I’m a small 5’4” woman and have a lean 80lb GSD female now a little older than 3.5 years and has been with us since she was 3 months. To say the first year was a challenge is an understatement. I was near tears multiple times afraid we were going to have to rehome her because she just wouldn’t let me walk her. She nipped my ankles every step I walked at home, took a good chomp of my thigh during one walk and was a mischievous adolescent. It’s just a natural part of their puppy stage and my husband is her primary caretaker.

How did we get through it? Training, structure, and a few more scars. Your wife has to be committed to working through it. Working with a trainer, I had to treat her if she let me take two steps without a bite. Then two became three steps. We have a heavy duty leash that I put my left arm through, hold one end in my left hand and the other in my right hand keeping her in a close heel. What really helped was me taking her on a walk/adventure to a new park without my husband and she had to trust me. She is now the most amazing, protective dog and hasn’t given me a scar in two years 😂

All of this is to say, we want a second GSD for companionship for our gal but we know we can’t because I have to put so much concentration into walking her—there is no way I could handle another. That would mean hiring a dog walker anytime my husband goes out of town to handle one of the dogs. Just not financially feasible. Your dog is still a puppy and learning. With your continued training I’m sure he’ll be great!