I need advice - Page 5

I agree that you need to be the pack leader here.  Having your son correct the dog will not help the problem.  You need to be the one setting boundaries and limitations in your house.  Tino needs to unserstand that your son belongs to you as pack leader and that he is not to be touched under any circumstances.  That message needs to come from you, not your son.  Do you crate this dog? 

Poppa, yes Tino is crated at night when I go to bed or if he needs a time out, someone comes over etc. During the day when I am at work and he stays home he is outside in the backyard. He does go to his crate without direction when he wants to and I can tell him to go crate and he will walk over and crate and wait for me to come latch the door.

Hi Get A Real Dog, and Shandra (of course),

I know nobody implied these kids are stupid but the point I was trying to make is that although they can be difficult, he probably understands the danger in this situation and will at least try to act accordingly.  Maybe I'm wrong and if so I'm sorry.  It's just that the thread was dealing with "children" and I think the dog views him as an adult, small or not it's more about the hormones. If this dog is labeled as bad with kids it would pretty much be a death sentence and possibly undeserved.  Shandra, is this your only child and/or have you seen him interact with other children?  I know you stated he is more comfortable around women, that's where I was going with the male thing. He may have been mistreated by a male, it doesn't sound like you actually have much info on his background. Please let me restate I would never have endangered one of my kids around a dog I didn't trust and I agree with all of the advice about safety. I'm just saying don't automatically label him "bad with kids".  Give the poor guy a chance, even if in another home.

Very sorry to hear about the loss of your father, wishing you the best.

Cindi

OK here is another thing that has not been touched on.  Many dogs can detect a chemical imbalance in people.  Not just physical changes such as cancer or epilepsy, but chemical imbalances in the brain as well.  I know of a few dogs when they are around a certain person who has had a closed head injury will react very defensively, yet be fine around other people.  I know my own dogs can sense when someone is not "right".  They can detect if they are drug users or alcoholics and react very protectively of me.  Perhaps Tino is doing the same thing with your son?  Dogs are very intuitive.

Please do not take this as an insult to Justin.  My son also had ADHD so I've been there done that. 

I'm happy to hear you are taking Tino to be evaluated by a professional.  Some dogs can be rehabbed and all the love and affection you are giving him will surely add to his happiness.

Again, my condolences on the loss of your father.  Been there done that too.

What are your son's feelings on all of this?

Well, basically my son could care less about Tino. He does not like the fact that he cannot interact with the dog simply because he is being told No, and for him that is very hard to deal with.

Tino has been around my grandchildren at the shop, boys and girls and has no problem with them. He does not seek them out, but he also doesnt try to avoid them. Of course I keep him very close to me when they are around. He has never shied from them or laid his ears down or anything. When outside I have him on a long lead, have them stand on the otherside and let them throw the ball for him after telling him to sit. He does listen to their command.

Maybe it is just my son, Tino hasnt had a problem with anyone else really altho he doesnt like a stranger to reach out and try to pet him. He doesnt growl or bark but he does lay his ears back and I warn the person not to try to pet him because he will bite, not might bite. I dont want to take any chances. Up here we are allowed to take our pets into Tractor Supply with us, I have taken him there on a very short leash and choke as a means of getting him used to strange situations and people but I never allow people to come close, I think he would feel to threatened in that situation. Hmmm now that I think about it, My other GSD preffers to not be around  my son also but will go to him when called.

Shandra- I was gonna suggest exactly what 4pack advised you to do....I think this would be your only viable option IF you're dead set on keeping the dog.  I TOTALLY understand your feelings on not wanting to let him go- I had a Lab that I knew just was not working out for us, I struggled with the thought of placing him with someone else but as time went on I convinced myself that not only was it not fair to the rest of my family but most of all not fair for him having to live as a "kennel dog" only going from the crate to the yard.  He ate up so many valuable things in 3 years (including 2 brand new pool filters and all the hoses), he dug under every fence my husband built until we had to contain him with an electronic fence AND privacy fence, he was HUGE and the only person that could control him for even 5 minutes was my husband who was rarely home.  Then when I got Agar all hell was about to break loose.  Agar had the training and self control but the Lab did not and I knew it was only a matter of time before those 2 accidently ran into one another in the yard or passing into the house and it would be all over for the Lab.  The pound and newspaper weren't an option; I loved him so much even though he was a huge burden to me and very rough with the kids that I refused to get rid of him unless I was comfortable with his new home.  I got lucky- not long after I was at my wits end I was having carpet installed in my office at the house when the installer kept commenting on my Lab, how sweet he was, how big he was and how he'd love to have a dog like him to train as his hunting buddy.  I opened up a conversation that turned out to be my Labs new home he'd be very happy at.  He had to return to pick up the dog after work and I had to leave- I couldn't see him go and I cried my eyes out for days.  No one could speak to me in the house I was so miserable, but as time went on I knew he was better off and much happier.  You may reach that point in your situation also but for now since you're struggling with it all; please keep everyone's advice in the back of your mind because your dog is not a Lab he's a GSD and from what we're hearing possibly one with "issues" which could not be good-do the kennel thing until you decide what is best for the dog.  Sometimes you have to be less selfish of your own feelings and think of what's best for the animal.  best of luck to you all.

The dog has nerve issues as he is showing with the growling and the general BS he is doing with the chewing. Your son should take the dog to a petsmart dog training class just as they are cheap, and he and the dog will get some time to figure out that one is not gonna kill the other.

Keep in mind that separation anxiety dogs have nerve issues about being alone, this is also why he is all pushed up on you. Do not let him growl or act stupid when he is next to you. Don't act confused by it, punish him.

The more you and your son figure out to be in charge, the better off he will be.

Thanks for the advice Jeff but I have to disagree. I think ( and I have no idea for sure) that if it were nerve issues then it would be with anyone, not just my son

Shandra

I know in your original post, you stated that your son took care of the "dogs"  which meant you have more than one.  I guess I wrongfully assumed that because you wanted Tino for protection, the other dogs were of a different breed.  I read another post you started which was a pedigree for a female shepherd.  If you already have one shepherd, why do you need Tino for protection?   I guess this doesn't sit right with me.  Is your female a golden retriever in GSD clothing?