Please advise me on our new older gsp

[Hoolit]

We have just taken on a 7 yr old male gsp, due to circumstances we've had no time to gradually grt to know him or him us.
He was brought up from a pup with kids and my two are slightly older then those ones.
He comes with good references if you know what I mean, always been the good lovely family pet.
But, I feel a bit unnerved by him and I don't really know why or how to right this.
He is great with husband and kids but I feel he tries his luck with me. His first night at ours he humped his blanket constantly but I understand this is probably anxiety but now although a lot less he tries to do it to me.
Or he tries to get on my knee more so when my dh has told him off for it as soon as he leaves the room the dog almost gleefully comes running to try again.
Tonight we had been at the beach for hours so is well exercised.
I have been reading up on asserting yourself as leader and I'm trying to be confident etc
Any advice welcome
Now I think he knows when dh is not there I'm anxious.

[MrsLoobyloola]

Has he been castrated? He is also probably picking up on your anxiety, which won't help.

[Hoolit]

Thanks, no he hasn't but thankfully he is calming down fantastically well for a dog that has literally been dumped.
He's due a booster in a few weeks so may discuss it with the vet if its still an issue.

[MrsLoobyloola]

Definitely your vet can put you in touch with a behaviourist for a free chat for advice on hierarchy. V important with dogs that they accept the humans in the household as leaders. There are easy ways you can help the process, make him move, rather than you step over him if laying in the way, only give cuddles when You initiate them, feed after rest of family have eaten, don't let him barge through door as you open it, make him wait until you go through first. This is where the importance of basic obedience comes in useful, ie wait, stay, sit etc. if he likes playing, the ball or toy can be used as reward. Don't make the big mistake if spoiling him and remember that dogs are not humans and do not think like humans.

[littlemissnormal]

We have 2 GSPs who are both 6 years old.

They were castrated at 3 and calmed down considerably but are still very hyper energetic dogs without loads of exercise.

They are more DPs dogs than mine in the respect that he is the one who mainly walks them and he is their leader, I'm not and one of them knows this! He constantly tries to get one over on me, for example in the morning when I let them out the other 2 (cocker also) go out while he sits there and point blank refuses to move. Just sits and looks at me, exactly how you describe as gleefully!

He's a pain in the arse, a real character and a very very clever dog but once they know they can dominate you they don't forget it. DP gets no problems from him at all, just me.

So I'm a bit useless with any advice but I totally sympathise!

[Hoolit]

Mrslooby- I have started with your adviceand did a bit more googling and I feel much more confident and he seems to of taken notice!
I uunderstand the whole pack thing and how he needs me to be a strong leader and I feel he is happier. I am taking him out alone or he takes me but again we are working on that!
I eat before him, I even look like im eating out of his bowl bless him and it's not a bother. I read to step over him or make him move rather then walk round so I step over.
I go through doors first etc and before food or petting he has to respond to a command first which he is happy to do.
I have just been reading up on growling as he did it to my dh and I believe dh just has to adjust his way slight ly.
Littlemiss - I try to get him out for a last wee before I go to bed but he just looks at me , he grumbles if I push it so he has to cross his legs til morning!
Thanks for the advice it is appreciated and I'm taking it

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

My GSP is still only a baby - 15 months old but I have learnt two things - neutering was a GOOD thing for all of us (including him) and secondly, he is much easier to have about if he gets a good run around twice a day. A lead walk doesn't make a jot of difference, nor does a training session. He is let off the lead in a large open space away from traffic and he zooms around at high speed and then he is just lovely.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

ps my GSP thinks he is a lap dog. We have stopped resisting and now just let him climb on the sofa in between me and DH (or on top of us). I get the impression they are just a velcro breed.

[Hoolit]

That's funny shouty mine does keep trying to get on my knee!
He is lovely and getting better but I think he's training me.
He gets 2 good walks a day, we have finally found something that he deems good enough to come back for when off the lead...I was starting to think he was deaf maybe he is but it's selective!
Bless him, I've not had him a week yet we are still getting to know each other.
I think he wants me to play as he shakes his blanket about and tries to set me off with a bit talking but I don't know what to do as it was this 'thing' when he arrived..
But for now we are getting along great.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

Even in puppy training, the trainer used to smile because ours would have his back feet on the floor and his ribcage on my lap. Now we have realised that he just needs a whole lot of cuddles to be really happy. He is the same with my DH and my three little kids. Only the cats are reluctant! Mine is quite sensitive in comparison to the other dogs in puppy training - he needs treating with kid gloves and I would have thought that if it was my GSP, he would have reacted with quite a lot of anxiety if he had to move to a new family.