How to tell if your GSD has personal - Page 1

Most of you know the history with Mischa. She is fine with people in general but after she was attacked in the park by 2 dogs at 6 months old, we have had a major fear issue with other dogs. We are working on this.
Couple of things that I am curious if they indicate protection potential.
#1, She is always at my side, never out of sight or hearing range in the house or outside, of course when we leave the yard she is leashed. When I go room to room she follows me, I always go thru the door way first and she knows what rooms she is not allowed to enter, she will lay outside that door until I come out. She is fine with me leaving for the day, staying inside the fence while I am working outside the fence in the yard or going for a walk. Not sure if this is an indication of seperation issues, I dont think it is but may be wrong.
#2 She does not like dogs she knows to get to close to me, I am not sure if it is a jealousy thing or what but if one of the big dogs comes to close to me she gets very ummmm mouthy with them and wont let them near me unless I put her in a sitz and let her know that its ok. I have not taken her someplace where a strange dog might approach me due to the other issue.
#3, We had friends visiting one evening, they came by late ( about 10) they sat around visiting for about an hour or so Mischa was introduced to them and she was fine, they pet her and then she walked away and laid on the floor next to my chair, her normal place. She appeared relaxed and dozed while we were talking. When they were getting ready to leave, We walked them to the door, I stood talking with the wife while the men talked. The wife turned as if to walk towards the door then turned back suddenly to say something else, got off balance and lunged/ stumbled towards me, we were about 4 ft apart. Mischa did not act aggressively but she immediately jumped up and stood between me and this woman watching the woman very intently. I called her to me and put her in a sitz with my hand on her collar/neck while we finished talking.
#4 My son does not live with me right now, hasnt since nov or so, so Mischa does know him just not really well. He came over one day and was inside the fence with me, My son and I were standing there talking about 3-4 ft apart. Mischa always stays within a few feet of me, in a sitz or platz ( by choice) whenever someone is around stranger or friend doesnt matter. My son decided he wanted to see what she would do if someone were to try to hurt me or grab me, he is 16 and still very much an unthinking adolescent, anyways, without warning he swings at my upper arm making sure it made a slapping sound and stomped towards me. Mischa was immediately on him, not biting him but standing in between me and him. As I was telling him he best stop he decided to reach over and hit me again ( in play) and before I could grab Mischa she was at him, grabbing his arm but not biting down hard enough to break skin and she did not let go when he yelled. Of course I immediately called her to me and held her and then chewed him out for doing such a stupid thing and what was he thinking etc etc. All of this happened very quickly and totally unexpectedly. After I praised Mischa and chewed him out, I made him stand still and had Mischa "Be nice" she went up to him and he petted her, no problems or issues. He has since come over and no problems or issues as long as he does not stomp or lunge at me. Told him if he couldnt act right then I just wouldnt let him come over but that is another story lol
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#5 If my husband and I have a disagreement and he starts yelling, and walking around, she becomes very alert and watchs him intently, staying nearer to me than normal. She is not stressing but is very watchful of his actions and motions. He just moved in a couple of months ago so she doesnt know him very well and doesnt really care for him one way or the other. There was an issue in the beginning with his opinion of how a dog should be corrected and he took a broom and swatted her with it, I was in the house and he was outside, she was in her side yard and barking ( she was not used to being left outside at night) he went out the door without a word, grabbed the broom and swatted her. Him and I had it out in no uncertain terms and he was informed there would be no next time, I would use the damn thing on him.
We have no formal obedience, just commands I have taught thru play and reward, never force and she listens very well. She knows and understands that I am alpha.
I know we need to do more as far as obedience is concerned, I have to have better control over her. I dont know if PP training would be right for her or not. I do appreciate having her with me when I leave the shop at night, There are times there is a bit of cash from the days work and I get a bit nervous leaving at times. The area has little traffic in the evenings on the hiway and there is a trailer park behind my shop that does have a reputation for a certain type of tenants. Having her with me gives me some piece of mind, especially now with the prices going up and the crime rate right along with it. I had a safe at the shop but they broke in and stole it so I dont leave cash anymore. I refuse to carry a gun, they would just take it away from me and use it on me lol
Thoughts, honest opinions and constructive criticism welcome.
Mischa is 9 1/2 months old, 100% pure DDR Working line Sire with a Workingline/Showline Dam

It seems like this is a continuation of a problem you have had in the past with this puppy. 

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/157130.html#157130

I think she may have some  fear biting tendancies and I do not think she is a good candidate for a PPD.  That said, I am only going off what you have said here and in threads in the past both about her and her sire, so I could be very wrong.  If I were you, I would have this dog evaluated immediately by a professional dog trainer.  I think you are playing with what is quite possibly a serious problem, and  people on the internet cannot see the true behaviour (only what you tell us) so the advise can be skewed and more harmful than helpful in the case of what is potentially an inappropriately aggressive dog.

Sueincc Thank you for your comments. I do agree that due to past issues a professional evaluation is needed. She has matured and has more sense to her than she did. That being said I do not feel I can accurately interpret her actions because I dont have the experience. This is why I selected certain incidences to relate, this is by no means a complete history. When she jumped at my son, there was not a sound, she just launched after he made sure to make the slapping sound when he smacked my arm a second time. As she has gotten older and I have taken her out and about socializing her she has become good with people, Lowes walking was great for socializing lol. There have been people over and she pays attention to them but in an ignoring sort of way if that makes sense.  There have been no other incidences unless someone has made what could be interpreted to be an agressive move towards me.

Can someone suggest someone that can assess her that is within a reasonable driving distance to zip code 77351 ?  Gas prices being what they are and all lol

 A good candidate  for a PPD would be a confident, vigilant dog without fear issues (among other things). It doesn't sound like this puppy fits into that. Keep in mind that a good PPD must be clear headed and well controlled not only by you but by himself. If the need arises that the dog must make a decision i.e. attack on handler, something else, you run a big risk with an unstable dog having been taught to bite well. A good PPD knows the difference between a true attack and say, for example, someone rendering medical help to you or horsing around. A dog with fear issues might likely fail that.

Hate to say it, but same story, different day and little we say now or in the past seems to make a difference. A suggestion to get professional help has been made before. Did you do it? I already know the answer "NO", you did not do it.

The dog, based on YOUR observations, is not a candidate for anything but a pet and based on what you say, may, in fact, be dangerous and unpredictable. And even as a pet, the dog needs a lot more socialization. It is an "accident waiting to happen" except that it is not an accident when someone knows and has been told before there are serious issues that need attention. Further, the incident with the other dogs likely had nothing to do with the way the dog reacts around people. The temperament of this dog may be in question. It is just another reason why people who don't know about temperament and training issues should not be breeding dogs they also know nothing about. Sounds harsh, but it is true. This just adds more to the continuing saga.............and nothing changes.

 I did praise her. I dont want to screw up with her. (from the other thread, where Mischa barked at a contractor.)

After I praised Mischa and chewed him out...

There's the problem in a nutshell! YOU ARE REINFORCING INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR!!

Many dogs have protection tendencies, but they need to be dealt with appropriately, and the dog should bark and/or attack ONLY when given the command.

There was a guy who thought it was cute that his dog attacked other dogs that got close to him. His dog would be playing just fine with someone's dog. Then, the dog would get too close to this dog's owner, and he'd attack viciously. He ripped the ear and head of an elderly lab mix open for about 20 stitches. Thank goodness he didn't do this with people! But your dog very well COULD do this with people if you don't start reprimanding her for this behaviour!

It's nice that she has protective instincts, but you HAVE to get her to the point where YOU have control of when and where she acts on them!

Thank you sunsilver, you are the first person that has told me that she should be correted for the behaviour altho I havnt talked with many about it as it has only happened a couple of times. Earlier someone came to the door, not thinking  my husband opened the door and she went to the door, sniffed the person and came back. Only getting bits and pieces gives a very one sided view of things, especially when only the issue is presented.

Since she is only 9 mos old,,,I have suggested she is being put into entirely too many situations she is not old enough to handle....she is a baby....yes she is much obedienced with the sitz, come and stay....but that is all she needs...she should be playing not checking people out.....do not put her in these situations...she is not ready to make those decisions....

just keep her obedience and her training on the things you are doing   sitz ,,come and blibe.....start some tracking with her...enforce her bonding and her obedience....

Dont worry about all the other things...her issues wont be issues if you dont address them...they are mute until you get her obedience in place....she needs fun and games....

Rod Dean is close you you in Montgomery County....he can help and you can google his name and he will come up....Someone here may have his number and club info...I dont think his club is afflieated yet.....may be wrong...Russell Osborne can inform you       www.whirlingthunder.com

Shandra, you seriously need to stay away from the working line dogs and find yourself a nice, calm no drive, showline dog. I am NOT saying all are, btw.  You have a tendency to end up with more dog than you can read and train. 

I love high energy Irish Warmblood horses. I know, though, that I would be "out-horsed". You live in a state of being "out-dogged" and simply do not have the skills to deal with the dogs you breed and end up with.

With Tino you had a wealth of good advice which you agreed with, in the end. This dog is doing the same thing as Tino, in effect. She is deciding who can do what. That is your job, not hers.