At a loss. - Page 2

[likes Joanro's post!!] Drugs DO NOT fix behavioural issues and I would have ZERO trust in any trainer who suggested them!

Indications for rx medications are typically severe compulsive disorders, phobia (phobia differs from anxiety in that it does not respond to behavioral modification alone), and in some cases severe anxiety related aggression.
Not a fix for a behavioral issues. If they are prescribed, they are always prescribed in combination with a behavioral program. It is not for trainers to prescribe them. A trainer who works with a dog who might benefit from a medical intervention refers to a veterinary behaviorist for evaluation. It is up to a vet to decide on the rx. It would not let a GP vet prescribe them, only a veterinary behaviorist who knows how to pair them with a behavioral program.
For a dog with a compulsion disorder or a dog whose storm phobia is so severe that it puts the dog at health risk, these meds can be life savers. The point is to put the dog in a state of mind where he can learn at all. And live a decent quality of life.

If you are a sports trainer, you'll likely never get to see these severe cases. And they are not for sports trainers to work with.

I listed veterinary behaviorists as one resource. They are the only ones who can rx. They treat all behavioral disorders, whether medication might help, or, as in most cases, is not necessary.

Did you talk to her breeder as was suggested? Most breeders take back dogs that buyers can no longer keep so you may not have to rehome her yourself.

If you are near a vet school, most have a behavioral specialist on staff.

Did the dog actually try to bite and was somehow thwarted or did the dog show inhibition toward biting the child? I would think if a dog really wanted to bite someone, not much could stop it from happening. Canines often display aggression as a way to get someone to back away. What has been the history of interactions between the dog and child and were those interactions supervised? How old is this child? What specifically did the dog do? I would be very careful who you let mess with your dog's head no matter what their education. Start with your breeder they should understand the potential of what they have made and who is best to deal with it if they are truly breeders.

OK:

As a SERIOUS owner of a dog that hated children: Really it does not matter WHY the dog bit the child but the fact that the dog bit the child...............

Without knowing the owner of the dog or the dog... YOU AS THE OWNER OF THAT DOG ARE LIABLE FOR YOUR DOGS ACTIONS... If you do not know why the dog bit the child, or when the dog bit the child then you are liable, again, and ;you do not need to pass on this dog to someone else, as YOU ARE LIABLE... Particularly to some trainer. They will try to fix and pass on. NO. Do you NOT understand what kind of determent you are passing on for the GSD breed?

Sorry, this site needs more information in this situation to assess the dogs abilities. Nan

 

BIT or almost BIt??? 

The breeder of your dog is your first stop for getting help FOR YOUR DOG....
It is the breeders obligation to access and help this dog out. There is a reason for this problem, and the dog should not have to pay the ultimate price.
Have you reached out to the breeder, if so, what did they recommend, if not, WHY Not????

Nan, the OP said that the dog *almost* bit the child...I'm curious OP when the dog was growing up what socialization did you do with the dog? Was it with children of different ages in the neighborhood? What about other children in the home, or even visiting the home? Is it only this one child that the dog has an issue with? What about resource guarding?

Again, almost bit the child? YOU are liable for your dogs actions...Do not pass on the problem...

Nans, it DOES depend whether the warning--which is what 'almost bit' really is--was unprovoked or not. Sorry, but I will defend to the ends of the earth any dog that were to bite a child after the kid stuck a pencil down into the dog's ear canal, for example. Contrary to what a lot of parents think these days, if their child inflicts pain on another creature, it is NOT the other creature's fault if it reacts in its own defense.

Here here ! @Hexe.    Where's the OP gone ? It is right that nobody should be giving specific behavioural advice when we cannot meet & handle & assess the dog, but any general info & guidance we can add would very much depend on getting much more information from you, OP, please.   Maybe people can recommend rehabilitation via shelter/rehoming/behavioural services if those are available if we know which areas apply ? Certainly to just pass the dog on to who-knows-who isn't the right course of action without examining the situation further, because as several posters have pointed out, you're just exporting a possibly dangerous problem to someone else, and damaging the reputation of the breed in the process.