Help with our aggressive German Shepherd?

Question

Our German Shepherd has become extremely aggressive towards other dogs, cats and people. He snarls, lunges, barks, spits, shows his teeth, his eye dilate and he bites. I want to know if there's anything we can do about this. I know it's a lot of info, but please read all the facts below before answering. Thank you!

1. He is 14 months old.
2. He was socialized very well as a puppy and used to play with strangers, dogs, cats, you name it!
3. He started showing his aggressive side after we went on a two week vacation at the end of January. Prior to that we had never boarded him.
4. He stayed at a great kennel facility for larger dogs and the kennel staff all said he did very well.
5. He is NEVER violent towards the family, only strangers and other animal.
6. We've been going to a trainer for the past nine months. The trainer thinks this is genetic and that the dog should be put down. My husband wants to try and fix this with the dog.
7. Our Vet cannot find any genetic, hormonal or physical issues with him.
8. There is no common thread to the aggression. He's this way with kids, men, women, big dogs, small dogs, cats, on the leash, off the leash, at the park, at training, in the car - it's everywhere and all the time!
9. Even though he is not aggressive towards me, I am very afraid of what he might do to others so it makes it really difficult for me to work with him.
10. I've contacted four area rescue groups and they all said they same thing: We do not accept aggressive dogs.
11. When he gets aggressive he stops listening to me, ignores cookies and treats and does not respond to the prong collar being yanked (even when yanked really hard)


I don't want to put him down if there's a hope that this behavior can be fixed but I'm really scared having him around strangers or other animals. We have a backyard, but I don't want to keep him away from the world and what happens if he gets loose? My husband believes the kennel/boarding experience changed him. If that's the case, how the world do you correct that? Help!!

Answer 1

you need to read book s on dogs, it is not the dog it is you i am sorry to say , trying to feed the dog at time s like that, and yanking on his prong collar tell s me you lost con troll a long time a go and the dog was becoming to much for you , when you see a dog coming you send a message of fear strait down the lead and tell the dog to get ready to fight and shouting and pulling sets the dog up even more,in my mind you need to be his alpha it will take a bit of work but it can be don ,and the dog will not have to be put down, good luck and do not give up on your dog or blame it please

Answer 2

Well, until the dog is completely under your control, and trained to recall, do not have her off lead. Keep her on the lead and start greeting people. Give her a treat whenever she encounters something new, and try to get "strangers" to give her a high value treat. These strangers could be friends of yours that she has never met. You could actually set up a situation where she "meets" your friends on the street, and they give her a really delicious treat. That way she associates strangers with good things. Until, you are absolutely sure that she will come when called, and not act aggressively, you cannot have her off leash. If she was a rescue, you do not have the full history, and she may think she is protecting you. Barking at the door. Again, training. Put her in a sit stay, or with a filled Kong everytime someone visits. Try and teach her the speak and quite commands. It's a long hard road, but it is worth it in the end. GSD's and electric collars. . .I shy away from that. It can make problems more serious. Eg. nervousness I would do some more training sessions with group work as well as get a trainer at home in your environment. ***** Just as a note, I have a GSD/Rotti/ mix. We have started taking her to training classes (group) where there are a few aggressive dogs. If the trainer is experienced, they will be able to help you. They will put the dog in the "correct" training group. I don't even bother with Petsmart classes. I searched out trainers in the area,checked credentials, started my one puppy in the course, and then my adult dog for a refresher. The other dogs that are aggressive, do get used to the social part, if the trainer is good, they will tell you what to do and instruct you within the group. The first couple of times, I thought my dog was going to be killed by another dog, but (my dog is a sweety), the trainer was able to have all dogs under control, and really, train the owners :) Explain your situation to a few reputable trainers, and pick the best match. You may have to start one on one, and then go to group, but honestlly, just seeing the progress of the aggressive ones, it has been amazing. The socialization will help make your dog socialized. They need it, and if they haven't been socialized in the first few months of life, it takes a while to retrain them, but it can be done. GSD's are smart, wonderful dogs. With correct and gentle training, you will have a dog that will want to please you. It is just a question of "how" to get your dog to unlearn bad habits. It can be done, but it takes a lot of work and dedication. I know it's hard, been there and done that :) As for treats. . .what exactly is she allergic to? If it is wheat/corn, you can use liver treats, dehydrated chicken, or if you are into it, you can make your own, avoiding the things she is allergic to. My dogs are allergic to corn and wheat, so, I do have some restraints as per treats, but, at natural dog food stores, they usually have something that will match your dog.

Answer 3

Think long and hard on this. If you are the least bit careless ,even for a second, you could loose your home from the lawsuit. Training takes time and it sounds like you don't have much of that. Some dogs are just plain mean, and not much can be done to make them safe, whether is's genetic or something happened that you don't know about. Try another trainer or a rescue (they have more resources at thier disposal).

Answer 4

If he's not neutered, do it ASAP. This could be part of the problem. The only other solution is to contact a trainer that's used to dealing with aggressive large dogs.

Unfortunately, a large dog that gets aggressive and doesn't listen to anyone is a danger to you, your kids and your neighbor's kids. If he bites someone, it won't be a small scrape you can fix with a band aid. As hard as it is, the safest idea might be putting him down. Aggression usually gets worse. German Shepherds have been inbred for so many years that some are just too aggressive to be trusted. It's unfortunate, because I've known some very nice Shepherds, but I approach them now with the attitude that they will try to bite me.

I know you're in a hard spot, but just because he hasn't gone after you, doesn't mean he wont.

Answer 5

Oh please NEUTERING will not help. Of course no rescue will take him, why did you even go that route? They can't afford to waste their limited resources on a dog that is NOT adoptable. No boarding him did NOT cause this so your husband needs to drop that line.



Put the dog down. Because even with intensive training and keeping him on lock down he will NEVER be stable and he will NEVER be trustworthy. Oh and just because he hasn't done this with you guys doesn't mean he won't sooner or later.



Seriously put the dog down, because its not just YOU that's suffering from his behavior, the dog is as well.

Answer 6

He sounds unstable, and no boarding experience is going to cause that. At the moment he's not aggressive with your family, but not too long ago he wasn't aggressive at all. If he won't listen at all when he gets like this, there's no controlling him. Put him down

Answer 7

Sounds like you need Cesar Millan the dog whisperer

Answer 8

Maybe you can donate him to the canine corps of the military for guard dog training.