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Bit of backstory. We have a nearly 7 year old male (came from a puppy farm), neutered GSD. Has been in obedience since 6 months of age and doing agility since he was nearly 2. We haven't been able to get to an obedience class for the last year or so but have tried to work him at home.
He is very, very clever, will pick up tricks and exercises in minutes and does well for a GSD in agility - speedy and listens!!
He has always been 'grumpy' with other dogs so we have always been very aware and on top of him, although he was able to work offlead with other dogs around we wouldn't ever actually let him off lead just running just in case.
We have a 4.5 year old GSD bitch who he is 100% fine with, they play, run around and generally spend most of the day together. We also now have a 1 year old male (entire) who we have had since a pup, generally they are fine with each other - we have had a couple of incidents were pup has gotten out of line and Os (older one) has told him off (growling, putting mouth on neck/snout) but done no harm.
Os has been getting worse and worse will other dogs over the last year or so and will charge at them (growling) and make body contact which sounds and looks horrific but all he does is leave slober behind. This is obviously not acceptable at all so we have stepped up being more vigilant and checking every situation before we let him off lead.
Recently at agility classes and trials he has gotten worse and we have put him in a DAP collar and also using a homeopathic remedy to see if either help. Last night he also growled and snapped at a friend of ours who came over (during an agility lesson) to say hello - no contact was made but he was pretty obviously telling her to back off even though he has known her for years.
We had a complete (everything) thyroid panel done a month or so ago which came back fine and he has no obvious pain or physical problems.
Basically I am at my wits end and I just don't know what to do next. We would never rehome him, despite all this, as he is our problem but I don't know what else to do. I am toying with the idea of retiring him 100% from agility although I think this would turn him stir crazy as he really needs a job. Also, if he starts being agressive to people then I hate to think that I may have to have him pts.
Any thoughts, exercises, comments etc would be really appreciated.
He is very, very clever, will pick up tricks and exercises in minutes and does well for a GSD in agility - speedy and listens!!
He has always been 'grumpy' with other dogs so we have always been very aware and on top of him, although he was able to work offlead with other dogs around we wouldn't ever actually let him off lead just running just in case.
We have a 4.5 year old GSD bitch who he is 100% fine with, they play, run around and generally spend most of the day together. We also now have a 1 year old male (entire) who we have had since a pup, generally they are fine with each other - we have had a couple of incidents were pup has gotten out of line and Os (older one) has told him off (growling, putting mouth on neck/snout) but done no harm.
Os has been getting worse and worse will other dogs over the last year or so and will charge at them (growling) and make body contact which sounds and looks horrific but all he does is leave slober behind. This is obviously not acceptable at all so we have stepped up being more vigilant and checking every situation before we let him off lead.
Recently at agility classes and trials he has gotten worse and we have put him in a DAP collar and also using a homeopathic remedy to see if either help. Last night he also growled and snapped at a friend of ours who came over (during an agility lesson) to say hello - no contact was made but he was pretty obviously telling her to back off even though he has known her for years.
We had a complete (everything) thyroid panel done a month or so ago which came back fine and he has no obvious pain or physical problems.
Basically I am at my wits end and I just don't know what to do next. We would never rehome him, despite all this, as he is our problem but I don't know what else to do. I am toying with the idea of retiring him 100% from agility although I think this would turn him stir crazy as he really needs a job. Also, if he starts being agressive to people then I hate to think that I may have to have him pts.
Any thoughts, exercises, comments etc would be really appreciated.