I recently acquired a 4 year old, recently neutered male GSD from a rescue. We have no history for him, but I think he has had some kind of protection training. I was told when I went to adopt him he was dog aggressive, however, while we were there meeting him, he bit the volunteer who was showing him to us. This was not a quick bite and release, it was a full mouth bite and hold, where he had to be choked off the guys arm. Needless to say he drew blood. At this point, the rescue did not think they could adopt out the dog. I told them I would be willing to try and take him and see what I could do, as I have been training dogs for about 10 years now and have dealt with my share of aggressive dogs. I worked with him over the next two days, I was able to get a muzzle on him, at which point he submitted immediately. I have been following the dominate dog DVD to the letter for the past two weeks and he is doing better with me. He is very unpredictable, and what sets him off is never the same thing twice. He is very under weight, and very food motivated. My question is, where do I go after the 30 days of the Dominate dog DVD exercise? I also would like to purchase a muzzle as the one I'm using is not suited for a dog as aggressive as he is. I do however have all the training tools and a library of Leerburg DVDs. Any advice would be appreciated.

I know I am going to “take heat” on this but……

Why would you take on this dog when there are SO MANY well- tempermented dogs out there for rescue? I don’t understand how they could put this dog out for adoption after that display of poor temperament. I find that shocking & sad. Especially since most of these dogs end up being put down eventually anyway & usually after they have hurt someone. If they are doing this they should be shut down. There are enough dangerous ill-tempered dogs out there causing trouble. You hear it in the news almost daily in many places. And kids are often the recipients of the bad these dogs have to dish out. There have been 3 of these cases in my area in the last couple of weeks. I live in an extremely nice area of the NE. They are everywhere.

Maybe it’s just me, but I want a dog that can go everywhere with me & be safe although aloof out in public. (& not with the help of a muzzle except maybe at a vets office for exam if needed) I never allow strangers to interact with my dogs EVER. I have owned a HA (handler agressive ) GSD & it is a PITA & no fun when that dog comes at you. They are never going to be really trustworthy. No matter how many years of training experience you have …you cannot change the temperment of a dog with a poor temperament.

I don’t know if you have any experience with dogs that do bite work but a full mouth bite & hold is a genetic trait…one that most of us doing that kind of work with their dogs looks for in a sport or real deal PPD prospect. It can be trained to some extent but will never be totally reliable especially during pressure or stress. Don't know where you rescue falls here, he may just have a bit of fear & a short fuse that triggered his aggression who knows. But he sure is not a safe dog to be around from what you have stated. That along with multiple triggers, unpredictability & size (GSD) makes him dangerous in my book.

Just my 2 cents FWIW……… now let the heat fly

I`m very sorry, Laura, but I honestly have to agree with Anne.
I believe you wanted to help that poor animal, because you knew if they don`t find a home for him, he will be put down sooner or later.

You have certainly decided like this with the best intentions. But imagine what it would need to change such an animal! 10 years of experience is without doubt not nothing.(I`ve got only 3 and a half yrs, so perhaps I should keep my mouth shut. But this would - confronted with such a situation - be even more difficult than all kind of dog training!

I can not understand why they gave this dog free for adoption. They must be either the world`s greatest imbecils or ... and .. ??? the most irresponsivel gang I`ve ever heard of.

I do wish you good luck, but I think you have assumed a task which is highly difficult and dangerous too. For this it would need not only an extremely experienced dog trainer but also onne who highly especialized person for handling such dogs and who has also the necessary circumstances around him to handle such an animal.

It is really sad to read this. I myself would never want to put down an animal, unless for absolutely necessary reasons. On the other hand I could never adopt an animal who is dog and human aggressive. I respect your good will, but I`m convinced that for such a task even 30 yrs are nothing.

Laura, please, be aware you`re running an immense risk for yourself and other people. I`m not telling you to euthanize him, but to find someone with the necessary experience and surroundings. But this will be extremely difficult.

I`ve never heard the expression to take heat on something, like Anne uses, but I think I understand it. For me personnally I can only tell you, that it makes me shiver all over.

Give it some thorough thoughts, if you can`t find another solution.

I have already discussed with the rescue the possibility of putting him down if he remains the same as he is now, however, it has only been 2 1/2 weeks since I took him. I wanted to give him a chance if I could. In the month and a half the rescue had him, he was bumped around to three different facilities before I took him, which would be four locations all with different people in less then two months. He may just need a consistent routine and some rules. All of my dogs have been rescues, all with some sort of aggression issues and I have been able to handle them and train them without issue. I have also had a few of my own sport and/or protection trained dogs. The problem with him, is he doesn't seem to have just one type of aggression. When he shows me one, I can then work around it. We have a system, and it is working pretty good, but I want more for him. The first week with him was hard, but he is very smart, and I feel he is becoming easier to handle for me. If this becomes something I can not do, I have already told the rescue I will put him down, and they agree. I just wanted to give him a chance first.

 Quote: Laura Dobson

I recently acquired a 4 year old, recently neutered male GSD from a rescue. We have no history for him, but I think he has had some kind of protection training. I was told when I went to adopt him he was dog aggressive, however, while we were there meeting him, he bit the volunteer who was showing him to us. This was not a quick bite and release, it was a full mouth bite and hold, where he had to be choked off the guys arm. Needless to say he drew blood. At this point, the rescue did not think they could adopt out the dog. I told them I would be willing to try and take him and see what I could do, as I have been training dogs for about 10 years now and have dealt with my share of aggressive dogs. I worked with him over the next two days, I was able to get a muzzle on him, at which point he submitted immediately. I have been following the dominate dog DVD to the letter for the past two weeks and he is doing better with me. He is very unpredictable, and what sets him off is never the same thing twice. He is very under weight, and very food motivated. My question is, where do I go after the 30 days of the Dominate dog DVD exercise? I also would like to purchase a muzzle as the one I'm using is not suited for a dog as aggressive as he is. I do however have all the training tools and a library of Leerburg DVDs. Any advice would be appreciated.

If it were me, I would send a PM to Ed Frawley & Cindy Easton Rhodes and actually request a teleconference appointment with one or both of them, to have a real-time CONSULTATION concerning this dog, your type of insurance coverage, your containment facilities (Is your property set-up like a ZOO for dangerous or even deadly canids?) your family living situation & possible public exposure to the risks involved, your true skill-set & realistic expertise level in hoping to deal effectively with a dog who suffers from such extremely profound difficulties.

Thank you Candi I will look into that.

Is this a dog you will be keeping for yourself, Laura ?

I'd like to address the OP's comment about the possibility of bite training.

There are many good protection trainers out there but I suspect there are more wanna be protection trainers out there.

That usually entails working with dogs that show "aggression" and these "trainers" decide it will make a good "protection" dog.

Not knowing the background and possibly poor "beat em till they bite" type "protection" training could be a bomb waiting to go off.

His lack of predictability just adds to the danger issue.

I would definitely try and find a "qualified" trainer and have this dog's thresholds tested.

I don't think most "rescue" groups are qualified to do this.

It is admirable, Laura, that you want to give that poor dog a chance. Now that I`ve read that he had been bumped around to 3 facilities, makes me suspect that he is confused and full of insecurity, perhaps even frightened as he never had a real home, never had a real bond with someone.

Fright, frustration can be a cause for aggressive behavior. How the protection training was done no one seems to know and no one seems to know, what this animal had to go through.

You have had some experience with dogs with aggression issues. This is a good message, which makes me feel optimistic. It would be awesome if you could keep him and give him what he needs so badly - a true relationship. I wouldn`t put him down, if it can be avoided. I have the impression, that such a dog can recover under the right circumstances. Though an unpredictable big danger remains.

It depends amongst other things on how you are living and what possibilities you have to reintegrate him. I`m far not experienced enough to give you clear advices. But please, follow the one`s of Bob. This would be of great help. Also the ones of Candi are great. If I were you I`d try all of them, because for such a venture you`ll need the opinions of very experienced people.

I do hope sooo much, that you will find best professiional help and that you`ll succeed to help this pitiable animal and to save him from being euthanized.

Let us know, how everything is going on. Here is everyone feeling with you and your dog. I wish you lots of courage, help and success.

Tammy, yes, I would be keeping the dog as my own.

Bob, I have looked into other trainers, however, there is no one locally I have found to work with. The only reason I suggested he may have some kind of bite training is the full mouth bite and hold he did to the volunteer. He is muzzle smart, that is the reason he bit the volunteer is we were trying to fit him for one for a meet and greet with one of my other dogs.

For all those inquiring, he is currently being kept in a covered crate in my living room. He only goes out on a leash to potty and then to eat. He is ok coming out of the crate on his own, however, you can not reach into the crate to get him. So I hand feed him out back on the patio. He has only bit me once, the first week I brought him home, when I reached into the kennel to give him water. He now only gets water outback and he must sit and wait a few feet away if he wants me to pour it. He seems to have great obedience, however, I am only asking him to sit and wait for food, going through doors, and of course his water. He seems very smart and most days I dont have to remind him to sit, he runs to the place where I feed him and sits on his own. I am the only one however who can handle him right now as he does not like my husband even coming near his kennel.