OK .... "School is in session."
First to restate the obvious ..."yes there are millions of dogs out there that don't have these "issues" ... so why bother?? I can't speak for others but those dogs are not "my dog??" Sorry ... I don't ascribe to the
"No you can't, No you shouldn't, don't even try philosophie???"
And of course not every dog can be saved, but you know some can. I have one "who is now being described as an "Easy Dog!" >
Yeah, most likely you should have got a "Golden" but you know you did not! That's not a crime ... people do stuff. But a crime would be putting other pets and people at risk becasue of your dogs behaviour! You're trying your best not to do that ... and your problems are being compounded by bad advise!
I'm not a "Dog Trainer" but if I was and a "Client" said to me "well my other dog was like ..." The first thing I would say to them ... "is yeah well get over it,
"this is not your other dog!" I wound up going to the ER for stitches before I learned that lesson! (Pack Fight Thing.) Once I had a uh ... more clear understand of that point... we got it done! So step one ..."forget" the my other dog thing and "deal with the dog in front of you!" Paws on the ground as it were. One of those "Trainers" ... I feel "should have told you that" but ... whatever. Guess that's why I am not a "Dog Trainer" ... poor people skills.
The "good news" is that "despite" the problems your having you are still willing to deal! And your getting bad advise and half answers?? If you did send this dog to a "Competent" board and train ... yep most likely, they could fix him.
ANd a part of the process ... that you have already started ... is they would "Crate Train" your dog and you have "apparently" already accomplished (part of that process.) Except "you" have a "problem" the dog won't settle in the "Crate???" Most likely they would use an "E-Collar" and a "high level correction???" I don't know but for them time is money and they don't have a lot of time to screw around.
You will go in the "Crate" and be "quiet" dog ... or "there will be consequences!" Right now there are no "consequences" for the dog "acting a fool" in the crate" and he carries that behaviour over the car! "Someone" should have told you that ... but they didn't!
No matter ...now you know, and I'm not really big on a lot of tools and stuff. If you have a "Plastic Crate??" You can tie a rope long enough for you to go out of the immediate area! If/when you "hear" the dog starting to act like a "tool??" Yank the crap on the rope and say "NO!!" Repeat as necessary! A "voice of God" correction ...where did that ... come from ... "I best settle down in here!" I have no idea how long that takes ... so if you give it shot ... "let me know." But getting that done first ... will let your dog know ..."that things have changed!"
Moving on ... this is a full on "Bubble Dog Protocol" a term thrown at some of us a few years back .. I suppose it was meant as an insult but I liked and kept it.
But defined (by me) ... "it means a dog that has to be muzzled to be safe in public." How long that takes ... I cans say as I paid no attention to "time" when I was doing it?? But I'd "walk my dog" and find "people for him to ignore." For awhile ... he went behind me and I would answer questions about what, why and how?? Eventually I noticed he seemed/looked to be "pretty bored" with the whole process ... "kinda like sigh ... this old bit again??"
Having people "pet him" was not my goal ..having him be "civil" was! And once I better understood "what he looked like" when not under stress ... "I dropped the use of the muzzle!"
And as was pointed out to me "finally" a part of that "process" that I paid no attention to (because it was not a problem I have) is that you "must" be able to walk your dog on a "loose leash" first! And that is best done in a distraction free environment! "show then what you want and how you expect them to behave!" You can't "fairly correct a dog" for not doing something they don't understand???
And the core principle of the "Bubble Dog Protocol" is
"don't make your dog's problems ... someone else's problem!" It's a "Zero Bite" policy ... not dogs or people! So your first post and the car thing ...yeah that was a "fail" on your part! You already knew your dog ... has "issues" the windows should not have been down far enough for him to get his head and become threat to others ... so yeah ..."don't do that again.
Extreme vigilance is required for a time. The goal is that "extreme measures" are not for a lifetime?? If you do your part .. your dog will get it! Cause you know ... sometimes "crap" happens??? And the best "preparation" for the unexpected ... is a well trained dog!!
So ... finally ... all of that said ... the rest is here. :
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/8006017-post7.html
Oh and just so you know ... your dog is apparently already "Crate Trained??" So ...your one up on me! Had I used a "Crate" out the gate with my first "OS Wl GSD" most likely ... those "five pack fights" would not have happened ... I'd not have gotten the first stitches in my life, and I'd not have a permanently bent little finger from try to pry "Rocky's" jaws from the back of Gunthers neck! That felt like having my fingers trapped in a "Red Hot Vise!"
And "Rocky" would never have sent a cold shiver up my spine when he greeted from (Place ...as it happened) company with a "Cold Hard Stare and a Low Growl???? Aww well "Good Times, Good Times. Yes ... most definitely ..."Not like my other dogs???"
So as you can see dealing with a dog that is uh not the norm ... is something to be taken very seriously! And not "everyone" can do it! And some say ..."why bother??" That's not my call to make?? But for those who chose to ... I point out what I did and, that include both what I got right and what I got wrong. Your call on as to how to proceed ... "Welcome Aboard" and sorry thus far it's been a bumpy road.