Aggressive German Shepherd HELP PLEASE!!

Hi everyone I'm hoping some one can help me with Jordie my one and a half year old german shepherd.

I recently rescued her from a life of being locked in a conservatory rarely being let out in a very small garden with the odd walk at around 3am so she has had no human or dog socialisation what’s more she was beaten for any toilet mistake even if she wasn’t let out and had two children teasing, pulling her tail and hitting her. Since living with me she's a completely differant dog she is so much happier....however she still has some serious problems I need to address if I’m to keep her.

* she attacks anyone one new entering the house also anyone to close on walks.


* she is very aggressive towards other cats and dogs (except my partners puppy labrador, he does irritate her and she does correct him but they get on great at times)


* she is always growling and barking at my 4 year old son if he goes anywhere near her in fact even if he just walks in the room and has gone to bite him a few times luckily nothing serious yet.


* she submissive urinates and cowers if spoken to in a raised voice or even if she just thinks she's done something wrong.


I know this sounds bad but when it’s just me and her she is the most loving, beautiful, calm dog I’ve ever met. I know the best option would be to get some help from a profesional dog trainer but i dont have the time or the money for that at the moment. I was hoping that someone could make some suggestions on how i might be able to rehabilitate her at home so I can give her the life she deserves, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am sorry but you have a 4 year old child to consider therefore it is only a matter of time before something happens that you will regret and which is entirely preventable.

If you do not have the money or time for a behaivourist, then I can only recommend one of two options; find another home or rescue centre or have her PTS.

She may be the loveliest dogs when it is just you and her, but it is NOT just you and her, you have a child, a partner and another dog, not to mention the general public to consider and they must come first.

I cannot in all good conscience recommend anything else.

sorry for the confusion my child doesnt live with me and when he is here she is ALWAYS kept on a muzzle and most of the time is kept in a separate room from him i may love the dog but i love care for my son ALOT more. she also wears a muzzle whilst on walks.

Unfortunately this may only compound the problem as your dog may become over bonded with you and the existing behaviours worsen.

Please do not fall into the trap of believing only you can save her, especially if you are unable to access professioinal help with the required skills, knowledge, ability, training and experience to work with you to devise a behaviour modification plan.

No one can do this over the ether as what you think is going on with your dog may not actually be correct.

I see you live in Surrey, have you actually contacted anyone about your dog?

Sarah Whitehead specialises in this sort of issue she may be willing to help you or know of someone who can without charge or very little charge. Students often need dogs to study.

http://www.apbc.org.uk/help/regions/area/40

However short of cash you are please do not be tempted to use the services of someone of a lower calibre.

i`m sorry but i agree with the previous poster , you have posted yourself that she has issues with your son and has gone to bite him 'nothing serious has happened yet' your son may not live with you but i can see no happy medium here , i personally think it`s probably much better to opt to put to sleep there is absolutely no way you can guarantee that in a 'next' home she won`t come into contact with everything she dislikes , children , people , other dogs. and while i would always recommend relinquishing to rescue she may be taking up a place for a perfectly homable dog without issues. i`m sorry i have no other advice to offer

ok thanks for the advise ill look into that.

Your dog sounds very fearful.
I think you need someone to help you rehabilitate her but I can`t pm you with suggestions as you are a new member.
Happily you are in Surrey, where the big GSD rescue site is based, so that is good.
I suggest you contact any of the following (sorry I can`t link because the software here takes it out)

Treetops Kennels in Guildford - explain your problem and ask if they can recommend someone to help.

Vigil GSD Rescue (google them) are also mainly in Surrey and they are used to this sort of issue. There are phone nos and email on the website.

in the last resort, they may be able to rehome your dog if you can`t cope.

or click on this http://www.apdt.co.uk/trainers_area.asp?area=Surrey for a list of trainers.

Please be very careful - especially with a fearful dog - as some trainers use force and fear to train. Your dog needs patience and kindness and consistency, not some macho plank with an ego to feed, so please make sure anyone you engage uses positive methods.
And good luck. It is possible to rehabilitate a damaged dog, but it takes time.

I have 3 dogs who were difficult (one dangerously so) with strangers. Are you saying they should all have been killed.
gee thanks. I`ll pass that on to them, shall I?

I think it is wise to remember that any advice given has to be considered carefully taking into account the skills, knowledge, ability, training and experience not only of those who give it but those on the receiving end.

In addition, erring on the side of caution is wise, not least when it concerns the safety of people, especially children, but also from the point of view of a potential civil suit!

There is no need to be emotive or take posts personally, we are all different, what ONE person can cope with, is not what someone else can; and all DOGS are different and present with varying degrees of (insert relevant behaviour problem).

So all in all the conservative view is, I believe, the wisest choice.

I can see what you're trying to do here. You've got a dog out of a very difficult situation and are trying to give it a new life and you should be applauded for that However all good samartitans can sometimes bite off more than they can chew...

I have a similar situation to you. My dog is a GSDx who was also treated badly, undersocialised and locked away. He had many of the problems that you describe with your dog. His was also all fear aggression. He was only 8 months old when I got him and I though "how hard can it be to turn a puppy around?"...., well very hard it turns out! I thought that given his young age, within a year, he'd be running around like a normal dog. The reality has been far from it.

I still have to incredibly careful with him around strangers outside and visitors in the house. He cannot go off lead on walks. He was young, bouncy and strong, often physically exhausting when he'd go mad and lunging on walks.

That said, he has come on massively since I got him...but he won't be "fixed" in a year. I now know that it could take years and years on babysteps progress to improve him. And he is getting there, but my intital year prediction seems laughable now.

The situation with your son does raise some concern and no matter how much you want to help your dog, your sons safety must ALWAYS come first. Only you know of that situation can be safely managed.

The one comment in your post that worries me is that you said you don't have the "time or money" for a behaviourist. Quite simply, you cannot turn this dog around alone. She is currently dangerous and you need professional help. ClaireandDaisy's dog Daisy is a testament to the fact that these dogs can be turned around but she is very experienced with dogs. It also take a tremendous amount of time and money.

With my dog is say that probably 70% of my free time is taken up training, walking or general worrying about him. Or driving him around to numerous help classes. And he is a HUGE drain of cash! I pay out over £25 a month in calming suppliments and DAP pheromone collars.
I paid our over £90 for a TTouch specialist
Over £200 for private 1:1 sessions with a behaviourist
3 x £13 a week for a qualified dog trainer to walk him for an hour three days a week (partially because I'm at work but he also gets trained an socialised on these walks)
2 x £10 a month for attending training classes
£100 for assessment then £20 a session to take him to a dog socialisation class to get him over his dog aggression.

You want to add that up....? I don't!! Then add on food and vet insurance for a large dog. Then there's time involved

because he has to be kept onlead, I need to walk for around 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours and even then he doesn't really gwt enough exercise as he needs to run. I spend time driving him to specific places and fields so he can go off lead. Every single walk has to involve stratigically avoiding certain situations and exposing him to others while training him, I can't just stroll with him. Time spent at training classes, dog socialisation classes, organised walks with the few dogs he is good with....the list goes on!

Anyway, I'm waffling a bit. Basically, of you want to turn your dog around then I wish you all the luck in the world. But please so not underestimate the MASSES of time, patience and money it can take to rehab a dog. If you can fully commit to it then good for you. I honestly never knew how hard it would be, but it has been so rewarding. If not then I would seriously consider contacting a rescue that C&D has mentioned so she can be properly assessed and have the possibility of going to an experienced GSD home. It's clear you are trying to do a good thing, but make sure it's the right thing. Whatever you do, good luck