Barbara, a big part of personality can also be enviromental. Have you even dealt with an only or a hand raised puppy. They do not have respect for authority. MeMe had an only puppy, Stephanie, and she terrorizes her mother at 5 months. Of course, I never saw MeMe discipline her in her first 5 weeks either. Her handler is going to be in for a real treat . Ann Barbara Galasso <uwish@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I realize that much of a dog's personality is hereditary and some of it can be environmental. If you have the time to study this breed and really watch their personalities, one might be amazed at what you see in the whelping box. Sometimes what you see in the whelping box will determine how they will be as adults. I will use my last small litter as an example. My girl only had two bitches. The first born was fresh and "alpha" from the time she was about 2 1/2 weeks old. I've mentioned this to the List one other time, but I've never seen this on a puppy before. She was snarling and raising her lip at her mother already. She had no teeth, and barely had her eyes open yet. Her mother used to whine when she behaved like this and would nudge her with her nose. She was "bad to the bone" from the beginning. Nothing has changed. She's still an alpha bitch and her and her mother never leave one another alone. I think she has tremendous prey drive as she loves to attack my broom when I'm sweeping off the back deck and "man oh man, she never lets it go." She thinks it's a game and loves to attack it, but just try getting her to let it go. She'd probably have a ball grabbing one of those sleeves they use for attack work. Her sister was a "chow hound" from the time I removed the sac from her head. She let out a HUGE scream and when I put her on her mother, she was a greedy little thing and nursed voraciously like there was no tomorrow. To this day, she loves her food and when I give them treats, and if I throw it to them, she nearly knocks everyone else out of the way in her quest to get it. Most of the time she gets hers and everyone else's. She no sooner jumps up catching a treat, spins around and lets out a scream looking for the next treat. She's afraid she's missing something I suppose. What a hog she is! She'd make a great Frisbee catcher, if it were sprayed down with food flavoring. Otherwise, she wouldn't show an interest in it. Has anyone else noticed these things that puppies do in the whelping box that they continue to do as adults? Best, Barbara ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================ Ann Home of Sel # 6 Ch Maxwell, Sel Ex Ch Gilley and #1 Dam Muggles - owner/breeder of 64 champions and 19 ROMs ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================