Quote: Alyssa Myracle

Neutering is unlikely to help. The problem is pack structure, not hormonal.

I total agree with you, Alyssa. I don't know the whole story so don't take offence to the comment to put him down, just and option if you can't control him.

It sounds like you really need professional help. You can't fix a problem like this from just reading a forum. You have a serious pack problem. It sounds like you have had good advice but you have to follow through. Your relationship is not normal and you are putting your family at risk. Seek local professional help before some else gets hurt! Some trainers do in home private lessons. Or get rid of him to someone more experienced. JMO

 Quote: Matthew Criner

... is getting over a very bad skin infection which was not properly daignosed, and what I believe have transformed into a fungal infection, which seems to be responding to antibiotics and medicated shampoo. He also has chronic ear infections. ... Lately he has been growling and snapping at us at night when we are trying to go to sleep. .... The growling and snapping has gotten so bad, that we no longer sleep in the same room as him ...

What is the diagnosis of the underlying trigger of the yeast infection, skin pruritis, and chronic ear infections, all of which cause terrible itching and (in the ears) pain? Allergies? The results are unrelenting misery for the dog. Has he seen a derm vet? He needs one.

Also, Matt, we've posted advice and suggestions about this dog for almost 3 years. You saved his life, because he DID go through a lot as a puppy.

But you know that you are doing him no favor by letting him lead an anxious and unbalanced life with physical misery besides. Does he have exercise and training? This is not a dog who trusts his owner or is at all content or comfortable. Based on this post, I suspect that you didn't get a professional trainer's eval in May when he bit you.

You need professional help. Not to get it is to do a serious disservice to the dog. If you don't care about your own safety and the safety of the other humans in the house, please care enough about the dog to get derm vet and trainer help immediately. If he is snapping at his own skin at night .... then he needs derm vet help badly. If he is snapping at you at night, then he needs the derm vet for all the infections you listed and he needs behavioral help badly. Regardless, you need to get both kinds of help or surrender him to someone who can and will. JMO.

 Quote: Matthew Criner

Anyone know if neutering would be the answer? And if this type of behavior is caused by females in heat?

I don't see neutering helping. Females in heat can cause a male to act goofy, annoying, and even a little nuts, but not what you are describing. And right now I have all 3 of my females in heat so..............

I have never, never, had a dog growl and bark at me while I am in bed.

I would not even begin to try and give you advice on the internet on how to work with this, you need to see someone that can see the dog and see how you interact.

Matt, save me the time of rereading all those threads. What are you feeding him? This is not necessarily genetic. The growling and snapping sounds like a dog who is pissed off because he feels like crap.

Also refresh my memory on his breeding...only b/c I'm curious and don't remember.

This is escalating. Every time you reappear here, the dog is worse in some way. We are all willing to help, but it's frustrating when suggestions get blown off.

I am with Betty in that I have never had any of my angels (lol) growl at me in bed...something weird is going on here and you may be missing the real cause. Neutering is nowhere near the level of help you need right now. I have several intact males and females, and none of them are threatening me (which is what your dog is doing). Skip the neuter and get REAL help quickly or send him to someone who can help him.

Mr. Criner,

Not with standing past quotes...

You recently changed the dog's environment. You used the word "had" to describe your move into your girlfriend's parents home. I presume the move has been accompanied with a bit of anxiety, though I may be wrong to conclude so.

My fix: exercise. Exercise with training goals. Exercise for the fun of exercise.

The dog has had problems in its life. It has endured poking, proding, spraying, meds, unwanted 'cleaning,' etc. It has had more 'attention' than most dogs get.

So... How much exercise does the dog get? An idle or unexercised dog can and will act out. New environments can impose new, unfamiliar restrictions, and the dog can and will act out.

You have been at your new digs for about four weeks or so, and the dog is acting out. What chaged in four or five weeks?

If the dog is now a bedroom and crate dog... Might be an issue.

If the dog has less freedom than in the past... Might be an issue.

I presume the medical stuff has remained more or less a constant issue over time - with symptoms and treatments of stuff changing with time.

Whining - growling - snapping... A progression of the dog trying to get your attention, and getting frustrated. When it whines, do some thing for the dog. Better yet, figure out when the whining starts and anticipate it with some kind of activity.

Sounds like a dog with a much limited environment, in the context of change, and other atmospheric stuff going on.

My fix: long walks with the dog. Good for you and probably good for the dog. One long walk at night before the scheduled down for the night in its schedule, and before you get settled into bed.

The dog needs a schedule re-worked for its new digs.

The only change you described in the dog's world is that you had to move in with your girlfriend's parents.

Two cents.

Matt,

I've had my own problems with my male GSD aggression as well. He also has gone through a lot (serious surgeries, pokes and prods, etc.) through his young life. These medical problems just add to an already difficult situation.

What's helped for me has been following much of the advice on here. I did not read the previous posts, though I vaguely remember you needing to go to the hospital.

Structure is very important for a dog. My dog initially was sleeping in our room by our bed, but after growling at us we knew things had to change. He's now crated at night, not in our bedroom, and I've established a routine with him. I've also decided what his boundaries should be, and I'm consistent with them.

It's not a quick fix. It takes consistency, and for others in the household to be on the same page. Lots of crate time (along with lots of exercise without human attention) is very important right now! It sounds like you had your life uprooted, and the dog senses that all previously established structure is out the window now. Bring back the structure!

What's been amazing to me, is that problems occurring with our dogs are most often the result of bad leadership on our part. That's good news, though, because it means it CAN be fixed!

Just recently my boyfriend, who has made statements such as: "this dog is dangerous, he's unpredictable," was teasing the dog with his hands. He got my dog riled up and very excited, to the point where he was growling and acting aggressively to my boyfriend's hands, even though his tail was still wagging. He was biting at him, etc. I came into the room to witness this and put a stop to it immediately! I said to my boyfriend THIS is the reason this dog has had some of his aggression problems. The dog IS NOT unpredictable and dangerous; his behavior has been created by us.

I have finally seen the light; but not everyone will (the bf.) I hope you are one who will do some serious soul searching and self education about dogs for the sake of your family and the sake of this dog.

 Quote:

he was growling and acting aggressively to my boyfriend's hands, even though his tail was still wagging.

Not picking on you, Stephanie (you've done great since last we talked, btw) but I wanted to point something out that a lot of people misunderstand and can be dangerous. A dog's tail wagging simply means it's comfortable in the situation. I have dogs who will bite the $hi+ out of you, tail- a- waggin'! Different kinds of wags mean different things, but simply wagging does not mean the dog is happy or will not bite. I think this misunderstanding contributes to the dog bites "out of nowhere" that we hear about all the time.

 Quote: Jenni Williams

Matt, save me the time of rereading all those threads. What are you feeding him? This is not necessarily genetic. The growling and snapping sounds like a dog who is pissed off because he feels like crap.

Also refresh my memory on his breeding...only b/c I'm curious and don't remember.

This is escalating. Every time you reappear here, the dog is worse in some way. We are all willing to help, but it's frustrating when suggestions get blown off.

I am with Betty in that I have never had any of my angels (lol) growl at me in bed...something weird is going on here and you may be missing the real cause. Neutering is nowhere near the level of help you need right now. I have several intact males and females, and none of them are threatening me (which is what your dog is doing). Skip the neuter and get REAL help quickly or send him to someone who can help him.

I recently switched him to Iam's: Large Breed dog food, because he was having soft stools on pretty much every other food I have fed him.

His breeding: Father: Flipp Von Arlett, Mother: Udett Von Der Grotte.

To tell you guys the truth, I am seriously considering giving him up, although my girlfriend of 4 years will be heartbroken, as will I. I think that there are serious genetic allergies and behavioral problems, which he is supposed to be guaranteed against. Does anyone know how I can decifer if it is genetic and or allergies? Also if anyone wants to see a copy of the Guarantee/Warranty I will PM it to you. This dog was $2,000 USD and it's a shame because I dearly love the dog, but I think he might be happier elsewhere, unless you guys think differently.

Iams is a horrible dog food, ESPECIALLY since it sounds like this dog has awful allergy issues.

I'll post more shortly about what is in Iams.

I think by switching your little guy to a different food, we may be able to help him recover from some of his skin issues.

Matt,
Have you had the dog evaluated by a competent trainer and/or behaviorist or taken obedience classes with him?