Greetings,
I'ev got a small (large?) problem I was hopnig I could get some insight on. I've got a GSD that will be 4 years old in May. He is a wonderful, loving, dog that has been an invaluable companion to me and my wife through the years. On the down side though, he seems to have...for lack of a better way of putting it..multiple personalities. He will sometimes get incredibly aggressive and even attack my wife. He will never do it with me.
I think he respects me but does not entirely respect her. It might have something to do with the fact I was the one who took him to all his training classes when he was younger. He is very territorial (of course) and has claimed his own spot on the bed. We have a large bed, so it's not a huge problem. Sometimes though, he'll lay on her pillow and when it's bed time, he won't get up unless I yell at him too. If she approaches he'll growl and he has snapped and bit her before. Also, if he takes something he's not supposed to, he won't let her near him to take it away. He'll snap at her. If I try to take it away, he'll let me without any problems.
Is there anything I can do about this? Is 4 years old too late to even train this dog? He's a wonderful dog and I could never imagine life without him. However, this is a problem I have ignored (to my error) and I figured I'd pursue trying to get some insight. His name is Diego BTW, a smaller GSD, weighing only about 85 lbs.
We just moved too and he's been stuck in the house a lot lately (although this problem existed before the move). We are in the process of building a fence (or will be in May) so he can have his own place to run.
Thanks,
James
I'ev got a small (large?) problem I was hopnig I could get some insight on. I've got a GSD that will be 4 years old in May. He is a wonderful, loving, dog that has been an invaluable companion to me and my wife through the years. On the down side though, he seems to have...for lack of a better way of putting it..multiple personalities. He will sometimes get incredibly aggressive and even attack my wife. He will never do it with me.
I think he respects me but does not entirely respect her. It might have something to do with the fact I was the one who took him to all his training classes when he was younger. He is very territorial (of course) and has claimed his own spot on the bed. We have a large bed, so it's not a huge problem. Sometimes though, he'll lay on her pillow and when it's bed time, he won't get up unless I yell at him too. If she approaches he'll growl and he has snapped and bit her before. Also, if he takes something he's not supposed to, he won't let her near him to take it away. He'll snap at her. If I try to take it away, he'll let me without any problems.
Is there anything I can do about this? Is 4 years old too late to even train this dog? He's a wonderful dog and I could never imagine life without him. However, this is a problem I have ignored (to my error) and I figured I'd pursue trying to get some insight. His name is Diego BTW, a smaller GSD, weighing only about 85 lbs.
We just moved too and he's been stuck in the house a lot lately (although this problem existed before the move). We are in the process of building a fence (or will be in May) so he can have his own place to run.
Thanks,
James