Aggressive Shepherd Puppy - Page 1

My GSD puppy is only 18 months old and is getting more and more aggressive. We had him in obedience trainig at about 5 months old. We lived in the city until he was 12 months old and moved to the country about 6 months ago. He is very agressive at night and barks at every animal and person that he sees. He is very aggressive towards other animals. Is this a sign of something? Now he has started biting. He will snap for no apparent reason other than someone walking by him. Do you think there is something wrong with him? Do you think it could be because of the move? I know everyone will say it is the owners fault, but I really don't think we have been doing much different than before. Can anyone suggest anything? Is this something that can be fixed with training because I just don't trust my own dog right now and we love him. Are there any good trainers in Massachusetts that you suggest  I can talk to? Thanks for your help.

First question: is this male neutered? Second question: what kind of experience training a GSD do you have and if you "trained" this dog to date, what have you done with him? He may simply be trying to bluff because he feels uncomfortable and lacks confidence, but he may also feel that he is in charge and be really challenging everything he comes across, including other dogs and humans. Either situation can lead to real trouble.

I am glad you realize you need help and need help immediately. Someone here will come up with some suggestions of competent trainers in the area you live in, and you MUST get involved with someone who knows how to help you and the dog so the dog does not end up in trouble, and eventually being put down and you in trouble as well. 

Get some names from here, perhaps from other sources and get some help immediately.

Good luck.

No, he is not neutered. We did basic sit, heil, down obedience training with a trainer. We haven't been back for any further type of socialixation or advanced training in about 8 months because of cost. I will definitley get help soon.

Thank You.

Hodie asked some really good questions but I have a couple I would like to ask. When he first started this what correction(s) did you give? Where did you get your training?  trainer or a company (petsmart) Where does your dog stay outside ? in a fenced in lot or tied?  or is he in the house? crated or lose?

Second he is no longer a puppy but a pre-adult if you will. Thus he needs to be treated as such no more puppy play with him.

How do you feel about pinch and e collars?

EK

 We have the answer already, although EK also asks pertinent questions. The poster MUST get back to training, socialization and setting limits with the dog or the dog is going to end up a problem. And that means regardless of how much he is loved, he is likely to get into trouble. One cannot only do this training and socialization for a short time period. Training is a LONG TERM process. I certainly understand financial constraints, but with a good trainer, even twice a month sessions would be helpful and perhaps affordable. Or maybe you could barter.

Good luck. You need help with a person who can observe you and the dog and not answers from us who do not have the ability to observe what is going on.

Where in Massachusetts are you - can make a big difference in trainer recommendation.

When you moved to the country did you switch your dog from being an inside dog to an outside dog? What percentage of the time is he with you, in the house or outside?

How much do you use/ enforce the obedience training that he has? If he does something that you don't like have you tried redirecting him or making in platz? How is he with family and friends? What is your household made up of ( adults/kids/sexes and ages, other animals)

How much exercise does he get? ( exercise not just being out)

If you can give us a link to his pedigree. Have you talked to his breeder? Does she/he have any suggestions and can they help with furthering his training?

Have you given him a job to do ( or sport) other than being king of the property?

"We haven't been back for any further type of socialixation " Major mistake. GSDs need tons of socialization to people and dogs. IF you stopped at  5 -8 months of age much too young and probably plays a great deal into his current problems. Also training is training. Socialization is very different.

You may want to search the PDB and the web for information about NILIF training ( Nothing in life is free). It sounds like you may have to institute such a program. You can check w/ Cindy Miller( a GSD person) of Champion Kennels in Sterling Mass re training tho I think she is geared more to pet training than problems. There is also Mike Pinksten in NH who has been around the block a few times and has a lot of experience with working GSDS. Let us know exactly where you are so we can give you other recommendations.

Hodie, While I understand the "cut off the nuts will solve most of your problems" is an old canard, in fact more recent research suggests that aggression is actually higher in nuetered male populations ( this was based on reported incidents of aggressive behavior).

is this your dog?

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/528770.html

Please do not reach for any agressive training method if it is not really necessary. Positive trainingmethods, as well as a schedule over the day can do so much.

As others asked before, can you tell a little bit more about the dog and the living situation, what kind of excersize is this dog getting? Does the dog have a job, the exact situation on when he snaps at others, is it insecurity or really agression. Get a trainer that knows the breed and is capable of really knowing where this behavior stems from and does try to find the most positive way to correct or redirec this behaviors.

Positive trainingmethods work great when the dog is NOT trying to eat the humans. In NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM did I say run out and buy them , slap them on his A$$ and start frying!

What I asked is how she /he feels about them. Most ( Key word)  Aggressive dogs do need this type of training/CORRECTION. There is no amount of treats or Clicker training that is going to change it if truely aggressive.

Again we are not talking about a 6 month old puppy but almost a fully grown adult intact male. Most trainers are going to suggest this if the dog is aggressive.

EK

Well you said it ur self (key words) I am speaking fof poditve training methods.... you read more into it than what I have said. Don't assum ( you know what it makes out of you and me) what I might have thought or was heading to. As you might know,too. a lot of people think a prong or other collars are a miracle work device, you put it on and it works. Without proper instruction, these things can do a lot of harm...

Concerning the agression, I am not convinced,yet that it is true aggression....  I like to know more about this dog, before i make up my mind. A knowledgable person that could take a look at the dog and see the reactions would be the best.  A trainer that can see first hand what is really going on.