Need help for Aggressive behavior - Page 1

Hi,
 I have a woman who has a 9 month old Female GS and in the last month or so it became aggressive and even broke through a window to get to someone as well as break off a harness and attacked a puppy, the dog did not bite down but was very agressive.  She also said the dog snaps at her husband and flipped its whole cage over. They worked with a trainer and the trainer left in an hour and could not handle the dog. Today I spoke with the woman and she said the dog just had a heat cycle and it is acting normal now. Could this be hormonal? I know young dogs go through stages and I told her the dog sounds like it has fear aggression and maybe a lack of confidence. The dog does well with cats and dogs she knows but not strangers. She is in the state of Maine or VT if anyone knows any good trainer out there let me know. She is going to one today though. The dog comes from 1/2 high drive lines, they are some very nice for work  but I cannot tell her what else she can do besides work with a good trainer.
Heather

I would be surprised if a lack of confidence compelled a dog to jump through a window. Or flip a crate over. LMAO.

I think I like this dog. Who is she?

She's not on any medication is she? I had an Aussie with lupus who was on prednisone and at 9 months she just went nuts- fear aggression, generalized apprehensiveness, etc.  The vet said the drugs had no effect on her behavior, so we went to another vet who immediately took her off the prednisone and she changed dramatically. We had some training to do because she had by then 'learned' the aggressive behaviors, but she's ok now.  I was just discussing this with a friend of mine who also went through the same ordeal - it turned out hat her pup, a GSD,  had a thyroid imbalance, so you might suggest that the owner have a thyroid panel done

Absolutely do a health panel if this is sudden onset behavior. Thyroid imbalances can cause aggression, definitely, and so can medications. OR; these owners missed the signs of this up until now and now she's big enough to do some damage...she is.

I would like to see how she's bred and see if that offers any clues. Also, we really don't have enough info to make a good judgment.

Why is the husband in a cage?

Seriously, I have the sense that this dog is not getting enough exercise and does not have sufficient outlets for her body and mind.  A good hard run every day beside a bicycle (Maine in the winter!?) or behind the car on a dirt road may be just the thing she needs.

 

That time of the month doesn't help with attitude but the dog sounds like it is in need of more than the owner is capable of, trainer or not.
The owners need as much as the dog is my feeling.
None of it sounds good.

Hi,
 I am the breeder of this puppy. Moms first litter of three girls all very sweet. when I let them go at 8-9 weeks they wre social friendly and very stable no fear problems Her puppy was actualy the calm one and very gentle. Mom is working and show lines and Dad is working East german from Castletbrook shepherds known for work.  I am glad someone mentioned a health pannel I hope she is ok,  the agression was over the last 2 -3months I am thinking  it really sounds like the dog should get out into the outside world more at this age I think its fear i just hope its not to late she is 9 months. The owner says she goes for runs with the dog.. now I have both parents here and I even don't always go everyday for walks and runs and I have no aggression like the kind she is describing just the protective barks and smelling new people. Could perhaps this be any relation to the line or is this more about the dog just being a working dog perhaps in the wrong home??
 Its going to take a good trainer for this one  any other sugestions please let me know

Just training,
for the dog and the owners.

She's not on any medication is she? I had an Aussie with lupus who was on prednisone and at 9 months she just went nuts- fear aggression, generalized apprehensiveness, etc.  The vet said the drugs had no effect on her behavior, so we went to another vet who immediately took her off the prednisone....
 
Holy crap!! Send that stupid vet back to med school! Prednisone can actually trigger psychosis in humans, and its effect on animals is pretty much the same!  Back in the my riding days, one of the boarders at the stable had a horse who was on it. The owner had just finished giving a lecture to the pony club on safety, then went out to ride his horse. For no reason at all, the horse freaked out, reared, and flipped over on top of him. Luckily, this was indoors, and the arena surface was soft enough that the guy wasn't badly hurt.

I can tell you a few similar stories about humans and prednisone, too! 

As for the OP's dog, sorry, no suggestions other than what's been said already. She's going through adolescence, so maybe this is the same as a male dog at this age, testing the boundaries to see who's going to be top dog.

This is a terrific time for this dog to be involved in a club so it can get more social around strange dogs
and people.
It doesn't sound like a fear issue. I mean the dog jumped out a window then continued in her intent
So I feel this dog is spending way too much time in a cage. I do not use a cage or kennel. I have an acre
for all of mine to run in. I take them to the stores. I go to the club weather permitting.
So tell the owners to involve the dog in socialization activities.
A heat can affect a female some but this sounds  a little extreme.
And at 9-10 months dog start to really mature and get over whelmed with things going on if they haven't
been out experiencing things.