Hi everyone, I'd like your take on this event. I have a much younger brother *teenager 15* and a 1 year old GSD. Anytime my brother and I would wrestle my gsd barks and would nip at my brother until we stopped. Well tonight we got in an arguement and a heated wrestling match. The dog was in the garage *door was not all the way shut*. He came in and nipped my brother after barking at him and broke the skin a little bit. When around other people my Dog is very friendly and does not act agrresive. Obviously this is very dangerous behavior and can't be accepted. Was this defensive drive or?

I need some advice please or input other than not rough housing. That will defiently not be happening when my dog is around.

You actually have 2 teenagers, the dog & the brother. Both have raging hormones & are at the gawky stage. Your pup probably was a little freaked out because you were having a heated argument. The second your pup started barking at your brother you need to stop whatever you are doing & correct the dog. He has to respect all members of your household, but remember, it is you who needs to correct him, not your brother. I also suggest you start crating your dog.

Yes I do have 2 teenagers. The dog has been neutered for a few months now. I also crate him when I am not home or can't attend to him. What does this say about his temperment? I've always known him to be VERY attached to me, alert, and friendly to people. As soon as it happened it was over. Jordan acted as if nothing had happened with my brother and was again friendly. Other than sternly correcting him if he barks at someone in the family would it be a good idea to have my brother do obedience exercises and walk him? If someone physically put there hands on me he acts this way. Is this weak nerves? Should I be concerned about starting bite work with this dog?

My brother is no stranger to dogs. Grown up with dogs and is on his 2nd 4-H project. Raising seeing eye dogs.

 Quote: marc layman

Well tonight we got in an arguement and a heated wrestling match.

Hi Marc,
Not that I can give you any advice, but this is what I am "reading"...your dog knew that this was a different situation with your brother (by being heated) and took action to "defend" or "protect" you.
If the dog "senses" you are in "trouble" then they will act differently and you need to be the pack leader if this is inappropriate behavior.
Since the dog has displayed this behavior before but not actually bitten, it could be that the dog has been "building his confidence up" and finally took the opportunity to try it. What was the dogs body posture? Are you training the dog for a specific purpose? What did you do after it happend?
Susan is correct in that you need to correct the dog for that type of behavior towards household members. Until you have good, reliable control, make sure the dog is crated or secured when there are people in the house that the dog thinks he can "be above" and this goes for family and visitors.
My Bloodhound has to go in a crate when visitors are here because he is very watchful of me. He works wonderfully but at home he is protective and very aloof.

Thanks for the response. I don't know what his body posture was, I was not able to see him from the floor. I should have corrected him but I did not. By the time I got up and figured out what happened I felt too much time had passed for it to mean anything to the dog. Though I should have corrected him. I want to start schutzhund with this dog, but do not know if that would only worsen this problem. Normally when we walk and he alerts me to what he thinks is a threat I correct him, unless I really don't want that person coming near us. I make the call as far as yes or no to him barking on lead if he is alerted. I have been out at night where he was a blessing to have with me. I do crate him if we have visitors unless I know they are dog people and want him to be out. He is very well mannered unless he percieves me to be threated. We socialized very heavily from 4 months to 10 months. 5+ days a week. Everything from parks, work, pet stores, shopping centers, dog parks. Does anyone think he should do schutzhund or should not. If not why? If so why?

Marc,

I'm not so sure that it's okay to allow him to bark on lead only at certain people he gets keyed up on. I think it would be better to correct him for doing that to any person unless you gave him the go ahead in the first place. You may be confusing the dog by allowing him to act that way towards certain people. Just my two cents in the matter, not sure if it's right or wrong but it is what I would do.

Also, bring your dog to a local club to get evaluated for schutzhund training.

Kimberly

Kim,

Thanks for the advice. I do try to do that. If I let him bark *and very rarely* he barks a few times to make his point and then I tell him Shhht! meaning enough time to move on. I've tried to be very careful in not putting him in situtions where he is stressed unfortuently tonight was not one of those. I am plaining on going to a local club. If he's not good for schutzhund we'll considering other training like competition heelings and SAR tracking. Schutzhund would be a lot of fun, he seems to have a decent amount of prey drive. I guess the only way to see if he has weak nerves or no defenisve drive is to have aan evaluation done.

Marc, your dog was simply protecting you, it does not matter who it was, your brother, uncle ect... To a dog if the pack leader is being attacked or threatened that is what your dog is going to do , protect it's pack leader or pack member.SImple, nothing wrong IMO.And if you decide to do schutzhund with this dog , it won't change a thing , it certainly won't make him more aggressive.If anything Schutzhund will make your dog think more clearly with good training.
http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/cadogancna/

Angelique-

That is an interesting statement you made about what the rest of the pack does if the pack leader is attacked.

I have been told and read over and over the pack leader says when to eat, when to sleep, when to do your business....and when it is OK to fight. So in this situation if the dog recognized Marc as the pack leader should he have waited to be invited to defend his leader? Would an alpha dog command protection from his pack should he not be able to handle the threat alone.....I always have wondered about this? Anyone?