Is my GSD overly aggresive?

[FlashHole]

A couple instances make me wonder.

Ok, Barrett is 2-1/2 yrs old. He's full-blooded from a German bloodline. I'm not an expert on GSD's, but I'd say he has a well balanced personality.

I should mention that he spent the first year of his life very sick due to what may have been a spider or scorpion bite that led to a spinal infection(no one is really sure). Unfortunately he was dealing with a bad case of Pano at the time, so we didn't realize that the pain he was in was from something other than the Pano. Anyway, because of the illness, he didn't get the amount of training and socialization that I would have liked him to have had during that time. Even so, he's very well behaved and like I said, I would classify him as well balanced. He's just not polished like a well trained dog.

Now my question about agression. A few instances makes me question whether or not I should be concerned.

The first instance happened while visiting my brother last Christmas. My nephew was wrestling with my daughter and was aparently bouncing up and down on top of her. Barrett let out 2 aggresive sounding barks, grabbed my nephew by the arm and pulled him off my daughter. Didn't hurt him or even leave a mark, but definitely objected to what was going on and physically removed my nephew from my daughter. Needless to say, it scared me pretty bad.

The next instance occurred while we were on vacation this summer. We asked a guy to take our picture and when he reached for the camera, Barrett barked twice at him. Not a viscious bark, more like a warning bark. No lunging, but he did stand up.

The last instance happened this past weekend. We took my daughter to the playground to play and I wanted to take the opportunity to work with Barrett on the leash. There was a little boy there that immediately started following me and Barrett around trying to pet him. He was leashed the entire time and any time the boy approached I would put him on a very very short leash. Barrett pretty much ignored him for about an hour paying constant attention to what my daughter was doing. As we were about to leave, the little boy ran full speed at us and at that point Barrett barked fairly aggressively and moved to head off the little boy. At this point, the boys mother was paying pretty close attention and I quickly motioned for her to gather her son which she did. After that, Barrett was pretty wound up and made it known that he wasn't having any more of that little boy or anyone else for that matter. It took him 5-10 minutes to revert back to his normal self.

At this point, I don't think I have a problem dog, but I do feel it's something that I might need to address. My last dog was a Golden Retreiver, so I'm not 100% sure what is normal for a GSD and I am also not sure the best way to respond to situations like these.

Sorry for the long read, but any thoughts or guidance would be appreciated.

[Emoore]

I don't know that you have an aggressive dog, but I do think you have a protective dog with a moderately low threhold for protection.

The first instance, at Christmas, I wouldn't even worry about. Wrestling like that around dogs is a very bad idea. The exact same thing happened when I was a kid and the farm border collie bit the crap out of my cousin. Barrettt could have easily hurt your nephew very seriously, and he chose not to. That speaks volume in my book. Teach the kids not to wrestle around the dog.

The last instance, it sounds like you "choked up" on the leash and there was probably a lot of tension running down the leash to him that he was picking up on.

I don't think you have a problem dog either, but you do need to be aware that he is more protective than your Golden and that his threshold for protection may be lower than you would like.

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by Emoore

I don't know that you have an aggressive dog, but I do think you have a protective dog with a moderately low threhold for protection.

The first instance, at Christmas, I wouldn't even worry about. Wrestling like that around dogs is a very bad idea. The exact same thing happened when I was a kid and the farm border collie bit the crap out of my cousin. Barrettt could have easily hurt your nephew very seriously, and he chose not to. That speaks volume in my book. Teach the kids not to wrestle around the dog.

The last instance, it sounds like you "choked up" on the leash and there was probably a lot of tension running down the leash to him that he was picking up on.

I don't think you have a problem dog either, but you do need to be aware that he is more protective than your Golden and that his threshold for protection may be lower than you would like.

i agree with Emoore. Nothing really screams out at me as aggressive. It all sounds like a dog who is protective as well as tuned in to you. You have to remember to keep yourself calm and relaxed and he will pick up on it. You shortened his leash at the park which to him he noticed and took it as something he should be alert to.

[FlashHole]

Originally Posted by Emoore

I don't know that you have an aggressive dog, but I do think you have a protective dog with a moderately low threhold for protection.

The first instance, at Christmas, I wouldn't even worry about. Wrestling like that around dogs is a very bad idea. The exact same thing happened when I was a kid and the farm border collie bit the crap out of my cousin. Barrettt could have easily hurt your nephew very seriously, and he chose not to. That speaks volume in my book. Teach the kids not to wrestle around the dog.

The last instance, it sounds like you "choked up" on the leash and there was probably a lot of tension running down the leash to him that he was picking up on.

I don't think you have a problem dog either, but you do need to be aware that he is more protective than your Golden and that his threshold for protection may be lower than you would like.

I read somewhere after the fact, that GSD's often get unjustly blamed for bitting because they will physically correct kids sometimes, however, they aren't actually bitting, it's in fact just a herding thing. Any truth to that?

LOL...There was definitely some tension running down the leash. I'm sure he picked up on it and I think he finally just reacted. Not sure how not to be a little tense in a situation like that though.

Yes, he's a lot more protective than my Golden was, but that's one of the reasons why we got him. You're right though. He's just a tad more protective than I would like.


One thing is for sure. I will own a GSD the rest of my life. They rock!!

[Konotashi]

I agree with what's been said already. More protective than aggressive.

In the instance with the little boy, you probably should have told him to back off (the kid). I don't like when little kids are around Ozzy, but he doesn't mind. If Ozzy did mind, they definitely wouldn't be coming near him.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by FlashHole

I read somewhere after the fact, that GSD's often get unjustly blamed for bitting because they will physically correct kids sometimes, however, they aren't actually bitting, it's in fact just a herding thing. Any truth to that?

Yup, little kids act a lot like silly sheep sometimes. Herding "nips" are common in all the herding breeds. Growing up on a cattle ranch, some of our best herding border collies came from suburban parents who had to get rid of a dog that was "biting" their kids.

However, herding nips on children are not acceptable, and dogs need to learn that. In the Christmas situation, though, I don't think it was herding. I think he was trying to protect your daughter without hurting your nephew.

Originally Posted by FlashHole

LOL...There was definitely some tension running down the leash. I'm sure he picked up on it and I think he finally just reacted. Not sure how not to be a little tense in a situation like that though.

Deep, slow breaths, soften the corners of your eyes, drop your shoulders down, and relax your hold on the leash. Then ask the mom to control her daggum kid.

[KZoppa]

[QUOTE=FlashHole;2304203]I read somewhere after the fact, that GSD's often get unjustly blamed for bitting because they will physically correct kids sometimes, however, they aren't actually bitting, it's in fact just a herding thing. Any truth to that? Yes, there is a lot of truth to it. If a dog wants to bite, they will bite. If they feel its necessary to bite to get their point across they'll do it. Nipping or gently mouthing is typical (once taught how to do it). They're a mouthy breed. All herding breeds tend to be. You just have to teach them where and when and how much is appropriate.

LOL...There was definitely some tension running down the leash. I'm sure he picked up on it and I think he finally just reacted. Not sure how not to be a little tense in a situation like that though. You have to protect your dog. This means by occassionally protecting him from you. The child was being pushy and annoying and you let your tension go down the leash when you should have just asked the mother to enforce the child leave your dog alone at that time. Who cares if they think you're rude for it. you're asking because its necessary. You were tense about it and your dog picked up on it.

Yes, he's a lot more protective than my Golden was, but that's one of the reasons why we got him. You're right though. He's just a tad more protective than I would like. Sometimes it happens. Work on it. Socialize him NOW since he's no longer sick. Its never too late to socialize but he wont be the 100% well socialized guy he would have been had be been socialized earlier. Point is, you can work on that now.


One thing is for sure. I will own a GSD the rest of my life. They rock!!Agree 100%! I cant imagine not having a GSD at home![/QUOTE]


They really are fabulous dogs!


ETA: Emoore beat me to it lol

[FlashHole]

For what he's been through, he really is a well balanced dog. I did my best to socialize him when he was up to it and I still do.

Good points about how to handle the kid situation. I did fail by not asking the mother for help. He was just being a kid though, and I was at the playground. Still, I will handle that differently next time.

Although he finally beat the spinal infection, plenty of damage was done to a couple of his vertebrae. Sadly, the doctor believes his life will be greatly shortened. The next one is getting "The Works" with regards to training.

Thanks for all your responses.

[dazedtrucker]

My Axel is the same way at playgrounds...he doesn't like anyone "touching" his kid. I saw an outburst from him a couple months ago when another lil kid went to give my 4 year old a hug out of the blue. Axel DID NOT like that AT ALL. (my kid wasn't real happy about it either). He has alerted a couple times when people get to close to me also. He doesn't like it, and I respect it, he's taking care of his pack. I don't worry about it being aggressive so much, just protective. He's a great dog, doing his job...

[FlashHole]

Originally Posted by dazedtrucker

My Axel is the same way at playgrounds...he doesn't like anyone "touching" his kid. I saw an outburst from him a couple months ago when another lil kid went to give my 4 year old a hug out of the blue. Axel DID NOT like that AT ALL. (my kid wasn't real happy about it either). He has alerted a couple times when people get to close to me also. He doesn't like it, and I respect it, he's taking care of his pack. I don't worry about it being aggressive so much, just protective. He's a great dog, doing his job...

That's pretty much how I feel too. This is my first GSD though, so I thought I would ask to see what others thought. It's good to know that my assesment isn't off base.