Hi, I am new to this site so I hope I've posted this question properly...
We have a 3 1/2 year old neutered male German Shepherd with german bloodlines. He is a wonderful dog, he loves people and especially children, a great guard dog but a bit stubborn at times.
Within the last year he has growled at my husband 4 times. This only occurs at night before bedtime; I will explain the circumstances..
Once when my husband walked towards him to bring up the beanbag he was laying on and said simply "bedtime".
Once when the dog was already upstairs with me on the bed and my husband came upstairs to get into bed. (he doesn't sleep on the bed with us ).
Once when (and I usually help him) we were all going upstairs to bed and my husband went to help him up the stairs. (We live in a chalet with a loft style bedroom, the stairs are open at the back and the dog is uneasy about them).
And last night when the dog was on the couch and we were getting ready for bedtime and my husband went to move a pillow which had fallen over on his head.
During all these times, my husband never approached him menacingly and always spoke to him in a gentle voice.
And during all of these times the dog has growled in a low guttural sound, at which point my husband would just stand there dumbfounded or walk away and I would come over and in a firm voice tell the dog to sit and then lay down and he would obey.
There seems to be no logic to this or any justification for the dog's behaviour. He was not being punished or corrected for anything.
I should mention if it makes a difference that I work from home so I am with the dog all day, he gets alot of exercise and attention and when my husband is home he will walk him or play with him, and the dog will obey both of us equally except for the usual stubborness. This dog is very much loved and it's apparent he doesn't like to be apart from us unlike the 3 year old female border collie we have who is much more independent.
If anyone has any insight into this behaviour, I would like to know why he is doing this occasional growling at my husband because we both find it very upsetting and my husband would never want to put himself in a position where he would try to correct the dog and have the dog react even more aggresively towards him. We can't afford a professional trainer so I hope that someone out there can help.
Thanks. Joan Barrett

Joan, you might want to read Ed's article on dominant problem, look like you are doing everything by the book to allow this dog to get this way.
Good luck.

Khoi by the book, I agree they are doing everything that the trainers ask people not to do.

Such as letting the dog on the furniture, let the dog on lay on the bed, let the dog growl at anybody (unless a unwanted stranger approaches) without a reprimand or a distraction.

Joan I'm not an expert, but when my 1.8-3 yrs old GSD male use to growled at me, (it sorta normal at this age), I would tell him "No"! Then sit/down him, let a couple second past then praise him for the sit/down. By petting his sides watch his reactions if he gets playful contiune the petting and even play fecth/tug. I also used light leash correction throughout his training, so he was use to it, and it never esclated to a fight. I also never allowed him on the furniture, the only evidence that he may have been on the couch was dog hairs. I never saw him on the furniture.

If he still uneasy, leave him in the sit or down and walk away away from him but stay close enough that you can verbally keep him in position.

If he breaks the position, place him back in position with verbal command, after a short time release him send him outside or in his crate but don't lock/close the cage. He just need some time to reflect.

The above will work if the dogs OB is fair to good, if not. I'd start working on OB, and the one finger up or anything to get his attention but not threaten him, say firmly "No!". The dog needs to know that this is not an acceptable action. But you need to help him, I'd stop him from sittng on the furniture and bed, I'd stop him from sleeping in your bed room (he can sleep just outside the door).

Because I scene that you are not a trainer I don't reccommend a leash correction or any hands on disclipine. I'd just use toys and things he likes to get him to obey. Like if he sitting on the couch and you want him off, get his favorite toy and throw it in the air, call his name. Play fetch or tug with him then, throw it in his crate when he goes in close the crate. Distract him and give him something to do that he likes better then sitting on the couch. For the bedroom just keep your door closed and start making him sit or down outside the door. If he gets in and jumps on the bed just leave the room and call his name to follow.

If you read the dominant dog titles, alway position yourself to win mentally. Support each other in this effort, let the husband try this, but if the dog doesn't react to him, you call him too. As the dog respond let your husband do the fetching and eventual guiding to the right spot. But be always there to support. As you get to know the dog you can see how he respond to light leash corrections, while Ob training. Before you try this work his Ob up to the point he can do a 1-2 minute down stay. If his OB already there then start the positioning and distraction training.

We are trying to show the dog whats acceptable and that we are Alpha without fighting him for it. Try to do this with less Drama as possible.

I second what Khoi says. Read Ed's articles and make environmental changes necessary before you do anything else.

Also, if he hasn't been to the vet in awhile, you might want to check and make sure that he doesn't have hip or elbow problems that cause him pain. When he gets up and moving, or you are helping him up the stairs, it could be causing him pain.

Joan,
I think you have gotten some very good advice. As a trainer I have seen everything you are describing. It all boils down to challenge. Your dog is "bucking for a promotion" and unless he gets put in his place it will get worse. He started this at two years you say and at three years or so this dog will start to mean business. I'm not trying to scare you, rather get you to take steps now before he bites. If this happens you will likely want to put him down and it would be a shame. He's probably a fine dog. You may want to look into a trainer in your area and start doing something now. Post your area and someone here will probably be able to recommend a local trainer.

Thank you everyone for your input. I have to agree with most of the points and I will make some changes. I suppose where I don't agree fully with the explanations is this..
If it is a dominance problem, then why doesn't he challenge both of us all of the time? Why only in the evenings and only 4 times in one year and only at my husband and not myself?
Normally, when we correct him for something, he knows he's been bad, he puts his head down and lays down. We can take his food away from him, or his toys and he has never growled or bitten at us. Another strange thing is, our younger and alot smaller female border collie will sometimes mount him when they'e outside and he only rarely turns his head around to snap at her to get off. Usually, I will catch this and tell her to get off him.
I just find it odd that he is not behaving dominantly all of the time, if it is a dominance issue.
..still a little perpexed....

As its been explained this sounds like a dominate situation because he growls at your husband. But not when you guys tell him to do things together or while you are present. The dog seems to see you as Alpha but he is sparring with your husband for 2nd place.

He does not turn aggression toward the younger Border Collie because he does not see him as a threat. Alpha Wolf will play with the pack puppies, until its something he wants, like only he will eat first on a kill or mate with the Alpha female.

Your husband and you need to start working the dog in more Ob, with you husband doing most of the training and feeding. You are there to support his command. For instance in teaching the down from the sit, if the husband gives the command and the dog starts to growl, you pop the leash and give the hand signal to down.

Then have the husband sit him and give the command again, after both of these commands are completed praise him, maybe play fetch or tug. Then back to OB work.

He needs to find his place in the pack, and all will be fine I hope. Let him get away with this behavior has confused him some, he just needs some re-programming.
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I have a different feeling. If the dog is not growling at the wife it might be that like the Border Collie, he does not see her as a threat. If this is the case and she starts correcting the dog, the dog might correct her back ie. she might get bit. In order to help remedy this, and if they are unable to hire a pro trainer, I would put the dog on a serious resource control program where the food is cut to about 1/3 of the total and the dog receives that food from the hand for working. After about three-four days of this his stomach will over-ride his attitude. Then I would command the dog to do the very things he is growling over and feed him when he gives the behavior without growling. This is a non-confrontational way to teach the dog that the husband AND the wife are in charge. This can be extended for a longer (within reason) period if necessary without any harm to the dog. I would not recommend the wife start correcting the dog until the dog is not growling at anyone in the house.

I would have your husband work on building his relationship with the dog. The dog sees himself as your dog and he wants your husband to be third in rank. I don't get the sense that this is a seriously dominant dog, but rather, a relationship issue. Have your husband work the dog in obedience and keep things positive using food and toys as rewards, but establishing some expectations from your husband. Have your husband teach the dog to respect him from a positive approach. If he isn't willing to put the time into this problem, it will only get worse. You have a pack or family problem, not simply a dog problem.

Daniel I agree a onsite evaulation from a Pro trainer is always the best choice. But what if they don't want to go there, yet?

Chip I think you are hitting nail on the head, thats what it sounds like to me, too. Of course as mentined an onsite evaulation is best.

One of the reason I visit this site is to learn and find out how to do things better, or if I can do them at all. With this knowledge one can decided when the problem is too big for them, to handle. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />