German Shepard or big dog owners--help please

Thor sounds like a gorgeous dog and intelligent, too.  I hope you'll be able to train him to do what works for you.  The advice I was given for pulling dogs is that every time they start to pull, you turn and walk in the other direction.  What I usually do is tell mine, "No pulling!" and stop until they behave.  Consistency is important because it seems like if you give them an inch, they'll backslide a mile. 

If they are not aggressively fighting, I would let it be. The cat will come to realize that the dog is there to stay and figure out the best way to deal with the situation.

Re: pulling, I was taught in training that you should come to a stop and say "NO" every time they pull. Don't start walking again until they stop pulling. When they are walking well and not pulling, offer a frequent "Good job!" and the occasional treat. It doesn't take long for them to get it.

We always used a choke collar for our GSD when walking.  


As far as the cat, could you keep the collar and leash on the dog inside the house?  Loop the leash handle around a close by door knob so Thor can move about a little in one given room where you are but the cat has free reign?  Eventually, the goal would be to not have to have the leash around the door knob.  We also used baby gates a lot for various situations - room with the cat food, guests coming over (Thor sounds like he has better manners that our dog) etc.  of course, you could also keep the choke collar on Thor and introduce the cat - when he tries to "play" pull back with the leash and give a firm NO.  Eventually, he will learn the cat is pretty boring and to leave her alone.

I'm in the middle of training classes and our trainer taught us a cool trick for dogs that pull.  This YouTube video demonstrates how to loop the leash around their belly.  There is a lady in class with a newly-adopted full-grown GS that pulled something awful and she said it works like magic!  The trainer said it works because it is uncomfortable to have pressure on their belly.

As far as the cat, honestly, it is just going to take some time.  It's not going to happen in one weekend, but the dog will eventually figure it out.  In the meantime, you may want to consider a dog gate with a cat door.

ETA: Another thing that works with a dog who pulls is a backpack with a couple of small water bottles in it.  Emily used to pull something awful and I saw that on a Dog Whisperer episode: give them a job.  She loved having a job and would look at me more and hardly ever pulled when I put that on her.

this is the leash our trainer recommended.  we had been using a prong collar but our large dog didn't respond well to it and it never corrected the behavior.  We put this leash on and it was remarkable.  www.ruffwear.com/Just-a-Cinch-Rope-Dog-Leash?sc=2&category=15


As for your other pet - training, training, training.  Don't give up on the GS, they are very smart and very trainable.  

Good luck!!

Regarding a new dog with an older cat... our situation is a little different in that our dog is a Shih Tzu, but the same principal applies. Lu wants to play with our 20 yr old cat, O.C. so badly, but O.C.'s not interested. At all. It took a couple of weeks, and quite a few swats on the nose, for Lu to get it but she pretty much leaves O.C. alone now. It just takes time and a few scratches. Lu does still try to play with her from time to time, and gets really excited around her occasionally, but a hiss and death stare calms her right down. They actually really enjoy being in the back yard together now. They take turns following each other around, finding new smells.

As long as there is no aggression from the dog, I think you should just let them be. They'll work it out.

I hope you're able to work out the pulling, too. We're still working on that with Lu.

The pulling issue: You can try several different kinds of leashes and collars.  There are chain choke collars, collars with prongs, a nightingale collar, harness collars, gentle leaders...  See what recommendations your trainer has tomorrow.  We have a lab and use a nightingale collar, which is a web collar similar to a choke chain.  But labs can be easier to train and they are usually more gentle.  And I've had Emma since she was a puppy and we taught her not to tug the first week we had her.  And our lab is only 60 lbs.  I use the "wait" command if Emma starts walking ahead of me.  I have a friend who has a HUGE lab that came to them as an older dog with some bad habits, including pulling.  They use a harness collar and the mom can pull the dog's front feet off the ground with it, which usually settles it.  I've seen gentle leaders used with success, too.  The lead attaches to the nose, so if the dog pulls, their nose is pulled back towards you.  I've never used one, so check out what the cons of the system.

Really, GSDs are smart dogs who can be trained quite well, but they can be very protective of their home and especially, their people.  The best advice I can give you is to find a GOOD teacher (not a Petsmart teacher, although good teachers can teach at Petsmart) and use the trainer a lot.  You want your GSD under complete control and they are a dog that can do as they please easily.  You need a trainer more to teach you how to handle the dog than the dog needs to learn how to walk on a leash.  One will follow the other!

I have little advice about the cat, as I've never owned a cat.  But for my dogs, a good swipe across the nose by the cat usually sends them cowering.  Do you know anyone with a clawed younger cat?  You could use the younger cat to teach your GSD a few manners.  My brother and SIL use a gate for their cats and dog.  The cats can get away through the bars of the gate, but the dog can't follow the cat.  They also used a special collar in the beginning.  The dog wears the collar and there is a device you plug into the wall.  The device emits a signal that activates the collar if the dog comes within the radius of the device.  That would give the cats a safe room to hang out in.  

Good luck!  And you know the rule...we need a picture!

Unless either the dog or cat is being injured, I would let them navigate the new living situation and get used to each other. If it gets to the point where the cat is seeming upset and not just annoyed, then I would begin correcting the dog to leave the cat alone. It might seem to you like this should have been plenty of time for them to get acquainted, but we just don't know.

As for the pulling, please do not use a choke collar. Do some reading on how easily those darn things can injure or do damage to the throat and neck. Get either a harness or a head halter and every time the dog pulls, stay no and completely stop or turn directions. I think you will be amazed at what a difference the proper harness alone will make.

Good luck and congrats on the new member of your family!