I have this amazing GSD in one of my basic classes. Max is a HUGE year-old
boy, and entered the classroom all wiggling butt and licking tongue. Before he
settled down, he had to dance back and forth, flinging his head back and forth
and yipping a high pitched, "Yay! Yay! Yay!" He attempted to make friends
with his classmate, a little BC mix who is dog-wary (not aggressive - she's
fine being near other dogs, just doesn't like to be approached and gives the
Elvis snarl). His reaction to her rebuff was to try more play-bowing,
prancing, and "Aw, play with me!" whining. Every time a person passed anywhere
near the training area, he had to greet them excitedly and attempt to give
kisses.

All his body language, his attitude, even the sound of his bark screams COLLIE.
I don't have a lot of experience with GSDs, but I've never seen one act like
this before. Happy, happy boy. Always in a state of "wheeee!"

I was a bit nervous about him, because mom called him "uncontrollable" on the
phone. Oh great, a big, uncontrollable GSD adolescent.

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to meet Mr. Max. And mom seemed
extremely relieved when I told her that she had a very nice dog. She's a
nervous type, and was thinking of him as a lost cause, and the class as a last
resort. He came into class in a prong collar (way too loose - thanks, guys,
for educating me on this). When I unhooked it to remove some links, she
freaked. "No, no, I can't control him!" A gentle hand on his back and
murmured praise kept him still while I refitted the collar.

Mom thought it was funny when I called him a "collie in a german shepherd
suit."

This isn't typical behavior for a young GSD, is it? To be so unguardedly
friendly?

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Last updated June 27 at 10:00 a.m.