Ohio - male GSD 4yrs - aggressive and may need rehoming

[martemchik]

Just a question, what did you mean by your current way of life? Most people on here are going to tell you that when you get a dog like that you have to change your way of life, and its going to look really bad that the reason you are getting rid of him is because he doesn't "fit" your life. You should do everything you can to make your life fit him. It is true that police work is completely out of the question, they don't want aggressive dogs, they don't need a dog that wants to bite every stranger they meet. A police dog meets a lot more friendly people than it does bad guys and they can't deal with a dog that doesn't like anyone new.

He is a beautiful boy, dark sables are going to hit a soft spot with many people on this forum, but you're going to have a really hard time rehoming a dog that has those kinds of issues. I suggest getting him into any kind of obedience training where he can work in small groups of dogs but probably one on one at first so that you can really figure out whats going on with him. Don't blame this on the location they were raised, it makes no difference, this is most likely a genetic thing or something that happened to him when he was younger that scarred him. This is probably going to take a lot of basic training, leading to training him in situations where he is reactive.

[BMoore]

It sounds like this behavior has been going on for awhile, you also haven't mentioned once whether or not he's been to a professional trainer in his life. Honestly, it sounds like you haven't done anything to address the behavior, and instead are trying to rehome him.

If this has been going on for awhile, it should have been addressed immediately. Please know that no shelter will even consider putting a dog with those issues out on an adoption floor, and his best bet is going to a trainer that has experience with aggressive dogs.

We see a lot of these behaviors at the shelter in little dogs, because they're consistently allowed to get away with them.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, and give us more information on your boy. If he's been to a trainer, what age this behavior started, etc.

[msvette2u]

I think that many people just don't know how to work with a dog the OP is describing. I'd second getting a professional trainer on board.
Please don't pass along your problem dog to another person who may wind up letting him bite someone. The breed doesn't need another bad mark

[marshies]

He is a gorgeous dog, and looks like a big softy! He may not be as "easy" as your female, but some training could improve how he is. You owe it to him to at least try.

[Heckticismyboy]

Originally Posted by gsdraven

He's a handsome boy but his nails look really long in the second pic. Is he kept inside?

Yes he was an inside dog. I use to take him to the vet to have his nails clipped but it was kind of expensive and then I tried clipping them myself. So trust me I love my dogs. I would brush his teeth, brush his coat all the time and give him baths and flea treatments. Despite what people on the internet think I am not half as bad as everyone is making me out to be. I was young and stupid and got a dog that became huge.

[Heckticismyboy]

Originally Posted by BMoore

It sounds like this behavior has been going on for awhile, you also haven't mentioned once whether or not he's been to a professional trainer in his life. Honestly, it sounds like you haven't done anything to address the behavior, and instead are trying to rehome him.

If this has been going on for awhile, it should have been addressed immediately. Please know that no shelter will even consider putting a dog with those issues out on an adoption floor, and his best bet is going to a trainer that has experience with aggressive dogs.

We see a lot of these behaviors at the shelter in little dogs, because they're consistently allowed to get away with them.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, and give us more information on your boy. If he's been to a trainer, what age this behavior started, etc.

No to answer your question he never had any professional training. I tried to when he was younger but it ended up either paying to get him trained or paying rent for my apartment. I guess I should of just paid for his training & then if i lost my apartment who cares right? but I truly love animals and didn't know what I was getting into when I got him but it didn't stop me from loving him. I put him on RescueMe.org and he was adopted in August 2012 out to a man who claims he trains German Shepherds for the K-9 unit in the police force. The day that he took him I seen a different side of Hecktic it was like their was no problems, nothing I had problems with anyway. He listened to what the guy was commanding him to do, and jumped in that guys car like it was no big deal. I was truely mesmerized that day of how wonderful everything worked out. The guy kept me updated and said he was doing good then come to find out his stomach "supposedly" flipped so he "supposedly" paid $5,000 to have the surgery done, and then later on the guy tells me he died because he went blind and had a tumor and was going crazy because he couldn't see. Maybe the guy is telling the truth, but I don't believe it. I think the guy was afraid I wanted him back so he just said he was dead. If he said he was put down then their would be no reason to give me anymore updates right? well thats what I believe anyway. I believe he is still alive and doing well.

[Heckticismyboy]

Originally Posted by martemchik

Just a question, what did you mean by your current way of life? Most people on here are going to tell you that when you get a dog like that you have to change your way of life, and its going to look really bad that the reason you are getting rid of him is because he doesn't "fit" your life. You should do everything you can to make your life fit him. It is true that police work is completely out of the question, they don't want aggressive dogs, they don't need a dog that wants to bite every stranger they meet. A police dog meets a lot more friendly people than it does bad guys and they can't deal with a dog that doesn't like anyone new.

He is a beautiful boy, dark sables are going to hit a soft spot with many people on this forum, but you're going to have a really hard time rehoming a dog that has those kinds of issues. I suggest getting him into any kind of obedience training where he can work in small groups of dogs but probably one on one at first so that you can really figure out whats going on with him. Don't blame this on the location they were raised, it makes no difference, this is most likely a genetic thing or something that happened to him when he was younger that scarred him. This is probably going to take a lot of basic training, leading to training him in situations where he is reactive.

My dogs and I was living with my mom at the time and she was forcing me to find another home for him. So it's not that he didn't "fit my way of life" so my bad I have bad ways of explaining things. Once I get a dog I like to keep that commitment of keeping them, loving them, etc. Yes, he should of had training but I didn't have a lot of funds, especially when I was the only person working when I had my own place. I ended up loosing my place and had to move in with my parents and that is why we had to go live there. But I put him on RescueMe.Org and he was adopted by a man who claims he trains dogs for the K-9 unit in the police force. He said he was too tall to be a K-9 dog which I never herd of such a thing, but he wanted to train him and keep him. All I wanted was updates on him to know that his training was going well and that he was doing good.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Was this man's first name Tim by any chance?