Dog behaviour issue

[trev]

I know there's a few lads on here with a lot of dog training experience, probably a lot more than me. Our german shepherd has started doing something that's worrying me a little so I'd appreciate a bit of advice.
The grandson is a little bit rough with him but we are telling him to be gentle and it's getting through but sometimes when he is toddling past him the dog will put his mouth on his arm, not biting just mouthing. Whenever grandson turns up the dog is all over him licking which according to what I've read recently is very much a submissive behaviour.
The dog is never left alone with him and there's always someone within arms reach, I'm just a little concerned whether it's symptomatic of an incoming problem.

 

[Phil]

there is a great forum Trev with dog trainers vets and handlers on it. i went on some time ago for some advice
Dog Forums - Pet Forums Community

pop over and there will be loads of them to give you advice mate

 

[telectrix]

i doubt it. my rotty has always got hold of arms, legs. without applying pressure. dogs use the mouth for sensing, same as we use hands. obviously, keep an eye on the dog with the lad: dogs are , after all, a pack animal and can sometimes use a nip as a gesture of dominance.

edit: phil posted as i was typing. my post aimed at trev's OP.

 

[trev]

There's never any pressure applied but I thought it might be a bit of a dominance thing Tel so when he is over at ours we have started giving him treats to give to the dog, obviously he's only allowed to take them when we say so and if it's feeding time he is in mine or Julia's arms when he gets the ok to get his food. Plus the heirarchy has always been me & Julia then kids then dog.
It's making me think because he hasn't really mouthed anything since he was a pup.

 

[Spudnik]

Gotta be honest trev, but GS are very much a one person dog.

IE, the master and no one else.

I was seriously considering one, but after having seen what other family members GS were like, i decided against it.

They need a lot of training and one to one time.

Phil has pointed out a good website.

 

[trev]

Dead right there Jason he is and always has been my dog. Probably the only one in the home who will do what I say without question

 

[telectrix]

and i bet he's the one who greets you with a wet kiss when you stagger in from the pub at 2.00 a.m.

 

[trev]

Well someone once argued with me that me Mrs was my best friend not the dog, so I locked them both in the car boot for an hour to see which one would be pleased to see me when I let them out

 

[Top Cat]

It's vicious dogs like Tel's that that annoy me, that dog could do some serious damage to a passing butterfly! Lol

 

[trev]

Well I remembered I had a login for that forum so off I went.
I'm now getting the idea that not only am I a rubbish dog owner I'm also a pretty bad grandad for allowing stuff to happen

 

[Top Cat]

Well I remembered I had a login for that forum so off I went.
I'm now getting the idea that not only am I a rubbish dog owner I'm also a pretty bad grandad for allowing stuff to happen

No such thing as a perfect dog owner, parent, grandparent. We all do the best we can Trev.

 

[trev]

Crikey it's getting worse, I'm now "buying into discredited pack order ideas"
Every trainer I've ever come across talks about the pack order and hierarchy and how it should be reinforced gently.
Wish I'd just PM'd someone now hehe

 

[Spudnik]

Dogs very much act on pack instinct.

I have two and they are always looking to me to lead the way in whatever is happening.

Strange but true, and you only realise when you have more than one.

GS are lovely, but they can be and are hard to train, and normally, it will be the trainer who they will look up to and no one else.

You got to be firm but fair and you have to get it done now before the dog has a 'mind of its own'.

 

[trev]

It's always been me who has taken the lead in training the dog, obviously that's why he is my dog not anyone else's he's always looked to me for what is right or wrong. He's been ridiculously easy to train, he had sit and stay within about an hour of coming to us from his parents. I've so far been able to come up with a solution for anything he has thrown at us but this has me beaten (for now) and the more I read on that dog forum the more I think I'm letting him down.
Needless to say this problem will go away with a peaceful and happy solution, just got to find it.