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-   -   GSD - Aggression Issues (http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=84863)

Jaxamon November 29th, 2013 02:24 PM

GSD - Aggression Issues
 
I have a neutered male, 1 year 5 months. He began showing aversion to strangers around the one year mark. During his first year we made a huge effort to introduce him to as many new people and environments as possible, as suggested by many of the numerous training books we read. I know how important socialization is for GSD and we must have messed up somewhere. His reaction to strangers is the biggest problem we are facing.
He is loving and affectionate to myself and my husband, his parents and my parents. There are a small group of friends who have met him recently and he has been great with, after a proper introduction. However, those are the exceptions. Strangers passing on our walks, entering our house, or even present in another house that we bring him to all cause aggressive behaviour in him.
His focus and attention locks on to them. He switches into a completely different dog. He attempts to lunge and attack them. He has bitten 2 adult males, and has pushed a child off of a bicycle.
Another issue is extended family members. They are willing to meet Jax and give him a chance, and I am looking for advice on the best way to go about introducing Jax to them. His previous behaviour around 2 family members hasn't been great; he lunged and tried to bite one (a male, who was just sitting in a chair as Jax approached him), and barks and nips at the other (a female, who is visibly frightened and nervous of him).
He is a big guy, over 100 lbs, and has a loud deep bark, and so it's understandable that people are going to be wary of him. He is jumpy and quick to react, extreeeemely alert to any sound and movement.
We take him to dog kennels and daycares and he is just fabulous (always conducting a behavioural interview with the kennel beforehand). We always are told by the staff what a great dog he is.
I am just really, very confused. It's like he has split personality. We keep an extremely close watch on him, and he wears a cage muzzle any time he leaves the house. I am still terrified that something is going to happen and he's going to be taken from us, unless we solve this issue.
We were working with a trainer in private lessons and completed about 2 months worth of training. Jax responded well to the commands and cheap tricks, but we felt the trainer was not what we were looking for in terms of the behaviour modification we are hoping to help Jax with.
Our area (Petawawa, Ontario) is extremely limited in regards to available trainers. We travelled to Ottawa for the last one, and would be willing to do so again given it is the right trainer. If anyone knows of one and could provide contact info, that would be great. Any insight into working with a GSD would not go wasted either.

Barkingdog November 29th, 2013 03:02 PM

Cheap tricks are cute but really of no use in your situation . A dog will pick up on their owner energy and you dog could be picking up on your concerns and may think he need to protect you. GSD are bred to protect and it sound like your dog is trying to do this. Sometime police stations will have open house on how they train their dogs and people can ask questions at the end. Or maybe you could see if policeman could work with you a little if there are no good dog behaviorists. I hope someone else with more knowledge on how to train dogs with aggression issues will have some ideas for you.


[url]http://www.mygermanshepherd.co.uk/forums/dogs-behaviour-life-our-dogs-forum/6510-fear-aggression.html[/url]


I found this GSD forum and people are having the same issues , I am not sure if it will help you or not. I really hope you can find someone to help you.

Winston November 30th, 2013 01:20 PM

Jaxs mom I have a very good friend who has 3 gsd and has rescued many. He has a ton of knowledge and awesome experience. I will ask him to read your post and see if he can offer advice. Too bad I didn't check in earlier I just got back with my gal, we had a playmate with her 3 gsd buddies..they had a blast chasing each other around...we are a bit far from you though. He is in the caledonia hamilton area.

flamingo December 6th, 2013 11:01 AM

I knoow a very good trainer in montreal who has a lot of experience with aggressive dogs if you are interested. He keeps and trains mals.


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