4 Month old GSD aggression.!! - Page 1

Hi everyone

I'm new to this bread and love my 4 month old gsd but im starting to have a big problem with aggression towards ME today he split my finger open almost to the bone while i was trying to stop him bitting me. we were out side waiting for my wife and he was on the lead playing on the grass with a stick and then out of nowhere he started to try and jump up at me bitting my top then once i got him off he moved to my hand and then runs around the back and bites my leg being very agressive.
he also barks and seems to be agressive to some people but not others. he also mouths a lot and ive tried the get up and leave him after i scream also leaving the room but as soon as i get back he starts again.

Also the aggression to me is only out side not inside, with my wife he is fine, well sometimes he trys to bite but as soon as she tells him off he stops.
One more thing i am the one that normally walks him and also to feed him.
Has anyone been having the same problems with there GSD????
Thanks for the help in advance.
Mickey

p.s
he still has his manhood intact. not sure if that matters as ive read it doesnt????

                   Mickeynad,
                           I will go out on a limb and share the little knowledge I have. It is very hard to determine exactly the behavior your describing, biting down to the bone sounds a little severe to me. However,my male at the same age would do something similar. He would bite and growl when told "NO"....and would wait until I walked away to bite me from behind...the lil devil.. The behavior was very inappropriate and the trainer at the time told me to stick my finger down his throat until he gagged.....and say...'no bite'......sounds kinda mean, but it worked. It was nearly 100% better in one day. From time to time I would have to remind him but over all he was cured. The lil devil is 6 months old now. 

                                                                             Ruger1

If you are not going to do protection or Schutzhund with this dog, in other words he is a pet I would not tolerate this behavior.  You need to be very firm with him and take him by the side of his face where he can't get ahold of you and lay him out with loud displeasure in your voice.  I have taken my dog down a few times so that she understands I will not put up with this biting crap.  He is young but it sounds like he wants to be the pack leader and you are letting him.  Stop it now before he gets any bigger.  This is inappropriate behavior and dangerous!

I would agree with the last two posts. I have had GSD all my life and got a pup in December. At arround 5 months he started the exact same behavior with my wife and it is all about pecking order. You need to teach him that you or your wife (whoever is the stronger at he moment) is pack leader then the next in line (you) and then him. My wife was a little concerned about putting him in his corner. We decided that it was no good me doing it (as he sees me as pack leader) because if I was not there then he would most probably still do it, so my wife decided that she had to do it - when he exibited the behavior my wife grabed him at the side of the neck and forcfully threw him away ( this has to be done in a split second to catch him unaware and give him a bit of a fright) being very carefull not to hurt him, and as soon as he came back to her in a submissive form she gave a little stroke and said NOTHING and then left him for arround 30 mins returning to see if there was any improvement.I will also say that I was inside where he could not see me but I could see them in case it got out of control. After 2 or 3 nights of this he was sorted and is now so loving towards her it is unbelivable. Please persevere at this as they are such a smart and loving breed and they will give you years of devotion given the right direction. Remember always be consistent with all commands, do not scold him for one thing one day and let him away with it the next he will only get confused. I hope this helps and let us know how you get on.

It is so hard to determine the issue without seeing it.  A drivey pup will mouth alot sometimes biting hard in play, and if you are planning on doing sport you don't want to inhibit the use of his mouth.  If it is out of true aggression or dominance (I would think that is odd for him to be doing at his age unless he has a major temperament issue) this is prescisely the time to get it under control.  He is young and small, easily managed without risk of major injury to you.  You can manhandle him and physically restrain without difficulty (as opposed to a fully mature male), he is young and more impressionable than an adult male.

I feel like a broken record but you should find a trainer to evaluate the behavior, can determine what exactly should be done and help you do it.

If he is a pet or it is true aggression I would grab him by the scruff say NO, yank him around firmly and pin him on his back until he stops resisting, he needs to know this will not be tolerated.

Good luck!

Schutzhund or no schutzhund, you correct a dog for biting you either way!  Planning to do bitework is not an excuse to allow a dog to misbehave, but it has to be corrected in the proper way, not hitting the puppy or anything harsh.  I would get into obedience training now to teach him some better behaviors and see how you can manage this aggression.  You may just have a really drivey puppy and be unknowingly mishandling him.  And STOP SCREAMING, the more you give a reaction the more he will be amused and like it, don't allow a puppy to bite you, redirect him every time and don't pull away or make it a game.

Doberdoodle, true it's not an excuse to tolerate it but instead of totally squashing it, it should be re-directed to tugs or toys if you are planning on doing bitework later. 
Also it depends on what the pup is actually doing, which cannot be determined by reading a description on the internet.

Mickey,

Bloodlines?

How old was he when you got him?

Purpose?  ( pet, guard dog, Schutzhund? )

This is play not a vicious attack?

More info.

Moons.