I need advice - Page 2

I have no degree but  sometimes children with any type of disorders can be cruel to dogs and dogs are very senstive especially when they feel threatened. Is there a chance that your son could have been mean to the dog when you are not around? Not saying this just a thought for you to ponder? Number  two is the arguments between two household members will conflict a dog for sure? If my husband came in today and was yelling at me or acting in a threatening manner my dog would growl at him as well quite naturally with good protection instinct as it should be. Third how is the dog when you have him out is he fearful of others outside of the family? If he is this might be a dog with a nerve issue and fearful of everyone and you are his comfort zone so to speak. Evaluate all of the possibilites above and she which one fits from you observations. When you decide which best fits the dog or what is going on it will help you see if this is going to resolve itself if it is the nerve issue it will never get better this is genetic in the dog. A lot of lay people mistake a dog who growls at anyone approaching them as protection when it is actually bad nerves or fear biting a very dangerous dog to be in any household. 

Marlene

Why was the dog given up by the family with 4 kids?

I was thinking the same question.

Rezkat,

Your advice about the pinch collar could stop the behavior, but could also make the dog associate "pain" or discomfort with the boy, and if that happens, one day when momma isnt around Tino may try and take revenge.......BAD IDEA. Sounds like someone lied to this woman about Tino being in a family with 4 kids, OR the kids were in the house and Tino was not. An un-housbroken, distructive dog is usually a sign of neglecting a GSD's NEED to be with people and have a family. NO GSD IS A BACKYARD DOG! I visited a breeder Friday that has the nicest facility I have seen, but the 5 GSD's she had are all un-socialized and sad to see. A GSD needs a family to be with. My GSD is always part of the family, in the house ALL THE TIME (except to excercise, go somewhere, and go bathroom) he sleeps at the foot of my bed, follows me to whatever room I am in and lays down, and that is the way it was meant to be. If you can't provide this type of environment where TONS of people interaction take place, then buy a Doberman or Rotty, they are generally more independent and better suited for "premise protection" and not "people protection". Pinch collars and force cannot make an untrustworthy dog trustworthy, cause all you are doing is "suppressing" the dogs natural character, if it is in him to be aggressive, it doenst magically go away with force.....

that wasn't my advice.  i was saying too that it was a bad idea

I just read some of the posts that were posted while i was writing. You have gotten some good advice and some very poor advice.

The last thing you need right now is your son correcting your dog. A hyper-active, impulsive, oppositional kid with little or no dog training experience correcting a any dog, much less a dominant one? Guys, I am not trying to be argumentitive. I know you are trying to help but that is very poor advice.

From what your described I do not see it as a dominance issue, but as others said, no way of knowing without seeing it. If it is dominance and you have your son correct him...........

AlabamK9,

I dont often agree with you. And I dont here either. If you have a dog that growls at your husband when you argue then YOUR dog may have nerve issues. Perhaps he thinks, as Tino does, that your husband is lower in the pack than he is. Anyways, you answered the way most Schutzhund people do, oh it must be the boy not the dog or the dog is "weak" or blah blah blah.

This situation requires thought and expertise beyond schutzhund mentalilty. I have no doubt you have great schutzhund dogs, but the one sided schutzhund nature comes across clearly in your post.

Get a real dog,

you are right on! althoug I think a laid back GSD is possible to find in the west german show lines.....

Rezkat,

OOPS! DIdnt read the post that well. sorry! I am a skimmer sometimes......

Flip,

I agree the right GSD could fit the bill. I don't think it is a matter of show vs working though.

Guys let's not scare Shandra off by arguing. Her situation is way more important.

I am just saying in general "show" dogs are more tolerant and less "drivey" and easier to handle for the beginner. You can find show or working for this, but show will be easier to find. Just trying to help....

Bottom line,  she needs to get to an experienced trainer or even better trainer/behaviorist to get a real evaluation.  It seems from her first post that she wants to keep the dog.