So has anyone experienced their Shepherd randomly start growing and barking for no reason? For example today, we fed him and gave him his food and went off. He gets very aggressive looking but I really don't think he will bite or anything. Also for example, at random times if you just approach him to pet him, he will go. I'd say 9 times out of 10 he's just fine, and loves it. But occasionally he goes off and it's pretty scary. We always ignore him when he does it and we try not to show fear. We've heard from internet sources and trainers that "fixing" him may help because it just has so much testosterone in him that's setting him off and making him unstable. Anyone have any ideas about this? He is about 1.5 years old.
How do you effectively correct a dog that is growling, barking, and showing it's teeth? They say not to yell at them. Then 5 minutes after laying down after the incident, he comes up to you wagging his tail and wanting you to pet him. It's definitely not him just barking at his food. I was hesitant to give that example because of that, but I did because it happened just this evening.
Oh no. Most of the time when this happens, he will just be laying there and we go to pet him and he goes off. This dog is a family member, sleeps in the beds with us occasionally, will join us on the sofa. He is very spoiled and loved. So it's not like he is scared of us and trying to warn us. Because like I said, a few minutes after he cooled down, he almost acts as if he feels bad. Comes up to us wagging his tail, rubbing his head against us. It's just very weird. My mom wants to get him fixed because of reading several articles on the internet regarding this problem an the high levels of testosterone running through his system. Just not sure what to do. It's like he's bipolar. Perhaps this will go away when he gets a little older? Or is this maybe a result of a traumatic event from when he was a puppy(he was attacked by another dog in the vet and had to get stitches)? Just very frustrating because he's a very loving dog. It's just these random moments he has that are scary.
I think some dogs are just wired different. I had a Rot that was the most stuburn, irritable dog I have ever dealt with. He would growl when I pet him, Show his fangs when I clipped his nails, washed him, or brushed his coat. As hard as I tried, I was never able to fix this. Luckily he was all show and no go. I kept that dog 13 1/2 years, and never once did he ever cause anyone problems.
I almost think it was a game for him, As his owner He never once scarred me. Honestly, I miss that old stuburn fool. That dog truly challenged all my training abitlities, by the time he was 6, he was near perfect, except when cliping his nails, giving him baths, or brushing his coat.
I think he was lucky to get me, and I was also lucky to have him. He probably wouldn't have lasted in every situation.
I'll assume a medical issue has been ruled out? If that's the case...I would say first I'm not shy in offering advice!
But I don't like this! The best advice is to seek counsel from a qualified, certified trainer/behaviourist experienced in GSD's! Get someone to get eyes on the dog!
Next best advise is to chalk it up as a loss and contact a GSD rescue group! Manage the dog so that he does not have an opportunity to bite the crap out of someone in either case!
That's the best advice! Now having said that!
Currently with this dog, no be no sofa privileges period! He knews to know his place!
I never used a crate myself...but this is a dog that calls for one! I would retool and start over:
Treat him like a rescue you just got start here:
Yeah I'm pretty dang positive he is all show, an that he wouldn't actually bite. I guess we just have to figure out how to handle him when he acts that way, and ideally ways to eliminate it. But so you guys think the getting him fixed to decrease the testosterone flow hypothesis is far fetched?
Very true. Which is why we're searching for a way to correct this behavior. Because after he acts like this, I don't go in to pet him for the rest of that night. I let him relax.
I agree with Chip18. first thing, rule out a medical issue. Next step, get yourself a good behaviourist and see if you can figure out the root of the problem.
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