My 17 month old female GSD has always been protective of my property and us. She goes crazy if someone rings the doorbell, so I put her outside when I need to let someone in she doesn't know. On walks she is fine unless someone starts walking up to us to talk ,then she starts growling at them.

I have noticed that when my 6 year old granddaughter comes over on the week end, she is extra protective of her. She gets very upset, if on our walks together, my granddaugter gets too far ahead of us. She starts jumping and growling at anyone who comes within 5 feet of her (which she doesn't do if it is just me and my husband). She has never been a friendly dog to strangers, but lets anyone in the house she knows and is friendly and wants to play with them.

This weekend a neighbor rang the door bell and my granddaughter ran to the door and opened it. My dog jump on this poor old guy and nipped him under the arm. Because his old skin was kind of hanging in that area, you could see both her upper and lower teeth marks about 4 or 5 teeth from the upper and lowers, but no blood. She jumped on him twice and I could see that her teeth were nipping before I told her to get back in the house. It all happened so fast.

I am extremely upset about this. I had a very long talk with my granddaughter about opening a door for anyone, but it was a talk too late.

I need some training advice. I don't what this to happen again.

Anna

Anna,
What kind of back ground do you have with dogs?

The short answer to your problem is: OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB OB.

And more OB.
(translation, ob = obedience)

There are various ways to go about this exercise, so hang around. And the search engine is your friend.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

Not much experience with dogs. The only other dog I had was a GSD, but she grew up in our retail store starting from 3 months old. She walked around the store with customers and 30 employees going in and out all day, 7 days a week. Never any aggression problems.

My husband grew up with GSD's because his grandmother was a breeder for years and years. He is a very good dog trainer. After our GSD died at 15 in 2005, I couldn't get another dog for a while. I got our new GSD last year for my husband's birthday. Then our business got real busy, he is gone most of the day and I am with the dog all day. I can do regular training and she is very smart and listen really well to basic commands, but when it comes to this kind of stuff, I am lost. She is the second dog I have ever had and is much different than my other dog.

Sounds more 'possessive' than 'protective' to me. I would start with the free stuff here: Groundwork Article and purchase this: Establishing Pack Structure DVD

You know, there is something I am not saying here. I have purchased the Puppy video, when she was a puppy. I purchased the Dog Training Video and the Marker Training video. They all worked great! I always thought she was aggressive at times and was always afraid to purchase the Dog Aggression video because I was afraid I would be told she would need an electric coller or something like that. I don't think I could do it....my husband, yes, but not me. Maybe I have some crazy idea in my head about these kinds of things that I think would hurt my dog.

Thanks Kristel, I will look into what you are suggesting.

Hello again Anna,
Okay, thanks for not dropping out.
The thing about possessive/territorial/aggressive dogs is that they need to learn. Sometimes they need to be reminded what side the bread is buttered on. Sometimes it's our fault in the way they were brought up, and sometimes they are just what they are. But what ever the reason, they have to be physically reminded who is in charge,

You won't find many here who still espouse the straight ahead physical draconian measures of yesteryear, and you'll find some that are positive only, but most have good results have a combination of the two major disciplines.

Meaning to say, once you're sure the dog understands what you want (in the words of Micheal or Dennis) a twoxfour up the side of the head may be order, after all you can't have your dog biting everyone coming to the front door.

Okay?
Now for the hurt you're worried about. While the dog knows it comes from you, it is ALWAYS fair and almost disconnected from you. The dog KNOWS what you commanded.....he disobeyed.....oops.
Rather like the child who just had to touch that hot pan. No child, don't. See.....uah you got burnt, next time listen to me.
All is forgive, the mistake was theirs not yours.

Does that make any sense?

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

I did the reading you suggested and noticed a video on an aggressive dog collar that Ed showed. I am going to get one of those from him. I do notice than when I am walking my dog and someone comes near and she starts growling or trying to jump, I am too weak to control her properly. Since I haven't been able to give a good correction at the time it is happening, she thinks this is ok to do. I am going to try this collar for training her on walks and when the door bell rings.

Thanks again.

Yes Randy, it makes perfect sense. I am going to try the aggressive collar and see how that works. If we need something more, then for the dogs sake, so be it. Thank you so much for your imput, I really appreciate it.

the good news is its easier to train a GSD than it is a kindergartner

Myself, I prefer the pinch collar (aka prong) with the dominate collar as a back up to start.
I only use the dominate collar with handler aggression or under other most dire curcumstances.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.

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