Acceptable Levels of Aggression

[GSDElsa]

As a spinoff of another thread, what do you personally find acceptable levels of aggression in a dog? I'll say give 2 answers...one for "pet" homes and one for people with working dogs.

A. Unapprocable by strangers, is very sharp, and is known to bite unprovoked. But dog is in sport home that is carefully managed, including having be vetted at home.

B. In a working home with an experienced handler. Dog is very strong and is managed easily by current handler, but would probably take over to potentially negative consequences with a "weaker" handler.

C. Does not matter who handles the dog and how the dog acts doing protection work...dog should be aloof, friendly with who they know, but not put in any uncomfortable situations.

D. Do should have minimal overall aggression--could get by in SchH in prey, and is a social butterfly with any and all individuals.

[GSDElsa]

I'll go first. For ME personally .... in my home .... I'll accept something between a B and a C. Medo is a very strong dog for your average handler and I do think that he could probably get himself into a situation with someone that is more of a pushover or doesn't know how to control him where he would maybe get himself in a bad situation. However, I accept nothing less than a very social dog. He could actually stand to be a little more aloof, but he's still a puppy. He does bark and will be suspicious, but is immediately accepting and loving on them when I say so (or when he's at dog training and just think EVERYONE there is like the SUPER COOLEST people on earth--even new people he hasn't met before lol. Even though I know he might have a little edge to him, no dog in our house will be anything other than socially bombproof.

[NewbieShepherdGirl]

For a dog like a German Shepherd I would say somewhere around C. I expect a dog that will not show any aggression to a friendly stranger. I don't want them to be best friends with everyone they meet; I want them to be civil. I expect in a situation where there is a person that is a genuine danger that the dog react with aggression, but if the handler says enough then the dog complies (a training issue probably more so than a temperament issue.)

Sasha is mostly this dog. I am not 100% sure that she would not bite inappropriately, but she would really really have to be pushed and it would surprise me. I have seen her act with confident, appropriate aggression when it was necessary. She is not bomb proof over all (has a huge fear of fireworks and by extension I would assume gunfire), but I would say I am 99% confident that she is socially bomb proof. She has, mostly in the past, acted inappropriately in the past (due to her resource guarding me) but even then she was under voice control. When I say enough she knows I mean it and she comes at sits by my side and my guest can move freely. If this were not the case she would not be allowed to be free amongst guests, and that's not something I ever want from a dog. I want my dog to be able to be a part of everything in my life.

[pfitzpa1]

Stupid question IMO. No level of aggression is acceptable unless handler or family are under threat, or aggression is 100% controllable.
I would expect a gsd to put their life on the line to protect me and my family, whatever it took.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by pfitzpa1

Stupid question IMO. No level of aggression is acceptable unless handler or family are under threat, or aggression is 100% controllable.

Wow, aren't you Mr./Ms. Friendly?

What is threat? An actual assault? A shady character looking at you funny? Someone following you? The UPS guy at the door? If Grandpa picks up Little Sarah and tickles her until she squeals, is that threat? If Little Bobby and Little Joey are wrestling in the yard and one starts crying, is that a threat? If I accidentally leave my door unlocked and my neighbor walks in and startles me, should the dog bark or growl or bite or wag his tail because the neighbor is his buddy? If an unknown person comes into your backyard, should the dog bite? What if it's a 10-year old getting his ball? 16-year old? 18? If my husband screams at me but doesn't touch me, should the dog react?

Lots and lots of grey areas when it comes to how much aggression is acceptable to an individual. This isn't a stupid question at all.

[msvette2u]

I'd never own an "A" and I'd never adopt out an "A".

B, maybe, depends. I prefer C until the dog comes into it's own and shows a shepherd temperament, as per the breed standard of "aloof" with strangers.

[pfitzpa1]

Categorizing a gsd as A,B,C,D above is a stupid question. You want a dog that can be some or all of the above., depending on the situation. The question is stupid in the context of pick one. That's all, nothing more nothing less.

[Lucy Dog]

Originally Posted by pfitzpa1

Categorizing a gsd as A,B,C,D above is a stupid question. You want a dog that can be some or all of the above., depending on the situation. The question is stupid in the context of pick one. That's all, nothing more nothing less.

Well... the fact is that aggression comes with the breed. It's bred for to certain degrees for the GSD to do certain jobs that people need them to do if it's real life work or something like schutzhund. Believe it or not, people want some level of aggression in their dogs. Some more than others and that's kind of the point of this thread. Not all aggression is out of control barking at strangers for no reason.

Originally Posted by pfitzpa1

I would expect a gsd to put their life on the line to protect me and my family, whatever it took.

Like in the movies?

[pfitzpa1]

Originally Posted by Lucy Dog

Well... the fact is that aggression comes with the breed. It's bred for to certain degrees for the GSD to do certain jobs that people need them to do if it's real life work or something like schutzhund. Believe it or not, people want some level of aggression in their dogs. Some more than others and that's kind of the point of this thread. Not all aggression is out of control barking at strangers for no reason.



Like in the movies?

I'm glad you agree with me. :-) I'm not arguing the presence/desire for agression, just the ABCD pick one, in the OP's question.

[Lucy Dog]

I didn't see the op mention you had to pick one. I figured you could use any combo you wanted and expand as much as possible. That's how i took the question.

For me... I definitely wouldn't want an A dog ever. Not my kind of dog at all. As a pet owner, I'm more of a D type person, but I have no need for any extra aggression. I like the prey drive and it's how i like to train. Maybe mix in a little C with who the dog is friendly with... aloof with strangers and friendly with family or "pack". Always want the dog to be comfortable in new situations. That's my preference.