Donation/Rescue??

[MKirby]

Hey guys!! I was not for certain where this post should go but since I have had aggression issues with my boy before and that is the primary reason I am now looking into this, I figured this would be the best place.

Overview history: My boy, Shepherd, is almost 2 (June 1st), we recently made a move and he had go though a lot of changes (going from strictly inside dog to strictly outside dog), me not being as firm with him as I should have been and a few other minor things. He attacked me, growled at my mother, attacked my grandmother and is dominate towards other dogs and people. He has not bit anyone but I am afraid it is only a matter of time.

Since the 1st attack, on me, I have been working with him diligently (re-leash training, muzzling, walking, obedience training...pretty much all I can do alone.

I was told before when I first posted about his sudden aggression to get him a personal trainer or have him enrolled in classes but I just do not have the funds for that for the time being. I also have been working on getting a fence put up for him but that has been put on the back burner because of the tornadoes in Alabama on April 24th. For about 3-4 weeks now he has been chained up (I know most of you do not agree with this but I has been my only option and he seems to be handling it well) during the day while I'm at work (my mom comes out to let him off at least once a day) and when I get home we train and then play then I put him on my back closed in porch and sometimes inside the house with me. He has done very well with all of these current changes. However, he still will assert his dominance with me on a daily basis (nudging my hand/leg, sometimes does not obey on first command, etc.) and he is still showing aggression towards visitors.

Overall, I am beginning to feel that he is too much for me right now. I do not have the funds or resources that everyone keeps telling me I need to fix the problems and I am scared that with only my training things will not get fixed completely.

I read online somewhere that sometimes police academies/law enforcement/military will take dogs like my Shep, retrain them and use them for working dogs. Also that some rescue centers will take aggressive dogs, retrain them, foster them and then adopt them out. I am devastated even thinking about this but it is an option I have started considering. Shepherd deserves a better life with an owner who can properly train and care for him and I feel with the way things have been, I may not be the best for him right now.

Any and all suggestions or help would be much appreciated!! Thank you!!

[sit,stay]

The dogs that are used by law enforcement agencies need to have rock solid, stable temperaments, so I highly doubt that any working dog organization would take on a dog that could easily be a huge liability.

I did know of a local, private prison that would troll through local animal shelters and "adopt" reactive dogs that looked the part (i.e. GSDs, Rottweilers, etc.) for use as guard dogs. Imagine the embarrassment of those local shelters when it was discovered that these dogs were left to roam between the inside and outside fences, were often not fed, had no vet care and dead dog bodies were left for several days in kennels. It was a dog's nightmare, and not what anyone would consider a "working" situation.

You could contact rescues and see if anyone has room for your dog. That is a long shot, since most rescues are full to bursting.

Poor dog hasn't been given many options.
Sheilah

[jakeandrenee]

It may help if you put where you are located in Alabama in your posts so maybe you can get the dog much needed help. Poor dog....

[Jax's Mom]

I'm curious what you mean by "attacked" if he has not bitten anyone?

[jakeandrenee]

Originally Posted by Jax's Mom

I'm curious what you mean by "attacked" if he has not bitten anyone?

Does it matter? I guess it does if they state that about the dog to a rescue? Attacked, but never bit? Yes, I see your point. Clearly the dog needs to be rehomed.

[MKirby]

I really do appreciate the feedback I get from most people here on this sit but some people really make it seem like I am the sole cause that my dog is having issues and I'm sorry but that is not always the case!! I have held my tongue before but it is kinda old now. I came to this site because I am having a hard time with this and dealing with this and a little bit of respect towards me would be appreciated even more.

And I do not list my location because there are some crazy people out there and this site does not have very high security levels. But since this is vital information, I work close to Huntsville, AL but live in Blount County, AL.

Shepherd has jumped on me barking at me once and jumped on while barking at my grandmother once. Thats what I mean by 'attack'. And what exactly are you all saying with these comments...

Originally Posted by Jax's Mom
"I'm curious what you mean by "attacked" if he has not bitten anyone?"

"Does it matter? I guess it does if they state that about the dog to a rescue? Attacked, but never bit? Yes, I see your point. Clearly the dog needs to be rehomed."
__________________
Renee'

Jake 2/12/10 CGC TDI

Like I said I really do appreciate the feedback but please try to treat me and my feelings with a little respect. I am doing all that I possibly can at the time being to help my 'poor dog'. Thanks

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I have to leave soon but will try to get back on tonight to post - we will all need to focus on your dog and see what can be done.

Sheilah posted some very scary, very true things about some of these places who get "guard and K9" dogs. VERY scary.

Hoping to get some good insights going on this thread - are there previous threads/posts that might help?

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by MKirby

. And what exactly are you all saying with these comments...

Originally Posted by Jax's Mom
"I'm curious what you mean by "attacked" if he has not bitten anyone?"

"Does it matter? I guess it does if they state that about the dog to a rescue? Attacked, but never bit? Yes, I see your point. Clearly the dog needs to be rehomed."

She was wondering what you meant by "attacked," because usually an attack means biting. If the dog has bitten anyone, a rescue can't take the dog and re-home it for liability reasons. Rescues just can't place dogs that have bitten people for legal reasons. That's why it matters if "attack" means "bite" or something else.

Since the dog hasn't bitten anyone, there's a chance a rescue might take him.

I would NOT hand him over to anyone claiming they're going to turn him into a "guard dog" or "police dogs." That can come to a very very bad end.


When you find this dog another home, I would encourage you not to get another German Shepherd, at least not for a while. All the behaviors you're describing as aggressive or dominant (ignoring commands, nudging your hand/leg, jumping on people while barking, etc) are very common behaviors for a young GSD that hasn't been trained or handled properly. They're all behaviors I've seen time and again with the young male GSDs that I've fostered. through the rescue.

[Jax08]

Jumping and barking are very different than attacking. It's a rare occasion when a rescue takes on a dog with a bite history. When your dog jumps and barks, is he actually being aggressive? Or is he just being ill-mannered, untrained and lonely from being outside? 95% of issues with dogs are training related. I know you don't want to hear that but it's true. The leftover percentage is genetics and health related. Only you can know which it is and it is hard to look at the situation when you are so close to it.

If you feel your dog needs to be rehomed then please call the rescues. There are good ones not to far from you. Accurately state what the issues are. Your dog has not 'attacked' anyone yet but definitely needs to learn some manners and may be dominant (I can't say because I'm not following your posts and haven't evaluated the dog myself).

[Emoore]

I definitely would not use the word attack when you contact the rescues.