Need help with my overly agressive dog

[evgeney96]

Argo is a little over a year old, his prior owners did not properly socialize him and we re-homed him around 3 months ago.
He is beautiful at home but is absolutely horrid outside, he pulls and is very aggressive towards strangers especially children. He lunges and barks at most kids and some adults.
This is really becoming a problem for me as I live in an apartment building and cant have people afraid of stepping out of their apartments.
When I try to expose him to new activities/places he seems scared and weary.
This upsets me because I have to constantly use force to hold him back, I cant take him to the dog park or have him free in the apartment when I have guests around.

[KZoppa]

i would suggest a private trainer who is knowledgable of the breed. Even a behavorist. I dont think this is true aggression but more of fear aggression. You said he wasnt socialized properly so he's probably got the mentality of I'm going to get you before you get me. Thats a fear reaction.

The thing with kids, kids move differently than adults do. They're loud. Jerky movements. If he wasnt socialized properly, chances of him having been socialized with kids is even more slim.

[evgeney96]

Originally Posted by KZoppa

i would suggest a private trainer who is knowledgable of the breed. Even a behavorist. I dont think this is true aggression but more of fear aggression. You said he wasnt socialized properly so he's probably got the mentality of I'm going to get you before you get me. Thats a fear reaction.

The thing with kids, kids move differently than adults do. They're loud. Jerky movements. If he wasnt socialized properly, chances of him having been socialized with kids is even more slim.

This is what I believe also, he grew up in more of a rural neighborhood then in the city and is seemingly converting his fear into aggression however with kids whenever he so much as smells one he becomes very unstable even so if they behave accordingly.

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by evgeney96

This is what I believe also, he grew up in more of a rural neighborhood then in the city and is seemingly converting his fear into aggression however with kids whenever he so much as smells one he becomes very unstable even so if they behave accordingly.

you can socialize him and work with him, but he will always have to be watched for signs of stress and overload and its very likely he can never be around kids safely. I would suggest you search through the forum for similar threads in dealing with desensitizing him and socializing him positively. I wish you the best of luck. Its not an easy road you're on.

[debbiebrown]

Private trainer....................and alot of work!