[VadersMom]

I got my first shepherd from craigslist. It was a woman who got 2 shepherd puppies from what sounded like a backyard breeder deal and was trying to find them new homes as she said "my kids dont like them."

i took the boy, very sweet. Kind of timid and shy around people, ducks if you raise your voice to him, i dont know if she hit him or not. He is about 5 months old, most of his teeth are still his puppy teeth.

when he sees other dogs, his hackles go up and he barks HARSHLY, pulling at the leash - definitely on the offense!

what can i do to help him stop this!?

 

[Fodder]

how long have you had him?

 

[Fodder]

when i adopted my boy (just under 10mo) he was very sweet, gentle and timid the first 2 days. he got along with my older female immediately and even a couple of the neighbors dogs. after that for about 2 weeks he was uncontrolable and would bark, lunge, and raise his hackles at other dogs... a few shepherd people that i talked to suggested that i was doing too much too soon and the fact that he didnt know me or his new environment - he had no trust. so what appears as an offensive reaction, is actually their defensiveness against the world until they are more sure of themselves.

i started from scratch by hand feeding him all of his meals for the first month, no intense training or punishments. i walked him during times that we were least likely to run into all the neighbors and their dogs, and if we did, i'd just let him observe the other dogs from a distance, then gradually work from there.

i noticed that he got alot of his confidence from my older female and during times that i'd walk him alone he would revert back to his old behavior, so in your situation, it could be the separation from his sister is also throwing him for a loop.

 

[zyppi]

maybe this will help.
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/onldagg.html

 

[VadersMom]

Originally Posted By: Camerafodderhow long have you had him?

about a week and a half.

i havent tried to push his limits too far. its all interaction with neighbors dogs as they are being walked as well. since he is so young and we dont have a private yard, he is out about every hour or so for potty training, running to everyone all the time. its the point where if he hears keys rattling and he might think they are dog tags he starts to growl!

thanks for the link!

 

[Fodder]

bump

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

On leash aggression.... help!

On leash aggression is a common problem. The following sites have excellent suggestions and help (just scroll down past the barn fire stuff):

http://www.flyingdogpress.com/onldagg.html

and all the others on http://www.flyingdogpress.com/articles.html have information that I'd bet you'd get alot from.

Keep in mind it looks like he's on the offensive and protecting you, but what is actually happening is he's afraid. So it's an entirely different situation.