Hi i know my gsd mix is dominant with other dogs. he is always putting his head over their shoulders, ears up, tail up, eyes narrow, etc and always humping, taking toys off them, always trying to be first being pet. he was like this with my exs dog and my dads bitch.

And he is castrated. He also is very big on scenting and marking, peeing and scratching everywhere we go.

He is not aggressive towards me at all, but he gives me the impression that he thinks he is in charge.

is their any smaller signs i could be missing?
He stares at me alot, im inside and he outside and he is just staring at me trying to make eye contact, rather unnerving really. he looks confident, eyes forward, tail up, looking "big"?

I am aware that dominance is highly over rated like.

But he is also nervous aggressive, as far as i no, but im starting to wonder if he has any dominant aggression in their aswell.

When people come over he will bark and growl at them, standing in the doorway and wont let them in, and once they in wont let them move, he doesnt look scared when doing this, as his ears forward and tail up etc And if someone goes to touch him he puts his ears back and eyes widen a little bit and he snaps with no warning at all. which i find alarming on its own.

I went to town with him yesterday to take him to the vets, and i was an hour early into town as it was only bus available. Anyway as it was market day and swarming with people i took him to my friends shop, to kill time.

I had put his muzzle on by this time of course, but literally as soon as we got in the shop he started.

my friend is a dog person and was bending down and offered him a treat and tried to pet him and he lunged at him repeatedly with no warning. he was alert, ears slightly back, eyes narrowed. Then he lunged at a customer near by, then when we got to the vets he lunged at the vet. he gives no warning.

I have had him a year now. Still have him from an old relationship, from which we got him then.

Went halfway accross the country to fetch this lovable puppy, a friendly family pet. She waited till we took him away then told us he was nervous aggressive and said not to bring him back to her or she will kill him.

So when with my partner we thought we could handle him, actually didnt see alot wrong with him, he either likes you or he does'nt.
When people came round we put him in the kitchen with other dog, We couldnt rehome him or afford a trainer. (before we honestly didnt believe we needed one as we expected a lap dog really).

Then i split up with my partner, And moved to my parents house, he is fine with my family etc, never had people round so didnt see a problem plus still couldnt afford training as i was on benifits from the lack of job from moving etc. but i didnt think it really mattered, we didnt see anyone.

Anyway i met with my dad who i hardily ever see, and went to his home, he loved my family their, but he started becoming aggressive as described above to new people he didnt like. he got on with alot of people, (you just have to let him come to you). But he was dangerous to those he didnt.

I decided then (which was around a month ago) that i would either rehome to an experienced dog owner who had experience with nervous aggressive dogs or save for lessons, whatever happened first really.

Anyway i will hold my hands up that rehoming was NOT a good idea whatsoever. STUPID beyond belief even!

Anyway a yound couple came forward assuring me down right that they would take him to a trainer and they had experience etc but within three weeks he is back again, they were just time wasters.

Anyway that was thursday night..........And after yesterday im a bit weary about what action to take. i can't out right afford a trainer right now so im asking for advice so if i come accross this situation in the mean time im at least prepared for it.

I was very worried yesterday as he is a big dog and im 5 ft 1 and i was stuggling to hold him, i didnt no what to do in that position, apart from tell him off but it will probably make things worse.

I want to no what im dealing with, or have at least some idea in the mean time, wheather he thinks im boss, which will make commanding him easyer. lol and what action to take.

Sorry this is so long but i just want to make sure you have everything.

I no i have been stupid not to take action sooner, so please be gentle.....

Hi Sarah
I believe the Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet can be of great benefit to you. Also, it will educate you in what to look for in a trainer as you progress into obedience with your pup.

http://www.leerburg.com/308.htm

I know it seems overwheming going thru all this with your pup, but step by step you can work to help him get balanced.

It certainly looks like it would help, moneys tight, so may have to save for it.

Do you no anything about ceaser millan aswell, i saw his book in the store, looked interesting, was in my price range?

Or is it a waste of money do you think.

Oh yes i remember what i was going to say, would a prong collar or dominance collar be suitable for this type of situation? to give me more control over him

I love Cesar! No way a waste of money there.

I own his first book and have read the 2nd. I believe his books give a great overview and are filled with excellent information...they compliment Ed's video perfectly.

Ed is incredibly succient in describing pack structure in the video. Given your post, it's the first thing that came to my mind because IMO, every issue you are describing can be addressed with proper pack structure.

 Quote: Michele McAtee

I love Cesar! No way a waste of money there.

I own his first book and have read the 2nd. I believe his books give a great overview and are filled with excellent information...they compliment Ed's video perfectly.

Ed is incredibly succient in describing pack structure in the video. Given your post, it's the first thing that came to my mind because IMO, every issue you are describing can be addressed with proper pack structure.

I agree 100%.

I would listen to the Groundwork podcast, order the Pack Structure video, and get CM's book (Be the Pack Leader) later, when you have more money.

I say it in that order because, like Michelle, I think that you will see immediate steps to take in the videos (and in the podcast).

http://leerburg.com/dogtrainingpodcasts.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/301.htm

And I would also start *today* reading the Dominant Dog articles and listening to the poscasts. You can make changes *today.*

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I am aware that dominance is highly over rated like.

I don't quite understand this statement What do you mean dominance is over rated? Dominance in a dog the way you are describing is not something to shrug shoulders at. Maybe I misunderstood ..

 Quote:

little bit and he snaps with no warning at all. which i find alarming on its own.

You contradict yourself a little bit. You state his body language and then say he gives no warning. Dogs can't talk.. body language is there warning. Ears, eyes, tail, body position, these are all warnings.

You say he is nervous aggressive.. that is generally referred to as fear aggression.

Fear aggressive dogs act afraid.. that is what makes it fear aggression. Your boy sounds territorial and dominant, not necessarily afraid but it is difficult to tell over the internet and not being able to see the dog.

Dogs that are fear biters from actual fear and weak nerves are in general very unstable and erratic seeming dogs, these are dogs that have learned that outward aggression allows them to flee/makes the bad scary things go away. They do still show fear though, in the ears, eyes, and tail.

Example being he would be cornered with no escape and people are coming at him and he is terrified and because he cannot flee his last option is to lash out and when he does his "attackers" back off and leave him alone. So he has learned that aggression gets him peace/left alone. But these dogs are very touchy and you would notice this behavior a lot more often than just with strangers.

I recommend the Dealing With Dominant and Aggressive Dogs DVD: http://www.leerburg.com/301.htm
and the Pack Structure DVD http://www.leerburg.com/308.htm

Sarah, you may want to try your local library for books, too. They are free, there.

Also, Lee is really interesting to listen to on the podcasts, even if you read the ebooks, you take away a lot more from the free podcasts.

Good luck.

I meant by over rated being people seem to use the term incorrectly to describe there dogs. i didnt want to use the term if it wasnt true.

Sort of thing, when people have problems they jump to this, my dogs dominant..........

And he doesnt warn asing, growling, he wont growl first, he growls to stop you from moving but not before he snaps at you. so for example, my brother brings a friend round on the garden when the dog is out for some strange reason or another, they cant see these signs to back off and he lunges, no growl first, just lunge. without a muzzle.

Hi Sarah, Did you say you had him a year? GSDs normally don't mature until around three years old. He may still be doing some puppy behaviors. Some people are quick to put a label on a dog's personality and then it seems to stick for life (such as nervous aggressive). Only an experienced dog behavorist can diagnose exactly what aggressive classification he has after seeing your dog. Is he biting the other dogs? Does he respond to the calming signals they are giving and so on.

Ceaser Milan's book are good about becoming a pack leader, and you may also want to take a look at "Agression in Dogs - Practical Management, Prevention & Behavior Modification" by Brenda Aloff.

Check with your local or state library, many of them carry these books. Good luck!

Sandy

And im in the library alot but it seems the only way you can get a good book is if you order it first, i will see if i can order, ceasers books