What kind of aggression is this?

[stephanie.jackson]

This might be long, sorry in advance.

My dog, Midas, is a 9 month old GSD. As a young puppy, he was pretty shy and wanted to stay away from other puppies (but usually loved adult dogs). When he was around 4-6 months old he LOVED all dogs and was a big goof ball. At around 6 months though, he began barking and lunging at a few dogs, nothing too major. And then one day (at 6 months) he injured himself and had some nerve damage done to his leg and he just started lunging/snapping/growling/barking at other dogs. I let his leg heal up (it wasn't permanent thankfully) and we've really been trying to work on his dog reactivity. Now he can get within 5-7 feet of another dog and his ears will shoot forward-facing, but he can listen to commands and maintain a sit/stay. But if he's within 3-5 feet of the dog, the lunging/barking/sometimes snapping/definitely growling occurs. His hackles go way up and he turns into a lunatic (but i can still get him to sit at this point, but he won't hold it long). A few dogs I've been able to let him greet them from behind (after his first initial wanting to kill them from the front) and then he turns perfectly happy and wanting to play.
Well for Thanksgiving I brought him to my mom's house, and we decided that we want to see what he will do if I just let him meet them, since with strangers' dogs, i didn't want to take the risk. We let him meet them, and after charging/barking/getting ferocious looking, when he first made physical contact with them (from the front), he got submissive and was licking their face, cowering, and then lightly playing with them (he met them one at a time, did it all 3 times). So he looks like he's going to kill these dogs and he tries to drag me to them, but then once he's touching them, he's a big softie.
I was thinking this was fear based, but if he was so fearful, why is he dying to get close to them? He's never hurt another dog because I usually don't let him get that close. What do yall think this is, and how can I start working on it better? Sorry for the long spiel!

[PaddyD]

Long spiel is no problem. How else could you fully describe your situation?
My unexpert opinion is that it is fear based. Partly because he started out shy and dogs' basic temperaments don't usually change. Also partly because he calms down once he finds that the other dog is not a threat. He is using the tactic that the best defense is a good offense, until he finds that he needs neither.

[jang]

I don't know much about why dogs behave the way they do--there are sooo many smart dog people on this forum--but I do know that Sib is much more aggressive when she is on a leash--once off, she couldn't care less..I think fear, too..maybe cuz she feels (my Sib) she can't get away or defend herself.
Jan

[KZoppa]

It sounds like fear aggression. My male is fear aggressive with larger dogs (bad experience when he was younger so dont blame him). Some dogs have the fear aggression where they aggress because there is no other way out that they feel while other have the fear mentality of "i'm going to get them before they can get me". Other dogs have an in the middle mind set.

From the sounds of things, your guy may be the in the middle type because he reacts aggressively but once the other dog proves all is fine, he's good and ready to be friends.

Some dogs also are aggressive on leash but once off they're good. The leash can be viewed as inescapable which is often why there is leash aggression whereas off leash, they have that option to run to or from a potential problem.

[Good_Karma]

Can you find a Reactive Rover class (or something similar) in your area?

Alternatively, I would suggest you read up on some training techniques used by Ali Brown (she has a couple of great books on reactive dog training). Scaredy Dog and Focus, Not Fear are two titles I have just read and found them to be most helpful.

I've come to realize it matters less WHY your dog is reacting, as it does HOW you deal with it.

[debbiebrown]

because it sounds like its fear based i would definitely control dog meetings, also learn to read your dog and the signals he gives way before the barking and lunging start. he needs to learn to be calm when meeting other dogs. Obedience and focus training will help. i also would be very choosey to what kind of dogs you set him up with........if he were to meet up with another insecure type dog, there would be a very negative outcome.........

it would help you to get some professional help in learning this behavior and controlling things.......i have a fear aggressive male............i choose the dogs we interact with, mostly mild dogs like goldens, labs etc........he tends to go greet with his hair up, then if he senses something he will grab a dogs neck, not puncturing just trying to dominate............with him i know he needs a correction so i put him on his side by the dog, then when he calms i say "go greet, and be nice" so i give him another chance to do it right, and then i heavily praise him and treat when he does it correctly. it works well. but, you have to know what your dealing with in situations, and be able to read things to correct properly......thats where an experienced person can help.

[stephanie.jackson]

Yeah I had figured it was fear aggression. My trainer had told me her GSD had done this as a puppy too, right at this age, and that he grew out of it and tolerates all dogs now (he's 5). I've never seen him snap at another dog or lunge, he's very mellow. I know that doesn't always happen and most likely he won't just "grow out of it" but it's definitely something I want to work at and correct cause otherwise he is a perfect pup Well, besides trying to play tug of war with little childrens' fur-lined coat hoods. But that's a different story :P