Why? Honestly.

[selzer]

I do not have any real advice. I saw the vid and did not think it was bad. At the same time, you saw the incident with your niece.

I am sorry you are going through this. He is young. I know you are trying to build his confidence. Sometimes agility is good for that, positive, up beat, lots of treats, full body experience, fun, worth a try. But it does cost money. If you can swing an obedience class and a beginning agility class, I think it might be helpful.

[3K9Mom]

He's 4 months old. He is far too young for a regular agility class.

The puppy agility classes I've taken assume the puppies are well socialized. They aren't expected to have solid obedience skills, but they are expected to be under your control -- all those people (adults and often children) and pups running around may be too stimulating for your little guy. If you are able to find a puppy agility class, be sure you speak with the instructor at length before you plop your pup into a situation that he's not ready for.

[APBTLove]

It really doesn't look bad, but to people who know that german shepherds are nothing but killers, a 45lb dog with hackles raised and a big bark, though with tiny little teeth flashing, is pretty scary... And their reactions are fueling him... I just want to throttle that boy who chased him around the other day.

I've found an agility(they have puppy level) and training facility nearby that looks okay, I will go into it a bit more and check it out. They will do private training at first so your pup knows his job, and introduce distractions such as other people and dogs once he has it down. While I am looking in to them I could set up a 'homemade' agility course in the field in front of our home. We have several people and dogs pass daily, and having a job to do with rewards could get him to focus more on me and the task than them...

And yes, that's been the problem with the facilities in my area... most don't give private classes, even to assess your dog, and they add that they have "Puppy free time" to let all of the dogs off and play after working. One even said the mandatory collar for their class was a choke chain... For a pup?

I'll keep updating... See what happens with this place.

Really guys, thank you. I guess I'm just overreacting because of past problems. To a non dog-savvy owner this wouldn't be a real issue, most people I know have biters, and they don't view it as a real problem. My old male bi color bit a cop very badly once(thankfully she had just sat with a GSD on the side of the road as he passed, and was feeling lenient), he'd also get loose and chase people down the road, was fear aggressive until maturity- he'd only nip from behind after sneaking up on people, jump the fence and bring us home laundry left out to dry, go get the neighbor's dog pregnant, when he started losing his sight he bit the tar out of me, but any time I reflect on him I only think of what a good boy he was.

The worst Dutch has done is chew up human toys. She was never a jumper, biter, never rough, and is just a cuddle monster.

We'll get through this... He's a baby..

[Lauri & The Gang]

Quote:Most pups are shy but friendly IME.

That is not how a WELL BRED puppy should be.

Mauser didn't start the whole Gsd aloofness until he was almost 9 months old. Prior to that EVERYONE was his friend. He LOVED meeting people - would walk up to greet them and loved getting the attention.

As he has matured he has become more of what I call the 'typical' GSD. He doesn't solicit attention but if someone approaches him and I tell him to say Hello, he will go over to them and allow them to pet him.

You say you don't know when people are coming over. It doesn't matter. When they ring the doorbell you check the door, tell the dog "I see them" and then MAKE him Down/Stay while you let the person in.

[APBTLove]

Try finding a well bred pup here(by here I mean my neighborhood and local places I meet pups, not Va )... I guess most pups I meet are more friendly than scared, but also many of the pups I meet are not treated well, I was amazed and shocked when a man walking with his I TINY pit pup off lead hit it over and over with a stick rather than pick up to get it away from my dogs.

I am absolutely serious when I say I know of someone who claims to hate breeders, but set up her ABD/APBT mix with one of it's pups from a previous litter, then let a pup from THAT litter breed with her.

So no, I don't really know any well bred dogs to judge by.

[MTAussie]

APBTLove there is a positive trainer at the Norfolk Animal Care Center and also Kasha Winston with Rosebriar Dog Training in Norfolk.

Also, here is a link to local trainers:

http://local.yahoo.com/results?stx=d...ia+Beach%2C+VA

APDT local trainers: http://www.apdt.com/po/ts/us/results...dist=10&cert=0

[APBTLove]

Thank you. Why can everyone BUT me find good trainers in my area? I must have spent an entire day going over the internet and phone books... As well as local vets who might know something.

I think the NACC is about 40 miles from me, because I was considering a pup from there once.

But thank you, I will certainly go over them.

[MaggieRoseLee]

4 months.......I've never heard of real attacks and aggression from a socialized 4 month old puppy.

I have had bites to bleeding, a bloody nose, and a cracked tooth from a puppy playing with me. And the growling, snapping, biting that comes with that can sound horrific.

Are you close to your breeder that you can just take the puppy back for an evaluation so they can assure you that what you are seeing is normal (or not) and what they would recommend?

And I started agility classes, PUPPY agility classes the week before I even got my puppy (GloryB). So if you have a trainer who knows what they are doing and has PUPPY classes, it's just fine. HEY, you see Glory's video from just 5 months old in class? And we've been attending for MONTHS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kro4NqlaA24

[jake]

do you have a week?The one thing that made a diff with my abused rescue was tethering him to me on a 4-5 foot leash attatched to my belt 24/7.I admit it took more than 1 week cause not that many people new and acting strange OR /things that are strange occurred.Maybe this puts more pressure on owner than dog-and YES I got bit once through re-directed aggression.Tethering to a dog with problems is stressful but it does work!!

[MaggieRoseLee]

bump, just to get the Subject more specific for more replies...