Hi! Our 5 1/2 mth old german shorthair puppy is starting to develop bad habits! She pulls on the leash, darts at anything on wheels, and sniffs and eats every thing on the sidewalk. She use to be curious on the leash but easily directed. Is this normal gsp adolescent behavior that will eventually go away as she becomes an adult?

Maybe we need to do exercises that teach her to focus on us...I know every dog is different but is there generally a method of teaching shorthairs to focus on their owner that's best?

Or maybe she just needs a job to focus on...can anyone suggest an appropriate job for a 5 1/2 mth old puppy? Is she too young to be carrying a backpack?

Every morning we walk her and do a bit of obedience training (sit,down, crawl, touch, etc) for about 30 minutes, then again during lunch time for 15 minutes. In the evening we take her to a dog run and she gets off-leash running for about 45 minutes. Her last walk lasts about 15 minutes right before we go to bed around midnight. I don't think it's that she isn't getting enough exercise, so I am a loss since we seem to be going backwards...

Any guidance would be appreciated..this is our first gsp!

I agree it sounds like puppy behaviour.  At this point you should be doing serious obedience training with your pup.  She should be doing really well on sit, down, stay, and you should be working on heeling and the recall.  I also like to introduce puppies to leave it, drop and watch me early.  There are lot's of good obedience books out there for teaching theses commands, but if you can find a good obedience class in your area that is much better. Often the teachers end up working with the handler more than the dog.  They can also give you one on one guidance for your situation. 

For leave it, start in a controlle area with interesting things on the floor.  Don't make it too hard as you want your dog to succeed.  As you walk by with your dog on a leash, as she shows interest tell her leave it and give a little pop if she doesn't respond and walk on by.  Praise her for success.  Keep working this until she responds just to the command, then work in hard things like food and distractions like you would find on a walk.  Once you get into an uncontrolled situation though you need to pay attention to what is on the sidewalk ahead so you can give the command as she comes up to something.

Drop is taught when the dog has something in his mouth (at first not something he really likes) and you say drop and gently remove the item from his mouth.  Then lot of praise and give the item right back.  You do not want the dog to think you are taking the item away for ever (right now).  Repeat until you get success and gradually make the exercise harder.

Watch me is use with food.  I hold a treat in my hand near my face and say watch me.  The dog should be looking at you, so treat.  Repeat and repeat.  Then you can say watch me without the food near you face, if you get a glance in your direction treat and praise.  Repeat and repeat.  Now add in more distractions.  You can also stand with the dog on a leash. He should be watching you.  The moment he looks else where turn and walk briskly the opposite direction without a sound to the dog.  This will teach the dog to pay attention to you as he will never know when you will decide to move.

Also, keep in mind as a pup approaches the 9 months mark (it varies dog to dog on the exact timing) they get what I call the puppy stupids where they seem to forget everything they have learned and do more testing of you.  This is equivalent to the teenage years.  So, stay consistent and firm and above all be patient.

Tessa -  Ringo just finished the teething.  I wasn't sure we would survive.  his mouth was on everything.  I lost two covers to my lawn furniture, have teeth marks in an adirondack chair and a coffee table in the den, and Belle and Halo had tooth marks on their ears.  I think we were all glad when the last tooth went, even Ringo.  He is not nearly as nutty now and he is still moving into adolescents. I personally think the teething period is the hardest.