comfortable in knowing she would not suspect she was being observed, I left the curtains open a crack,  and witnessed her bizarre behavior for myself, for a whole half-hour! I told her: "NO!" to which she went in faster circles or if in the pen, would jump at the door to be let out of the pen.  So, how do I break this annoying, embarrassing, bad habit, when she becomes calm as soon as you are with her? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Once again, thank you for your time and consideration. Margaret

Answer
Hi Margaret,  That is definitely an inherited trait as you are seeing by their admittance that the mother was too hyper.  American lineage is well known for this.  They do like the hyperness in the ring as it is considered a "showy" trait to where the dog is showing themselves off more.  I have an american I recued from a shelter, and she'll do that for hours in a kennel.  Back and forth.  We had to put her in a smaller run because she was running off all her weight.  She is great when she is out loose and free but confined or basically restricted i.e. like a cable, they start the pacing and going back & forth.  There is no way to break it unless you make her a complete house dog to where she has no ability to act out that way.  One thing you have to remember is you can not change genetics.  Your breeder has admitted the genetic problem, so now you have to live with it and adapt to it.  I wish I could be of more help, but there is no way to really correct the problem except try to avoid putting her in the situation.

Dawn