GSD Randomly Growling and Warning Biting?

[KasperR34]

Hi there, this happened a few minutes ago, and I decided to sign up here and get to the bottom of it.
I was trying to fall asleep on my couch, with my GSD Kasper.
Kasper is almost two years old, 104 pounds, and I have had him since he was two months.
I was laying down and repositioned, and I looked over my shoulder to ask Kasper to move his paw, and I gently touched it. He then growled at me and bit at my leg as a warning, so I immediately jumped off the couch as did he. He walked away and is now sleeping outside my door.
Any ideas why my best friend of two years would do that?

[Elaine]

It's possible that he's hurting or more likely he's deciding to assert his dominance over you. The fact that you did nothing about it except watch him walk away makes me think the second option and this has been building for a while.

[Konotashi]

I'm no expert, but I think that by going away, you reinforced his behavior. He wanted you to go away and leave him alone, and that's exactly what you did.

You might want to start implementing NILIF (nothing in life is free), because this could possibly escalate....

As I said, I'm not an expert, so take my advice with a grain of salt and wait for the more seasoned members to come along. I'm glad that you didn't get hurt, though.

Oh, and welcome to the boards! How unfortunate that this has to be your first post, though.

[KasperR34]

Seeing how I am fifteen, and Live with my parents, my Dad has alway been the disciplinarian.
I have however had this happen before, in other areas, and held him down until he showed submission, but in this case, the positioning of him and I was a sure fire way to being bitten.
He has bitten my brother on another occasion, but it is irrelevant.
I don't want to make him sound bad, as this is my first post with him.
He is an amazing loyal dog, he sleeps with me every night, he plays with me, he protects me, but the random signs of aggression need to stop.
Kasper is also very protective of us, he needs to be caged when strangers come, or else he will attack, this is what also concerns me.

[Konotashi]

I would say start NILIF training. You could do a search on here for it, there are some good links posted around here on it. Sounds like he could really benefit from that. I don't think that him biting your brother in the past is irrelevant.

What is his temperament like? When you had to hold him down, was he afraid? He could be biting out of fear or many other reasons.

You should probably get a behaviorist to analyze his behavior so that you guys can all get a training routine that would work best for him.

[KasperR34]

As mentioned, he doesn't like strangers.
My brother goes off to college, he's 20. When he comes home every few weeks or months, Kasper doesn't always recognize him. He bit my brother after he thrust a treat into Kasper's face.
When I held him down, he will look at me with shame in what he's done, because he "seems" to know if he id a bad thing.
We have a trainer through Bark Busters training, but the problem is our trainer can't come near him, haha, and we have to do the training.
I will do a search into NILIF training, thank you.
Any other advice would greatly be appreciated.

[Elaine]

What you are doing is called an alpha roll and is one of the best ways to get bitten plus it doesn't do anything as a correction. Do not do this, ever.

It is not irrelevant that he bit your brother and now you. He wants to attack any stranger that comes to your home and wants to bite your trainer. This is not funny. Your dog is dangerous. Period.

I don't know if your dog is fixable or not at this point. Do you exercise him? Has he been socialized? Has he ever been to dog school?

Your description of your dog is just like the pitbull next door that has been terrorizing me and my dogs since August. I knew it was a matter of time before that dog bit someone and most likely savage someone badly; sure enough, he bit the FedEx guy a couple of weeks ago after he had been invited in the house and right in front of the family. They promptly put him down. This was not the dog's fault; it was totally the family's fault for not socializing, training, neutering, not watching, nothing. I am unbelievably relieved the dog is gone as it was deadly serious about wanting to get through the fence to kill me and my dogs.

I know you say you love this dog, but he needs some very serious professional help before he hurts someone badly.

[Konotashi]

Originally Posted by Elaine

This was not the dog's fault; it was totally the family's fault for not socializing, training, neutering, not watching, nothing.

I'm sorry, but not neutering does not make a dog aggressive. Ozzy is not neutered and is not aggressive, along with many dogs on this board.

Didn't mean to pick that one part out of your post, but I hate when people blame lack of neutering for specific behaviors.

[KasperR34]

He will not bite me, at least it will take A LOT to provoke it. I have had my hand in his mouth when he has growled, as stated, he won't bite me.
I understand he is dangerous, but he is controlled, at least in my view.
He is exercised occasionally, but due to this winter storm in CT not it the last week or so.
He was not socialized well, he is my first dog, and my Dad third GSD, but I don't view my father as the training type.
He doesn't want to bite my trainer, and I apologize for that nervous "haha" in my last post, please, I understand he isn't funny.
He is fine outside the house, on streets, in parks, others houses, all but my house.
He is very territorial. He is also neutered.
Please view my album of pictures I just uploaded of him.
Thanks,
Seth

[Konotashi]

He may not bite you if you stick your hands in his mouth, but apparently if you provoke him the right (or wrong) way, and messing with his feet seems to be a trigger, you may very well get bit one of these days.