Sudden fear aggression at 4 years old?

[sashadog]

I apologize for the length but I'm panicking a bit because today, Sasha decided that people were scary again. Really scary. We were out doing some Christmas shopping and we went into the first store. Sasha loved everyone in this store and was a big hit with the kids as well as the adults. I always take cookies with me and she had a good, relaxed time doing tricks and getting pets. Second store we go into a lady from behind me starts talking to Sasha, typical "oooh, what a pretty puppy" type talk, and I turn around to tell Sasha to sit so the lady can give her a treat and before I could even turn around Sasha flipped out. Basically she did a pretty scary "bark and hold" (which she's not trained to do) right there in the shoe store. Although this obviously scared the **** out of this poor lady (and me too to be honest), I got Sasha's attention back and got her to calm down. Usually in the past when she gets nervous of a person, if she sees me give them a treat for them to give to her, then she's fine. She'll take a treat from them, sniff them, and then be totally fine. However, this time she wasn't having any of it and was still very jumpy and grumbly with the lady so I didn't push it. Sasha just kept staring her down and growling whenever she moved, even to move away from us! But the last thing I wanted to do was rush her out of the store and reward her actions. So I waited for her to calm down, talked to the lady for a moment (apologizing profusely), and left the store. I figured maybe it was the way the lady approached her (she was staring straight at her, kind of bent over, stupid lady probably didn't know any better ) and it would probably be an isolated incident, so I kicked myself for not being more aware and moved on. Well it wasn't and Sasha fully lost it, even expressing her anal glands, on every other person that came within 5 feet of us for the rest of the time until I finally did some obedience within view of people to attempt and "end on a good note" and took her home.

When we first adopted her (at a year and a half), she definitely had more fear but we've worked really hard to get her through it and she's come a really long way. She goes pretty much everywhere with us as our area is very dog friendly and she loves her trips to our favorite stores.
So a little bit of a run-down/my hypothesis...
- We recently moved and now my boyfriend and I are living apart for a few weeks until our new house is ready. This means she has been through a move and is also separated from me part time. This is probably a stressful factor.
- It's the holidays (obviously) and I know everyone is running a little higher right now. Another probable stressor.
- And the big possible factor is that she hadn't been off his family's property for a about a week and a half. (Other than for walks out on isolated country roads.)

So I guess my big questions are:
1) Can dogs regress that quickly if she is used to being around new people every single day and then she goes a little over a week without being around any new people?
2) Do we start over at square one now with the fear aggression? I'm not sure how to go about this because she is very intimidating and I don't feel good working on this in a public place that is unpredictable with her recent outbursts. When she barks at people she doesn't hold back and it is quite a scene.
3) We are still saving up money to amputate her leg and could her pain be making her feel more vulnerable and putting her in a "I'm gonna get them before they try and get me" type mindset?

I'm really upset about this because her love of people was always something that we could count on. We know she's a dog still and would never be careless about this but she's consistently loved people. Please help! Any suggestion's or advice would be greatly appreciated... We will do whatever it takes to get her through this.

[carmspack]

this dog does not sound safe to take in to public. To express her anal glands shows you the extent of her fear -- that is being terrified for her life scared , and it seems that her response is to lash out in fear aggression. I don't think a dog that is nervous of people "loves people" . Don't put yourself in a position where something awful will happen and you will be liable .
Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

[sparra]

I'm still getting over the fact that you took a GSD to a shoe store
I just can't see that happening in Australia.....you are allowed to take your dogs into stores Christmas shopping??
How do you supervise your dog while trying on shoes??
I live in a remote area and our nearest country town for Christmas shopping is chaotic at this time of year......I think you should just leave her at home....

[Stevenzachsmom]

I have never understood the "take my dog everywhere" attitude. Why? Going to the park, for a run, etc. Good to take the dog. Going in stores, to big noisy festivals, games, etc.? I don't think most dogs would enjoy that. And why can't I enjoy an outing knowing that my dog is happy and safe at home?

I agree that your dog absolutely should not be put in those positions.

[sashadog]

I fully agree that she won't be put in situations like this at least until we can trust her but I think what truly baffles me, and I think I'm having a hard time explaining is that she really does love people! Or did. I work at a local feed store and she goes to work with me and is wonderful with all the people that come in. I have worked in daycares, boarding facilities, and training centers for years and while I'm not a huge training expert, I do know dog behavior very well and am comfortable, and good at, reading dogs. If I had ever seen this type of fear or anxiety before, she would never have been put in this situation. I do know better than to set up my dogs for failure or any type of incident. But we've joked that while people are the most nervous of Sasha because of her breed, she is by far the most human social dog we have.

And to answer the "go with us everywhere" question, this came about mostly out of necessity. When I was growing up the dogs were truly mine as my family were not dog people. We didn't have a fenced in yard and to keep my family from letting them out unattended, which they would do, the dogs got in the habit of just coming with me everywhere. And when I moved out on my own, the roommate situation meant the dogs were better off coming with me. Luckily, we live in an area where this is hardly strange and the dogs have up this point, really loved it.

I do take the blame for this incident and feel terrible for putting her in the situation but... now what? I agree that this is a big deal and needs to be taken as a real sign from her but I need to know where to go from here. Is this trainer worthy? Or something we can handle with super slow desensitization?

[sashadog]

Oh, and they don't go with us place where I feel it would be too stressful for them or for us. This was a quiet local store. She'd been there many times before...

[RebelGSD]

I would engage her in an organized activity that she really enjoys to build self confidence. Maybe agility or tracking? I would back off for some time from introducing her to people in stores to let this incident fade in her memory. And would re-introduce slowly, maybe just walking around cheerfully. I would avoid series introductions with many different people. I would not enjoy either being hugged and petted by 4-5 strangers every time I visit a store. The way you described it, it did not sound like fun, but more like a military exercise :-)

[carmspack]

RebelGSD in case you missed this in the original post "3) We are still saving up money to amputate her leg and could her pain be making her feel more vulnerable and putting her in a "I'm gonna get them before they try and get me" type mindset? "
pretty well precludes agility or tracking .

Why does her leg need to be amputated?

Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

[RebelGSD]

Sorry, missed that one. Yes, the pain can make everyone cranky.
I would just back off with social life then until her health/pain is under better control. She cannot speak for herself but clearly she did not enjoy her last outing. If I were in pain I would not be hugging strangers at the store either.
Btw I did foster a tripod who moved like a cat and was much more agile than most four legged dogs. That is an exception though :-)

[carmspack]

Some things to think about. First you said "Sasha decided that people were scary again. Really scary." and "When we first adopted her (at a year and a half), she definitely had more fear but we've worked really hard to get her through it and she's come a really long way"
So somewhere along the way the "people loving dog" ? " Usually in the past when she gets nervous of a person" , had, has , some issues , which were covered by conditioning her into accepting people and getting a biscuit treat as a reward. But when an animal is stressed it will always revert back to its natural state , which was a fear of people. Something is pressuring this animal into this state whether it be the performance of sit pretty for a treat to amuse onlookers , when whe would rather not, or pain , where she would prefer some distance and rest and privacy , and not be dragged to bustling stores, probably with sensory overload with canned muzak and lots of lighting and high lighting .

" stupid lady probably didn't know any better ) " but you are in a public space . I and others are pretty surprised that your dog was even able to get so much public access . The store has to ensure the safety of its patrons. The patrons of that store are there to buy shoes, not to be dog experts .

"Well it wasn't and Sasha fully lost it, even expressing her anal glands, on every other person that came within 5 feet of us for the rest of the time until I finally did some obedience within view of people to attempt and "end on a good note" and took her home. "
This is the extent of the dogs terror . Instead of quietly going away with some sensitivity to the dogs state she keeps getting exposed to people and she keeps blowing her tanks , and then gets obedience on top of it , being shamed with public watching , when in such a distressed state this is more stress.
I think you are lucky that your dog did not bite you .

Please be sensitive and realistic about your dogs inner workings . She is a fearful dog who tried her best to cope till the last straw broke the camel's back.

Create an area at your home where you can leave her to get some rest . I would not take her out into public and force her to be friendly. I think you will be sorry if you tried .
I think the dog will be what the dog is and was . I think you need to realize this and take measures to ensure that no harm comes to her by her biting someone -- for any reason.

Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs