Just want a little feed back on a problem I am having with my rescue shepherd. She is female/spayed/1 year old. Have had her 1 month. Is sweet, small and a little fearful. Likes her crate. No problems until 2 weeks ago, with people entering the house, barks with the other dogs,but hers is not a happy to see people, she seems more fearful and barks and growls. Retreats to kennel, but sometimes will continue towards people, including our own family members. Does not bark at me, is happy to see me and wags tail. I correct with, thats enough, sternly. I introduce her to new people, have her sit and praise when is silent and lets people meet her, then she okay to go, and does not care. Sometimes I am not right there when someone comes in, whats the best way to let her know, people are welcome and we are happy to see them, including the people that live there. Can they correct her? We have used the ignore method also. thanks jaci

I wouldn't let other people correct my dog, ever... in fact, it annoys me when people tell my dog not to do something that I am perfectly OK with him doing - the only time I want to correct peoples dogs is when the dogs owners aren't doing it.

I would take the dog out around alotta people - don't let them all run up to you to pet the dog, just get her to be used to having alotta different people around her. Have visiting family members offer her treats (palm up), and correct her with a prong collar for aggression if she's old enough to work with physical corrections. I have read people saying that if a dog is scared you shouldn't correct them with a prong because they will associate that person with a correction - but I personally feel that if you tell a dog that someone is ok and they are offering a treat, the dog should be corrected for growling and learn that no growling = treat from stranger, growling/aggression = correction.

There's a ton of posts (use the search function) and articles on leerburg.com about aggressive, dominant and fearful dogs - also look up the definition of a "Fear Biter" and deal with such a dog appropriately. If you are scared she will bite someone then naturally all interaction with other people should be under strict control, no children involved and on-leash/prong. Like I said, there's a ton of posts on this subject on this board, see if you can find em.

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is not a happy to see people, she seems more fearful and barks and growls. .........

In addition to what Mike says, here's a Q and A I've referred several people to:

http://www.leerburg.com/qafear.htm#4

Also:
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Fear_Aggression.html

Unfortunatly this is probably bad genetics and will be difficult to deal with. She is showing a fear response, so corrections can escalate the problem.

Not being there when people come in is not good. She should be in her crate, not as punishment, but so she can be controlled on your terms and not randomly.

I would try and set up these situations, and take the other dogs out of the equation. Have people come over and have the other dogs somewhere else. She won't be as forward without their support and give you a better idea of what is up. It will be easier to deal with her without the other dogs around.

This is about all I can give you with the info you wrote.

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Unfortunatly this is probably bad genetics and...

I'm not a professional, but have had 3 shelter dogs and 5 pure breeds in my life. I've "trained" all of them myself and have seen quite a few different personalities and temperments. I'm wondering what makes you think this is genetic. I'm not saying you're wrong, just asking.

The dog was rescued at a year old. That's plenty of time for someone to have done serious damage to her psyche. Based on my (limited) experience, this sounds like a case of insufficient socialization. Either that, or the dog was handled with a heavy hand by it's previous owner and just doesn't trust people very much. If either is the case, lots of socialization (in and out of the dog's "territory") and a little consistency with rewards for proper behavior and gentle corrections for aggression. I have one shelter dog that accepts, but doesn't like his crate. He knows by now that any agression means he spends a lot of time in his crate. He hasn't barked/growled in any inappropriate situations in quite a while now.

Ahhh Walt Disney, if he only knew the damage he would cause. I deal with rescue dogs all day. Imagine "biff" going out to get a dog. He does his research and the AKC tells how great the GSD breed is. Then "biff" gets this dog and it is scared too much or whatever. Suddenly the dog isn't that important and didn't instantly become what the AKC said it should be. In my experience with the shelter dogs, they are filled with poor genetics. People want to save and fix poor fluffy, so they can show the world. I have seen dogs that were physically abused. They don't act like jerks at the door, they run from the room.

A lot of people don't adopt so they can 'show the world'. And an AKC dog has just as much chances of ending up in a shleter as a regular old mutt. Papers mean nothing in the dog world. If someone doesn't have time for their dog, they just don't...its going to end up in the shelter. Sad, but true.

To the OP, I would have people offer treats when they first walk in, but ignore the dog altogether. No direct eye contact (which can be intimidating), and no attention until your dog calms down. Its okay to let him have the crate for an 'escape' as well...in my opinion, it could help prevent a bite in the future. Child becomes over-excited with dog, dog knows he can escape rather then having to defend.

Do try to coax him out after a while with extra yummy treats, while the visitor stays still and relaxed, preferrably sitting down.

Make people the most exciting thing on the planet. Use special treats only for those times when company is over. Personally, I wouldn't correct only because your dog is showing fear. By correcting, you may be teachin him that there is something to fear after all, and will only associate company with corrections.

Someone else in my group pulled this dog from a shelter and I got the dog. This certain behavior did not show until about 2 - 3 weeks in my home. Everyday she changes and shows more of her personality. I don't expect perfection, just want a dog I can rehome and be safe with. I have never run into this before, but I don't think its fatal or the worse aggression, she in manageable and we are setting her up and continue our work on socialization everyday. thanks

Thanks Sarah,for your encouragement and we are doing everything you have mentioned. Just wanted to know if anyone else has run into a similar situation. She goes in her crate for safety and I will continue to work with my trainers. Jaci

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Personally, I wouldn't correct only because your dog is showing fear. By correcting, you may be teachin him that there is something to fear after all, and will only associate company with corrections.

I'm not contesting your statement - just curious - if you are trying to calm down a dog and be nice to him when he/she is showing teeth and snarling, couldn't that be interpreted by the dog as being rewarded for aggressive behavior? I don't have a rescue and haven't dealt with fearful dogs like this before, but I'd tell the dog to knock it off and associate treats and praise with desired behavior towards strangers... but then again, I could be way off <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />