HELP! Recent aggression?

[Ems919]

okay my dog isn't a pure breed shepherd. He's a rescue dog I found when I was helping clean up after tornadoes came through Alabama. He's a shepherd/husky/lab mix according to the vet, his guess was that he was about 6/8 months when I found him and that was almost 2 years ago... He has ALWAYS been a happy, loving, playful dog! The only person he ever growled at was my step dad which was in a completely protective way. He did bite him but it was to protect me because he got to close to me and jack didn't like it. (My step dad is now spending 25 years in prison so it was warranted.) anyways a few months ago if anyone approached him while he was eating he would growl and be aggressive (we have an inside dog and if you opened the door the small dog would come to it doin didn't think much of it) .. Now it's sporadic. It can happen at anytime but mainly with me! It's happened once with my cousin but never a stranger. His hair stands up and he starts growling. He LOVES car rides so I took him on a trip and he acted fine until I stopped to get gas on the way home and I went to pet him before I got in the car and he bit me... Not enough to break the skin but enough to bruise me... I can just look at him and he starts growling... I don't know what to do... I absolutely LOVE this dog but if he continues this I can't keep him... Any and all advice is appreciated.

*this dog has rarely ever had to be gotten on to, he's very well mannered and sits and lays down through silent gestures I make different signals with my hands and he obeys, if he's excited I'll have to use verbal but rarely... Also I'm sure he used to be a house dog and was fine in the house until I moved as he has a back yard to play in and I didn't want him cooped up all day but I moved a year ago so that's not a recent change.. This dog has even literally saved my life twice... I don't want to get rid of him but if he bites I can't trust him.

[jocoyn]

Step number one. Has he seen a vet to rule out medical issues?

[Ems919]

Originally Posted by jocoyn

Step number one. Has he seen a vet to rule out medical issues?

No honestly I haven't had the money lately due to my mom and grandmother being in and out of the hospital and I had to pick up their bills. I just wanted to know if this was a common thing and anyone had any ideas on how to help. I've been told to just get rid of him and I flipped out. I should also add that when he is aggressive I can just call his name or go to pet him and it triggers it and if I stay facing him or keep talking to him it makes it worse... I rarely raise my voice and when I do he stops for a second and then starts up again until I back off and get away from him.

[Stevenzachsmom]

No, this is not common. I agree with a vet visit. His thyroid should be checked. Possible medical issues are suspected when there is sudden aggression. If he is found to be healthy, you need to see a behaviorist.

[sit,stay]

How much freedom does this dog have? How much sustained interaction with people (how does he spend most of his time?) and what training have you done with him.

It sounds to me that in the absence of a health issue, he is a young dog that has matured, might be spending a lot of time doing his own thing and is feeling like he has the ability to set the rules.
Sheilah

[Ems919]

He spends most of his time outside on his own, the kids play with him after school most days but not consistently, I see him every night before I go to bed but I work 16 hours a day 7 days a week due to my family's health issues and I'm the only one old enough and available to work. So that very well could be it but I have no idea how to re-establish dominance!! I have a vet appt set up in a week but I'm dreading it because he's going to have to literally come to work with me all day so I can take him during lunch.. Not that it'll be a problem because he loves my patients, they're new to him and he loves strangers but he's going to be a handful with me.

[Ems919]

Originally Posted by sit,stay

How much freedom does this dog have? How much sustained interaction with people (how does he spend most of his time?) and what training have you done with him.

It sounds to me that in the absence of a health issue, he is a young dog that has matured, might be spending a lot of time doing his own thing and is feeling like he has the ability to set the rules.
Sheilah

Training I haven't had to do much at all very little when I first took him home. He house trained and when he needs to go outside he rings a bell!! He's a brilliant dog, and he still minds even when he's being aggressive!'n that's the crazy part! When he's growling at me if I give him the signal to sit or lay down he will but he never stops growling and when I go to pet him he stands back up and growls and that's when he may snap at me... He could've bitten me multiple times but instead he snaps at or around my hand. Like I said he actually bit me lightly the other day but it was also dark... Idk

[LoveEcho]

Originally Posted by Ems919

Training I haven't had to do much at all very little when I first took him home. He house trained and when he needs to go outside he rings a bell!! He's a brilliant dog, and he still minds even when he's being aggressive!'n that's the crazy part! When he's growling at me if I give him the signal to sit or lay down he will but he never stops growling and when I go to pet him he stands back up and growls and that's when he may snap at me... He could've bitten me multiple times but instead he snaps at or around my hand. Like I said he actually bit me lightly the other day but it was also dark... Idk

After ruling out medical causes....

How smart he is wasn't the question. The question was how much do you train with him... training isn't about teaching the dog things, it's about engaging the dog, working his brain (which is even more important than working his body), establishing a bond, establishing rules, and establishing that you're in charge. It sounds like you need to seriously, seriously up the training. Reiterating the fact that you're in charge is done through training, boundaries, and NILIF. He gets ANYTHING from you, including stepping out a door, getting food, etc, he must work for it. Crate him, and keep it very structured for a while. When he's not crated, he is with you at all times. No freedom, for a while. Work on obedience for half an hour or so twice a day. No couch, no bed, if he's allowed currently.

Playing with the kids after school is not enough stimulation for a working breed. He is seriously underexercised, understimulated, and bored. This leads to insecurity. A more dominant dog will see this lack of structure as him ruling the roost and cause him to act accordingly. A less confident dog will see this lack of structure as uncertainty where he fits in the pecking order, and cause him to act out. For starters, he should not be outside alone every day, at least for a while-- again, structure. Crate him except for designated times. Depending on how old your children are, do NOT let them be unsupervised with him if he is behaving unpredictably. If they're older, involve them in his training and exercise.