First, thanks all for the help with maddux, his drive is really coming out. We figured out that I was too intimidating to him to train him. My girlfriend has taken over with him and he's doing great.

We also have a second shep, whos much harder under correction and bred for Schutz, east/west german and enough drive to put holes in my arms and legs (at 7months) if I don't backtie him or have someone strong hold him while I tease.

Only problem is, he won't do it with other dogs around or if someone other than me or the gf teases him... I'm not sure why. He comes out hard for me, and for her, but on the field, he won't do it with other dogs around, and won't do it if someone else teases him, with or without other dogs.

If we do a circle type deal with a couple dogs, he cowers behind me and climbs on me...

Whats going on? How do I fix it? Our trainer says I should be patient and he'll come out, and that seems reasonable enough, but I still don't get it, can someone shed some light?

Group aggitation can scare a puppy, some people don't recommend it, for a puppy at your dogs level.

I'd try you on lead and a decoy (no other distractions) coming in a zig-zag pattern. And at the 1st notice of aggression, ear up, a stare, or a lunge the decoy must run, you praise him.

Soon he will get the impression that he's running this guy off, this will build to him barking and maybe lunging. Then to the point where he is out at the end of the leash, barking and lunging.

The decoy should be using a puppy tug or rag something easy for the puppy to get ahold of.
At some point when the decoy feels his confident is at a high he will give him a bite a little fight and the puppy gets the prey. Do this until the dog is going out with confidence and spirit then end it on that high note. For that day.

Build on this after the rag, tug, then the sleeve (This could take a month or months). Then start you group aggitation I bet he will fire out then. Because his confidence is up.

You are just expecting too much from a 7 month old puppy thats has just played tug of war with you and your girl friend. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />