aggression

[zack the dog]

Originally Posted by angela

Hi All
Advise please my GSD Kaiser is almost 2 and is people aggressive he nipped a neighbour yesterday lucky he wasn't that bothered but I am.I am now making him wear a muzzle. Any advice welcome. Kaiser gives no warning he just lunges and nips I need to get this under control.He is only good with his own family members no-one else is safe.PLEASE ADVISE ME I have tried ignoring, shouting making him lie down nothing is working.

I HAVE HAD ZACK SINCE HE WAS 7 WEEKS OLD, AND HE HAS BEEN FEARFUL OF PEOPLE SINCE THEN,HE IS NOW16MONTHS, NOW HE IS TURNING AGGRESSIVE, HE DOESNT LIKE ANYTHING OR ANYBODY OUTSIDE OUR HOME. HE HAS BEEN TRAINING SINCE HIS INJECTIONS AND NOW HAS A BEHAVIOURIST, YESTERDAY HE WENT TO THE VET FOR HIS BOOSTER JAB (MUZZLED) IF HE HADNT BEEN WEARING THIS HE WOULD HAVE BIT THE VET. THE VET SAID TO ME THAT HE DIDNT THINK THAT IT WAS FEAR AGGRESSION AS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GROWLING BUT BACKING AWAY, HE WAS EYEBALLING THE VET AND LUNGING AT HIM, HE SAID THAT ZACK LOOKED LIKE AN AGGRESSIVE DOG TO HIM... WE HAVE LIKE YOURSELF TRIED EVERYTHING. ITS REALLY HARD BEING A GSD OWNER. I FEEL FOR YOU, IT SEEMS THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH GSDS THAT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS.

[Poly]

I too have had very similar problems...but now seem to have got through them now ...I found that whilst I was going through my divorce I hit a very low eb and tended to stay away from people and live in my little cocoon often going out for solitary walks etc (dont feel too sorry for me lol) as time went on and things got better for me I started interacting abit more but by this time apollo had delveloped his fear agression - Im not saying for one minute that this is similar to anyone else or anyones actions are to blame - just in my instance I do and did feel to blame. But of course at this point it was too late - he would bark if anyone came near him, into the house etc was alway fabulous with his 'magic circle' plus other dogs and children.
I found myself being nervous when I took him out or if people came near to us - not realising that he was probably feeding off my nervousness....me waiting for the bark etc...one thing I started to do was think No Im not avoiding busy places just incase he scares people - so I carried on taking him anywhere and everywhere - when he barked I would be more assertive and use a few techniques knicked from caesar lol...not sure what you would call it but its when you use your fingers like a claw into the dogs neck - sounds abit terrible saying it like that...but it was only a swift gentle but quick movement - no pressure involved...but it seems to have done the trick. I think the key thing to remember is dont give up - just re train your dogs brain. Dont let your worry of what 'might' happen rub off onto your dog.

Im not the most experienced dog owner but just wanted to share what happened with me and how I overcame it x

[LOVEGSD]

Originally Posted by Poly

I too have had very similar problems...but now seem to have got through them now ...I found that whilst I was going through my divorce I hit a very low eb and tended to stay away from people and live in my little cocoon often going out for solitary walks etc (dont feel too sorry for me lol) as time went on and things got better for me I started interacting abit more but by this time apollo had delveloped his fear agression - Im not saying for one minute that this is similar to anyone else or anyones actions are to blame - just in my instance I do and did feel to blame. But of course at this point it was too late - he would bark if anyone came near him, into the house etc was alway fabulous with his 'magic circle' plus other dogs and children.
I found myself being nervous when I took him out or if people came near to us - not realising that he was probably feeding off my nervousness....me waiting for the bark etc...one thing I started to do was think No Im not avoiding busy places just incase he scares people - so I carried on taking him anywhere and everywhere - when he barked I would be more assertive and use a few techniques knicked from caesar lol...not sure what you would call it but its when you use your fingers like a claw into the dogs neck - sounds abit terrible saying it like that...but it was only a swift gentle but quick movement - no pressure involved...but it seems to have done the trick. I think the key thing to remember is dont give up - just re train your dogs brain. Dont let your worry of what 'might' happen rub off onto your dog.

Im not the most experienced dog owner but just wanted to share what happened with me and how I overcame it x

Poly I use the fingers into the neck too....works enough to get Diesel's attention if he's really transfixed on something.

I also think you're right in that how you react has such a massive impact on your dog, your tension goes down the lead to them....I found that after Diesel was attacked by a Lurcher (she ripped a chunk out of his ear) I started to become nervous of him meeting dogs in case they went for him and he went back which for a while was happening as he became quite defensive. We just went back to basics and I got my confidence back, which ultimately made him calmer.

I can appreciate that some cases are not as easily dealt with though so good luck in finding the right way to deal with this.

We have a white GSD living near us and he has terrible aggression, which unfortunately is down to the owners not dealing with the problem. He's 6 now and this all stemmed from him being frightened as a pup, but rather than tackle it and re-introduce him to the "scary" things, they kept him away and he now fears everything!!! It's just such a shame

[Jazz]

Originally Posted by angela

Hi All
Advise please my GSD Kaiser is almost 2 and is people aggressive he nipped a neighbour yesterday lucky he wasn't that bothered but I am.I am now making him wear a muzzle. Any advice welcome. Kaiser gives no warning he just lunges and nips I need to get this under control.He is only good with his own family members no-one else is safe.PLEASE ADVISE ME I have tried ignoring, shouting making him lie down nothing is working.

My advice is that you dont have the Alpha status and your young dog is confused and is trying to control the situations like this and trying to show ITS dominance over others in its confused way. You should be aware of every subtle behavior trate your dog shows, to say its without warning is utter rubbish Im sorry to say. The fact is you are not the boss you should be, if your dog knew exactly where its place was you would not get this behavior because it would react to YOU , YOUR BEHAVIOR, and YOUR RULES.Instead its probably racting to your nervousness and expectations or anticipations. If you need a muzzle Im sorry but you have failed and shouldnt have a shepherd or any other breed. Muzzle to me means 'Badly treated dog' or 'Poorly trained dog' or 'Dog is the boss'.or a combination of all three.You do not need to be agressive to achieve stability in your pooch, though some controlled agression that the dog naturally understands can help.

The quickest way to get problems of this type with dogs is to confuse the dog to the point it feels it has to be the alpha, in an enviroment and world that is contradiction after contradiction.

I speak my mind I hope you are not offended but my concern is for the dog.
You need to show your dog what behavior is unacceptable and you can do much of this with posturing, standing over or between you and the thing the dog wants showing it whos the big one ,whos in charge. If you walk your dog and meet another dog and owner and the excited yapping starts, simply turning around and going away every time will teach the dog that all the pulling and yapping is unacceptable and simple actions like this can prevent other behavior.

When you go for a walk does your dog go out the door before you? if so stop it!
When you feed the dog does it get set times regardless or does it watch you eat and finish before it gets fed? If you want to show whos boss do the latter always!
Does your dog get invited to join you for affection or does it demand it? If it demands it, ignore it,look away!


Those are a few things that confuse the hell out of dogs and many many more caused by human beings most of whom get a dog then look in its lovely eyes for the user handbook!! doh!