[DoggyDaddy]

New to the forum & my first post.
I sold a pup at 8 weeks of age socialised & healthy to people I thought would be responsible owners. 3 years later she was returned to me in poor physical condition & as it turns out, in whelp. She has had the pups, all healthy & mentally well adjusted. I have no doubt that she had been badly treated. She is dog aggressive but only big dogs she doesn't worry about our maltese. She needs to be kept separate from our other GSDs, but when there is an eye balling situation they will attempt to fight seriously through the fence. She has nipped the vet & a visitor, not serious bites, but unacceptable & it appeared in hindsight it was more of a game for her than fear bites. She has a high prey drive & full on for a show line GSD & is quite OK with me except over protective. In 4 months I have trained her to CD level, but can't risk having her off lead near other dogs.
Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[selzer]

She is not at CD level if she cannot get through her sits and downs.

The nipping the vet and a visitor however not serious bothers me. You cannot safely rehome this bitch unless you find an experienced working dog person who has no other dogs and is willing to take her on with full disclosure.

Plan b is to keep her and segragate her from the other dogs. She may never be ok with other dogs in her pack. I would not trust her with the maltese when you are not right there. I would not breed her again.

I think you need to provide good consistant leadership, plenty of exercise and training, segregation from your other dogs, a muzzle in public.

If you think the biting is not fear based, then socializing her further will do nothing but possibly get more people bitten.

Manage her first, keep her safe and keep others safe.

Work on her behavior through leadership and training, grow the bond.

It is good that you took her back. She is your responsibility, even if the yayhoos mistreated her. That is really too bad. You have had her four months, that should be long enough for her to be settled, etc. You know you cannot have her off lead near other dogs. There are people who have rehabilitated dog aggressive dogs. I know it is a long and patient road to travel. Good luck.

 

[codmaster]

I would suggest a visit with a good dog behaviorist if you can find and afford one in your area. Find one who has experience with our breed if at all possible, or at least familiar with herding/guard dogs.