My female's behavior is changing, should I be worried? - Page 1

My german shepherd Bailey is having some behavior changes. I'm a little concerned, if I should trust her. She just turned three on febuary 9th. She is not spayed, but I have never bred her. I've raised her since she was six weeks old. She has always been well behaved, and polite. She always been good with kids, cats and dogs. I've never seen any agression out of her, until about a year ago, we moved and had to get a new vet. For some reason, she does not like the vet lady at all and hasn't since she stayed the weekend in a kennel there, while we went on a weekend trip. The vet is completely scared of her and I don't blame her, bailey seems very frighted and agressive towards her. She requires me to muzzle her before I bring her in the building. Bailey has alway gone to the vet and has stayed in the kennels before at her old vet and we never had any problems before. Even since then, I have never seen any agression out of her any where else. I have never thought of her as a protective dog. I figured if I was ever in danger, she would probly just run and hide. I've always trusted her, she always obeys me, even off lead. Here lately over the last couple of months, ive noticed more aggression out of her then ever. She seems to be more cautious, more alert with her surroundings and is now starting to feed off my emotions and my childrens emotions. For example, My husbands cousins wife, who we rarley see, and Im not so confortable being around her alone, came over to my house.  and I was really nervous because I was alone, and she came alone also, just to visit. She doesnt know my feelings about her, we've never had any confrentations before. Bailey has met her a few times before, when my husband was home, and she brought her husband to visit. Bailey was always relaxed around her and confortable, and just layed around the house, or played with the kids. This last time was diffrent, she barked and growed and got very excited, her hair stood up. I had to grab her by the collar, and put her out side, even then she continued to bark and growl throught the back door. She has never acted like that!! Then today one of the neighbor kids was playing in the backyard with my kids and dogs. He was agravating my daughter, swinging a plastic sword around and she was crying.This little boy has been and our back yard numerous times over the last year and a half with absolutly no incidence. Again, this time was different. Bailey growed and barked at him over and over, until it got my attention, because she never barks like that. The boy wasnt scared of her at all, and continued doing what he was doing. I watched her for a minute and she seemed really unsure of her self and kept a distance from him, but was clearley up set at what he was doing. I called her and told her thats enough and she came into the house very quickley. I told the boy to go home and bailey and my daughter was fine, just kid stuff you know. I've always thought of Bailey as a very well adjusted and sound minded dog. I kind of would like her to be a little protective, just normal you know. I just dont know for sure, where the change is coming from, and what should i do about it. Should she have more training? Can I still trust her? Is her behavior normal for a family dog. Most protection i've ever seen out her, is gently nipping and knocking down other dogs, who were plaingy to rough with my children, she's always done that. If you have any Ideas or suggestions I would love to hear from you.

The change is called being "Sharp"  , What has happend is some one at the Vets has abused or scared her or treated her unfairly - possibly forcing her to do something - and you where not there to protect her.. she cannot trust anyone now. Do not trust her around strangers, you may not be able to call her off if she does go after some one because now she is in defence mode. 

The only dog I have that displays this "Sharpness" is an old lady named Gypsy. She was abused by her first owners and she is suspicious of all strangers ( and us if we swing our arms, or talk mean to her).. as she gets older and weaker she is more sharp, and more aggressive towards strangers ( she will warn people by showing teeth, and then storm a kennel gate full force - very scary for visitors). Because I was her breeder it is my responciblity ultimatly for her life, and she is an excellent protection dog, and she helps my mother gather the mean Boar billy goat.

Fixing her would have nothing to do with this, she is mentaly strained and more aware that some one can hurt her, she will always be looking over her shoulders. The best you can do is teach her the off command- sounds like you have one already- and to come back quickly when you need her.

Find a new Vet,
whatever happened the dog will never forget it.

Continue to socialize the dog under controlled conditions with family and friends, especially the women.

Never let the dog around your children playing with neighbor kids,  if the kids are going to be fighting, play or otherwise.
The dog may perceive a threat where no threat exists.

Or try to explain to the children and take your chances.

Yes they do sense emotions.

Sounds like a normal GSD to me, just had a bad experience at the Vet, and she's matured now and doing what she believes is her job.


New Vet
Socialize
Kids!!!!  No fighting !


Moons.

Very good way to put it Moons

Thanks, for you advise. I was really worried about this. I am going to have to take her to another vet. I wish I knew what happend to her. You'd think you could trust a vet to be friendly to animals.

I quit working for a Vet because I seen the Vet Tech beat a dalmation , I mean BEAT her , because the dog would not sit still. It was so disturbing that I at only 17 years old broke down crying all day , at the customers etc..  When you are not right there, you do not know what it takes for the Techs, Vets, handlers etc to hold your dog still , move it to another cage etc. You have to have a close relationship with a Vet and staff to really trust them. But a dog will never lie.

German shepherds attract stupit people

Firstly All Dogs should have a  Muzzle on when seeing a Vet and i mean every dog, No matter what the owner thinks it only needs to bite once and that is one time too many, Even Pup Izzy has a soft Muzzle on when she sees the vet, that was put on at a young age and i mafe a game of it so she was never frightened of the Muzzle, that i am a stickler on doing it is not fair not fair on other people not to use one like a Vet
As Moons says the Dog has been or thought it has been frightened or hurt by this Vet, and the fact that the Vet is scared of the Dog now says it all, Change your Vet and do not take her back to this one
Now regards your thinking your Dog will protect you from Harm, No it will not in most situations it has not been trained to do so
The Dog will protect its self and you will think it is protecting you but it is not
Regards your sister in Law that is another thing, You should have the Guts to tell her of your feelings towards her to not do so is wrong,
 And perhaps the Lady may have done something to the Dog without you knowing, Dogs and all Animals will pick up human emotions from Aninals to Birds there is no difference, they react to the way the owner feels so in the case of this Lady you should get things straight into the Open it will be better for you and for her and for the Dog
But all this does not mean your dog will protect you that is more a fallacy and has been on many threads before
Steve1

Clifford, you really shouldn't put yourself down that way.   You are not stupid,  just uniformed....