Our GSD is on a trip across from Alberta to Glacier Fri, to Yellowstone & Cody Sat & Sun, to Sheridan to DC Booth Fish Hatchery (played in the river there with their blessing today), and now as I type this has just arrived at Mount Rushmore. She has been in lots of lakes and rivers swimming and having a blast and she turned 1 year old this February.
When at home she is trained to not go on any of our carpets, automatically now go to her bed and not look when we eat and is an absolute pleasure to be around. We were very strict on her when she was an "adorable" baby puppy, when most get away with blue murder. Our golden retriever we sadly lost 3 years ago was the exact same on what's acceptable.
Train them whilst they are very very young and you will have a dog that gives you untold pleasure for many years ahead.
Her biggest problem we are still trying to resolve is due to excitement when one of us comes home or we have visitors at the house for a couple of minutes, is she is very vocal telling us too much info so to speak and making a lot of din about it, and we are still training on the not acceptable to jump up unless invited with out stretched arm.
We love our animals and they give us great pleasure and are fun to have around but we are very very strict on them when most small so they don't become obnoxious adult dogs that others don't enjoy having around them.
Take your dog with you, it's part of your family and deserves to be included and felt loved. However, be strict and nip bad habits in the bud before they become ingrained as being acceptable to them. Reward good behaviour and chastise bad, just as we teach children that folks delight being around. You'll be so glad you did for many enjoyable future years ahead, and it'll make you proud when folks say "wow, what a well trained dog".
They need the social interaction, different locations etc to learn as well!!
