please help-dog bite????? why - Page 1

Hi
I am stil in shock over this. My male German Shepherd that is 15 months old just bit my 17 year old daughter. What took place is this-I let him in from being outside in the yard, he was outside with my other male playing for about an hour,so I was bringing him in and was going to put him in his crate for the night,he did not want to go in so i was going to get him a treat and let him hang around the house for a little while,well my daughter pushed himnot hard or mean in his butt the dog bit her 3 times I did not even know this was happening until she yelled "MOM HE IS BITING ME" I mean he did not bark ,growl nothing i thought he was just sniffing her. He has NEVER shown any meaness or anything of that sort. If anything he is like a big goofy dog,the least likely to hurt anyone. WE had him since he was 12 weeks old. He is a family dog kept in the house,crate only at night for bed, we walk him play with him. I just do not understand this and do not know what to do. he broke the skin on her leg her arms and other leg are fine. right now he is outside. We are all so upset,I do not know what to do with him. he knows his commands has been to training,this just not like him .please any advise will be needed.Did anyone else ever had this happen with your German Shepherds? One more thing he is not fixed and we do not breed him we have a female that is 5 years old ,but she is fixed. thanks for your help in advance. I am so upset,oh and just to let all of you know I am 46 and since I was a kid we always had German shepherds so I am not new to this breed

so sorry that your dog has bit your daughter I find that some males try to flex their muscles and see how far they can push you if you are keeping the dog and your daughter is willing let her deal with the dog feed him train,take him for walks ect but not alone you must be with her and when you say to the dog go in your crate then mean it make him go in dont give him treats and let him wander about the house that is you giving into the dog and he has won so he is going to push the boundreys more and more when you tell him to do something he must do it now not when he feels like it I do wish you good luck with the dog and hope all works out for you and him
Rosey 

Please see my responce on GT thread. jh

 IMHO, your dog does not need to be "fixed", for he is not "broken" in that way.  Neutering does not make a dog obedient.  Your dog is at an age when "active aggression" comes into play. 

First of all, if I started to put a dog in his crate....he would go in the crate.  Especially, if he didn't want to go.  As I understand your discription of the incident ....you started to crate him, he didn't want to go, so you wanted to give him a biscuit and give him your attention (hanging out with you) as a reward for being disobedient.  

Make him obedient.  

The other thing, I would look at....have his hips been prelimed?  I would want to rule out any pain, as you say your daughter pushed him in the rear.  

It sounds like he needs to know his place in family.  Usually, there are some growls (bites that just haven't connected, yet) prior to a dog biting.  Does your daughter like the dog?  There are many facets to a problem like this.

You might want to contact a good working dog trainer.  Not a clicker or hot dog spitter.  Those are for shaping behaviors, not getting control of a dog with aggression.

Good Luck!!

A German Shepherd dog that bites any member of the family is a disgrace to the breed. There's no excuse for it .  It's poor breeding.  Many working lines are being bred to be overly aggressive and American lines have problems with fear biters.  Regardless of the lineage, it's poor breeding.  If you are not new to this breed, then take a step back and re-evaluate him with new eyes.  A German Shepherd should be true, loyal, loving and eager to please the family. 
To me it's THE ultimate sin.  A Shepherd that can't be trusted is no Shepherd at all.  If you are going to keep the dog, then you will need professional help with Training, preferably one that can teach bite inhibition.  Hope your daughter is okay.  If you have had shepherds your whole life, you probably know that this dog is unstable because you've probably had well bred Shepherds up till now. If you have the option, call the Breeder and hold them accountable for what they bred.

I agree with you, palestar.

You have 3 different threads on this exact post now, that was not necessary.

I also completely disagree with Palastar.  I have known some people you could give the best bred and stable dog in the world to and they would STILL f*ck the dog up.  Seriously.  Dog problems are almost always people problems, too. 

Not everyone has a well bred dog anyway, and even so, biting a family member who has not earned respect is not unheard of.  Dogs need socialization, obedience, and direction, they are animals!

Sorry to hear about the mishap.

I agree with some of the posts.  I believe he's a little young to start pushing the discipline and dominance envelope.  That usually begins at 17 or 18 months and if you address it, should abate by 22 to 24 months.

Since most dogs don't just "up and bite someone, I'd look at a physiological issue or the dynamics within your home for the possible cause.

BTW, it isnot just dogs that need "socialization, obedience, and direction".  A lot of humans should get it too.

he's just being a dog trying his luck to see what he can get away with....Maybe your daughter did something in the past to were he remembered from the last time... but you should work with him and get his act together before he feels he's in control and you'll be next.. Never let a dog get away from not doing what you say.. Your the pack leader and there are rules they must follow to make them calm submissive.... Males like to do what they want and get away with what ever.. Stay firm don't yell and make him respect you and your duaghter............. good luck and i realy can;t tell you why he did that but it all falls back on the owner being responsible for the dogs does.................

I have two GSD's and i know i can not let my female in the yard by herself cuase she willl be very protective of her land and won;t let anyone walk on it... so I keep her on a leash or on a lead....at all times...

 My males  start this stuff at about 15 mths , young teenage girls squel and bounce around as well as becoming women, put  a teenage boy  dog around and it is mating going aray. A teenage girls behavior is much the way a bitch will play with a male when the damn is in heat ,a male will try to dominate her and nip and push.When your daughter pushed him he was trying to put her in in line, as well if he ment to hurt her you would not be on here, a nip is not a bite . A bite to a teen is a nip, a GSD when they go after you it  will be a bite. He is just confuse with scent of hormones ask her to be calm and when he tries to pin her or pushing put him outside calmly. This is not a big thing as my 2yr male stud does this stuff with my 23 yr old daughter in law just limit contact till she can watch the signs. Im kidding but they are all dogs. Ha