Aggressive Behaviour

lolz_k · #1 18-11-10, 12:00 PM

Hi, I'm new on here and looking for some advice -

We have an 18mnth white german shepherd male...we've had him since he was 8 weeks and from the 1st person he met outside he has been scared of people! He's never had a bad experience with anyone he just simply ran in the other direction and wouldn't go near them! He is great with other dogs and once he gets to know people he's fine but he won't let strangers near him.
When he was younger he went through a stage of barking and chasing anyone who was out walking without a dog - when he started this we stopped letting him off his lead on walks and practiced walking to heal or sitting/lying down as people were passing by .
Now he's a bit older and his recall is better my partner lets him off the lead on walks - unfortunately I just don't trust him not to misbehave and I never let him off when I walk him on my own.
He's been doing really well and hasn't shown his aggressive side in a while - however in the last few months we've had a few instances of him running after people, barking really aggressively and totally ignoring us. This is unacceptable behaviour!
I love my dog and I cannot understand what is causing this behaviour? What makes it more difficult is that he is very submissive in the house to both me and my partner and because he doesn't do it everytime it is very difficult to predict when he will decide to be this way (hence why I dont' let him off!). I have grown up with dogs all my life and have never had to deal with dogs with behavioural issues - I'm finding this very challenging and want to help him become a well balanced, happy dog!
Any advice welcome!

LOVEGSD · #2 18-11-10, 12:21 PM

Hello and welcome

Sorry you've joined because of an issue but please post some pics we all love photo's on here...lol

Have you taken him training at all? Maybe he needs to learn how to be around other people and dogs and how to shut them out?? Have you tried training outside with him in the park? I found this a great way of getting my lad to focus on me instead of what was going on around him. I think you need to get his recall 100%, so maybe whistle training might help?

I think if you feel nervous then your lad will be picking up on that so I would be inclined to leave him on a long line until you are confident with him off lead and I would only let him off once he's got good recall and focus on you outside.

Do you think it's excitement barking rather than an aggressive bark? A moving target is a good game for GSD's, he may have a high prey drive so he finds that rewarding.

Sorry for the essay of questions

lolz_k · #3 18-11-10, 12:53 PM

We took him to puppy classes as soon as he was old enough but to be honest they were next to useless! They picked up on the fact that he wasn't confident around people but did nothing to help us with that - he got off the lead to socialise for a total of 15mins in 6hrs (by the time he realised he could go play he was back on the lead). And they did a 'swap dog' exercise - he got quite stressed so they just gave him straight back to me.

We haven't done a lot of training at the park - he is on a extendable lead in order to let him have a wander around and he is fine on this. It's like he knows his boundaries on the lead but as soon as he's off he becomes unpredictable. I think we probably need to do more intensive training with him in terms of focus (I find it very hard not to get frustrated with him and I know I need to work on that)

My nervousness is the reason I don't let him off the lead - my partner is much more confident when he has Samson out - he doesn't worry about what might happen and just gets on with the walk and deals with things as they come. Whereas I know when he's off and i'm there i'm constantly on edge - my OH bless him tries to help and when we walk him together will let him off and try to build my confidence but i'm stuggling! Having come from a family with highly trained gun dogs and a clear pack structure with my parents dogs I guess i'm disappointed in myself at not being able to control my own dog!

I'm pretty sure its not playfull - his hackles go up and its a very aggressive bark. Often you can see a total change in his body language (body goes rigid, ear go straight up, etc) - when he does this on lead I can catch him before he starts and before it escalates but it's impossible when he's off lead.

JerryLee&Sam · #4 18-11-10, 01:01 PM

when your partner takes him out alone is he that bad to? he might be picking up on you and thinking he needs to protect you as you at that time are weaker tha him if that makes sence?

kita · #5 18-11-10, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolz_k

I'm pretty sure its not playfull - his hackles go up and its a very aggressive bark. Often you can see a total change in his body language (body goes rigid, ear go straight up, etc) - when he does this on lead I can catch him before he starts and before it escalates but it's impossible when he's off lead.

When you say you 'catch him before he starts' what do you do?

Do you correct him? Or do you distract him?

Also what do you do when he is off lead and he does this? Is he always ahead of you when it happens?

Could you walk him in a place where there are no people (eg a beach or an open field)?

Dogs learn by repeating behaviours and the more he is allowed to repeat the behaviour the more he will want to do it.

Sue

lolz_k · #6 18-11-10, 04:41 PM

Jerrylee&sam - The last 2 times he's behaved in this way have been with my partner and I wasn't present? As I said I don't let him off the lead at all when I take him out.

Kita - If he's walking to heal and I become aware of him focussing I will correct him (usually a quick jerk of the lead)...this rarely works and he will either ignore it or turn then go back to focussing again. I have tried then turning him around so he's facing away from whatever it is but he's a little sod and just keeps looking behind him! The use of treats does help to distract him but it's difficult to keep his focus on me.

If he's on the extended lead - if I become aware of him focussing I will call him...he rarely responds to this first time. Then I will give a sharp pull on the lead towards me and call 'here'. 9/10x he will 'think about it' (ie. look at me then look at the distraction) and then come back to me.

I don't know what he's like off lead - I'd need to ask my partner!

I don't really want to take him places there aren't any distractions as he's generally really good when there's no-one there (although I still won't take the chance letting him off just in case someone comes around the corner!) and as he's generally a nervous dog he needs to get used to people, dogs, cars, etc

I have been told by some that this nervousness and this type of behaviour can be quite common in white GSD? but I don't know if that is the case or not!?

paulsuzy1991 · #7 18-11-10, 05:28 PM

We have a White female , Sienna who is 16 months old now and she is the same with strangers and generally nervous.
She used to do the same with some people at the park so we used a long flexi lead as she was unpredicatable.
We found a very good training school with a trainer that specialises in GS and after 4 months she is a lot better.
She now ignores people and will even let other dog owners approach and give her a treat. Everyone we met I would give them a treat to throw to her and she eventually associated the people at the park with treats and sniffs their hand when we meet.
The training class has really helped her build her confidence.