Fear-based aggression

Our spayed GS, Zelda, will be 3 April 5. She was the star of her obedience classes and is remarkably sweet, loving, well-behaved, responsive, smart, gentle with people, even toddlers, with no bad habits except her mistrust of other dogs which began when she was 7 mos. old, at heel beside me when she was viciously attacked by a standard poodle and literally had the piss scared out of her. Also the neighbor dogs, older than she, have always been bossy and snappy with her. She is great with our cat and my aged dog, and has had a few doggy pals with whom she loves to romp, but strange dogs set her off.
We've had some dogs come to visit. When my husband kept her leashed she was aggressive, but when I released her and threw the ball or frisbee, it was just play time. She even shared her toys, taking turns with the other dog retrieving and just having fun running around.
I realize she has not forgotten being attacked, and now that she is a big girl, she obviously thinks that's how she is supposed to treat strange dogs. I would like to correct this behavior without curbing her protective instinct.
Once we were at a friend's house with other dogs. The neighbor's dog kept inching closer to my leg under the table and growling. My GS put up with it as long as she could, but when the other dog was too close to me, she barked at it in warning. My friend has an older rescued female who is wildly aggressive to Zelda, but she does not respond, only puts herself between me and this dog with no reaction at all. In the car, however, the sight of another dog sets her off.
When I am driving (on our country roads) and she starts barking as we drive by a dog, I brake somewhat suddenly, getting her attention on keeping her balance, and telling her, "Ah-ah" which is what I say instead of "no."
This is a dog on whose paw I can leave a bison meatball, tell her to leave it, and go out of the room. That meatball will still be on her paw when I return, even 10 minutes later. She is a great dog, but most uncomfortable about strange dogs, her only shortcoming.
Fortunately the local boarding kennel is run by a woman who is most astute about doggy dynamics and knows how to match Zelda up with likely playmates. Zelda loves to go there, and perhaps I should take her there more often.
Any insights are appreciated - but only from people who have high standards for canine behavior. My dogs do not sleep in our bed, get on the furniture, or jump on people. Frankly, I am not interested in advice from people who allow that sort of behavior.

Hmm I guess you won't want my advice then as my dogs are curled up at the foot of my bed, and I find your tone there very rude to suggest anything about my standards of training based on my sleeping arrangments

But anyway, I care about reactive dogs so I will add my 2p worth

Firstly eratic driving and trying to correct your dog when you are driving is unsafe for both of you and will not help her be less fearful of other dogs

There are several things that can be done

Secure her in a covered crate so you both have a stress free journy and ate more relaxed to deal with things at the end of the trip

Drive out to somewhere she can see other dogs but before she feels she has to bark at them. Hand feed her her dinner, drive home. Same again the next day but get 1m closer to the dogs

Park up somewhere dogs pass but not too close, take a good book and sir there and let her watch the dogs

Have someone else drive and click and feed her every time she sees a dog until she starts anticipating a reward for seeing dogs

And most importantly get a good behaviourist to help her

Maybe I've just woken up particularly grumpy this morning, but I won't be offering any advice. My GSD is currently lounging on the sofa after a settled night on my bed.

But just to clarify, my dog had attained gold standard by the age of 4.5 months, she is exceptionally obedient and well mannered in all respects. She could also do the meatball trick for as long as required when she was 5 months old. My trainer is highly disgruntled that I refuse to compete Molly in obedience.

As you don't want to hear from people like me, I will not subject you to my knowledge or experience.

[QUOTE] I cannot give you advice either, as your post contains logical flaws.

Firstly sleeping in the bed and/or getting on the furniture therefore does not equal jumping on people.

People that allow their dogs on the bed or furniture do not, by definition, have 'low standards' for their dogs

What exactly do you mean by "high standards"?
That phrase, just like "values", is not self defining.
As everyone holds values and standards, but we all find different things of value and standard to us.

I must respect you for making it clear what sort of answers you dont want on a free discussion thread, instead of those other type of people that complain afterward when they receive answers they dont like the sounds of.
But this being a free discussion forum, and my holding a personal standard of disliking arrogance, i wont be offering my vast experience of dogs with 'fear aggression'.
A phrase, by the way, i also feel is over used and misapplied.

Ah well, as I quite clearly have very low standards for canine behaviour in your opinion I will not subject you to my experience or advice.

As do I - but I`ll give you a couple of (US) links anyway....

http://functionalrewards.com/

http://jeandonaldson.com/

hope it helps.
I was going to suggest crating your dog in the car and also not putting her in situations where she feels she has to intervene would be be good but...

Have you looked in to clicker training, desensitisation and counter conditioning?

With an aggressive dog (or any type of unwanted behavior really) it is best to try where possible to prevent the dog from practicing the behavior. The more the dog practices the behavior the more ingrained it becomes.

Some dogs behave differently on the lead as they are constricted and can feel trapped - this is probably why her behavior on lead is different to off.

What distance is your dog comfortable seeing dogs at?
Find this distance and play the look at that game.
When the dog looks but does not react you click and treat the dog. Gradually over time you can begin to get closer. If your dog reacts you have gone too far too fast - take a step back.

The book 'dog aggression workbook' by James O'Heare may be useful for you.

As BenMcFuzzy suggested I would also cover a crate in the car to prevent the behavior and work on letting the dog see other dogs calmly at a distance during training times only whilst you work on the behaviour.

I had a dog who displayed aggressive behavior towards people (brought on by fear) and this method amongst others has been a great help.

Just so you know though, sadly I too allow my dog on the furniture. I do not see that this is the route of any problem and my dog is not a dominant boss raging aggressor because of it.
I have simply posted my thoughts and you can take it or leave it.
I wish you all the best in training your dog

I agree with CandDs advice re covering the crate. With respect as well, it sounds as if Zelda didn't have a lot of proactive positive socialisation around other strange dogs as a youngster. This is so important for all shepherds. They need ongoing, good experiences for a long time, months and months. Esp. as, like all dogs, they get their Second Fear Period during their development which can be around 5/6 months to 11/14 months

I'd tend to try to control some of the situations you mention. My dog comes first and it's my responsibility to protect her from having to make certain choices. So for example if another dog was growling by me, I'd tell my dog to (for example) Sit/Wait (so she knew what to do) and then remove the growling dog.

Hth, Zelda sounds lovely

Wys
x

I wonder if your dog understands that being able to stare at a meatball for a period of time should also equate to her liking other dogs

Thanks for your insights.
For one thing, though, my dog LOVES to travel. If the door is left open, she will get in her back seat place and wait in hopes we might go somewhere. Putting a crate for a 65+ lb. dog in our little car and confining her to it (although we did use the crate in our home earlier on with great results) would undoubtedly cause some stress to all of us.
And as for danger on our country roads, I think not. You have no idea how rural our home is. There is NO traffic on the roads I speak of.
Rewarding her for chilled-out behavior is an excellent idea. When she calms, I praise her, but she must be completely calm, not still jacked up and making little noises!
The reason I do not care for making a bedmate of my dog is because in over 64 years all the dogs I've seen who are allowed on furniture and beds are not obedient, do not regard their owner as alpha, just mind if they feel like it at the moment, run off, steal food from tables and counters, and exhibit other obnoxious behaviors. Pardon me for appearing rude. If you don't have such issues with your dogs, I am happy for you.