Your advice for an agressive dog, please!! - Page 3

without seeing him its hard to know how bad this is.

this might sound silly but could you video his behavior esp at feeding time  and post a link

seeing him  is crucial.  

Some of you people, though well-intentioned, do NOT do this person or the dog, or society or the breed a favor by suggesting some of the baloney you do. Taking a dog for a walk, for example, whom one is afraid of, who is other dog aggressive, and over whom one has no control makes no sense. One cannot work with a dog when they are afraid of the dog. And this dog has some very serious issues which, simply as described, can get someone seriously injured. Flower essence does not prevent a dog from biting someone who tries to remove its' food bowl when it is aggressive over same.

This is why I cringe when I see people thinking about "rescuing" a dog or worse yet, starting a rescue. Volunteer, donate at your local shelter if you are so inclined. Foster the dogs who come with few behavior issues.Too many are not able to handle the difficult cases, and yes, there are plenty of them. Then what? At least the poster has the sense to know when she is in over her head. Who among you will take this dog and keep him for the rest of his life regardless of his behavior? If one does not have the strength, skills or experience to deal with this behavior, and TRY to change it, when it may not be fixable, one is looking for trouble. Trying to save every GSD, regardless of the issues involved does not help the breed folks. If and when such a dog hurts someone or another animal, the entire breed gets blamed and in part, it is because people are not capable of evaluating a dog properly. 

It was suggested in my first post that if she wants to continue to try to work with the dog, then she MUST find some competent help. Perhaps she lives in a place where there is no one who can help. Perhaps she is not able to afford the help. Working with a dog like this is very time consuming and will take a long, long time. And then, what one has is a dog who STILL cannot be trusted.

One must look at the big picture here. No one like to see dogs put down, including me, and in person, I have only recommended once in my life that a dog be put down. But it was absolutely the right and necessary thing to do as the dog also was food aggressive, the family had children and the dog had already tried repeatedly to bite people who came to the house and it encountered on walks. The dog came from a shelter and the shelter did not do their job and, in the ensuing weeks, adopted it out and got several people bitten. 

The person has tried to help and is in over her head. If any of you think the dog should be worked with and you have the money, skill or experience to take the dog for the rest of its' life, then do so.

The decision to euth. is always the hardest one for all of us to make. Is this dog really happy being on guard all the time, making sure that no one gets near his shelter, his food, himself.  Having have this all of his life he is very highly stressed.  This is not a life for anyone animal or any person for that matter. Please look at his quality of life, his mind is only on survival and not on the idea of what life with people really means. I would humanely euth.

Thanks Hodie! I do have excellent resources and have used them considerably on this dog.  We do not have the anyone is our area- Fredericksburg, VA- that I know of who can help with him- and I've lived here all but three of my 36 years.  Don't get me wrong- I am not generally nervous around any dog and I have been bit before. However, this dog shredded the rear tires on my John Deere riding mower like it was nothing.  When that happens, you look at it a whole different way.  We called the local pound to inquire if they had a record of this dog being this way- possibly biting someone else and the only records they had on him was where they fined the man who had him for not giving him adequate food and shelter once.  In talking they mentioned a lady about 50 miles away who might help.  I called her and discussed him with her and she said she was used to agressive GSDs and they could help.  However, upon discussing the situation more, I found that she has 2 daughters 6 and 10.  When I told her I did not want to place him with any one who had children- she stated that "her children were used to agressive dogs."  She also stated that if she took the dog she didn't want me to have him neutered prior.  I do hate the thought of putting him down- but I hate the thought of someone getting him who doesn't take him seriously more...

Maybe I'm overly cautious but I see two warning flags. 

Two fairly young children, whether they're used to 'aggressive dogs' or not, they're still young children and the fact that she doesn't want you to neuter him. 

That just makes a warning bell go off in my head.

While I agree that euthanasia is probably the end result here, without any of us seeing this dog firsthand we are not doing justice to this owner or animal if we do not suggest she see a trainer who specializes in aggression. Many facilities (such as the one I train for) will evaluate a dog for free. Will it be a safe, social, animal? Most likely, of course not. Could it be made workable? Possibly. But it will take a lot of your time, energy, and money.

That being said, bear in mind there are many more animals out there who desperately need a home, many of which will be better matches for your home and family, and safe 4 legged members of your community.

 iloveshepherds,

Your sense about the woman wanting the dog, when she does NOT want you to neuter him and she has two young children, after what I am sure you told her about your experience with this dog, sends up a HUGE red flag for me. I would bet this woman would try to breed the dog. Also, anyone who would accept an aggressive dog into their home when they have been told of the problems you are experiencing and they have children is irresponsible. Period. Run away from that situation. I think you have explained the situation well. I have no doubt you have tried and I have no doubt the dog is all you say he is and probably more. Common sense should guide your response here. You did not fail this dog, his owners prior to you did. And, as the previous poster states, yes, there are hundreds of dogs, for example, in my local shelter, many of whom have no behavioral issues, who would do well in any home. 

I think you know the answer to your situation, difficult as it may be. You need not justify it to anyone, including yourself, based on your observations.

Good luck.

i just want to clarify something

hodie i hope i have not offended you as i respect every word you have said on this matter.

as i have already said i have a Problem dog who is extremely aggressive at times and i just want to let you know what you are letting yourself in for the lengths that i go to is too say the least extreme 

we can only walk our boy late at night when there are few people around, he is never allowed in when our kids are in the  house  we have to muzzle him for all routine procedures at the vets and never allow him to be petted by strangers the work and training we have gone through is phenomenal and i can honestly say its 24 7 

with a dog like him you are always on your guard and must preempt all possible scenarios 

on the other hand i now have given him a few years of happiness and love and to be honest most of his problems have lessened over the years to the point now that if you saw him you would wonder what the hell i am on about

i took a risk and it paid off but that is not to say it was the right choice for my family or friends, every dog is different and i agree that the majority of dogs with this kind of extreme problem should be put to sleep as there are not many people who could cope with the lifestyle i now lead. 

whatever you choose i wish you luck and im sure that you will make the right decision.

once again im apologize if i offended anyone :)

some pics for you

bad day

Tigermouse,

No, you did not offend me, nor did anyone else. I do think that sometimes people give advice that is not suitable for situations like this. And the person who suggested the OP had not spent time with the dog, when clearly she had, was way off base.

When the advice is not correct in a situation like this, someone or another animal gets hurt and, as I said above, the breed as a whole suffers. Part of what drives breed specific legislation is that in the United States there IS a HUGE problem with dog bites, dogs running at large and so on. I am an advocate for the breed. As such, all people who consider themselves advocates for the breed MUST understand that aggressive GSDs, regardless of their history, are really serious problems and in some cases, they cannot and should not be saved. The OP must make her decision, but based on what she has said, I suggest at a minimum she cannot handle this dog. That is not meant as a slam or a slap to her as she clearly has tried and wanted to help this dog. But if other options are not available, then she has little choice. I could evaluate a dog like this, very carefully. I could probably work with a dog like this, but again, to what end? The dog will revert to his original behavior at some time and that means he would never be adoptable. So I would end up keeping him, perhaps having multiple battles and or serious encounters with him myself (and possibly getting hurt in the process) and why? I must make choices each month on dogs who are and are not salvageable and worthy of "saving". It is such a huge problem in my state and in this country that there simply are too many dogs to take from situations where they have been neglected, abused or worse. When there are so many needing homes, unfortunately, one is forced to make choices.

But again, no, I am not easily offended and no one said anything that I could reasonably take offense to.....

Teach a dog whatever you will, it will never forget abuse.   Period !

I have put dog's down for less.    I have no problem with it at all, as long as it's done correctly.

youloveshepherd's,

Your holding a loaded gun that is cocked and has a broken faulty trigger, your risking a lot.

You got envolved and now the responcibilty rest's in your hand's.  Would you pass it off onto someone else?

Something's where just not meant to be, save the next one.

You might not think so but this dog is suffering and could cause other's to suffer as well.  The one who caused this in the first place is to blame.   One day he will answer for it I'm sure of that.

Bring peace to this dog, that's what it is..peace.

Brent.