Michael: My opinion of you hasn't changed, you are an asshole and an agressive one at that!
My intent on posting to this board was to get an enlightened, professional opinion as I have never experienced anything like this in the past, although we have raised two GSD.
I want to Thank those that took the time to help me make an enlightened decision.
I am also extremely grateful that you don't live anywhere near my area, as if I ever have a dog that I need to take to training, I would shutter to think I could end up with you. Do make an effort to get your testosterone level under control, you sound more like a raging teenager than an adult who is qualified to give advise!
Terri

Many of you dont like what Michael said,but listen to him as what he said is very true,I have been working dogs for forty years and yes I have been bitten many times but earlier this year I took on an aggressive dog as a favour to a sanctuary.For the first two weeks I had a real bad time with it but after that it started to settle and I thought I was making real progress,two weeks later when I had been lulled into a sense of security it attacked and the result is,I have severe damage to the nerves in my right hand and some damage to the left.
Had this dog attacked an untrained person it could well have inflicted fatal injuries,so dont rubbish what people who have real experience tell you and when children are involved,dont take chances.

I am offened at your remarks. An honest opion is to either destroy the anima, or find a suitable place for this animal to live. You want an answer that was the one that you got. If you don't like it, well, by your remarks shows your intelect. I do not wish to debate this anymore.

Relax folks. Terri, Michael is right and excuse me Michael for speaking for you but I would guess that he comes on a little strong out of frustration. He probably has seen this time and again where the welfare of a child is compromised for the interest of a dog. I commend your heart Terri and I wish you luck with your next dog. You seem like a very loving owner.

While I said I did not want to debate this anymore, I wish to share an exprience.
I purchased a dog that was like having Santan in a dog. He was a Gildo son,for those of you who know German Bloodlines, and what a nasty dog he was. The owners that had him before wanted to dunp him off and she really did not warn anyone about the dog, except, just take time to bond with him. well a few months went by and the dog was ok, noone pushed him etc. One day I called him and he just flew into me. I survived it but with a few bad bites. THis dog was in total drive biting me. If I had not knew how to handle this dog, and I am not a tiny person, this dog could have killed me. I shiver when I think if a child had got bit by this animal.
I have also seen family pets that are growling at kids, trainers say oh we can help you, and then like someone else said, a few months later the child has been bitten. It is in my opinon, a sickeniing issue when people that have a dog try to seek advice and pay money to these people beacuse they sell them the story that this can be corrected with time, and the child gets hurt anyway, the owners have been taken advantage of etc.
I just thought I would share this, perhaps I should have before.

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES!
Michael is right,

When (not if) your dog bites a kid and they drag your soft brained arse into court the jury will think he was right as well.

You just better hope they dont access your comments on this web site because then theyll say you knew the dog was agressive for no reason but didnt take effective action to protect the community from it.

Read Eds commnets about a woman the he, Ed ,gave evidence against who is now doing 10 years or so for manslaughter afer her dogs killed a little boy on the way to school.

When youre locked up and being used as some big butch womans sex toy you wont be thinking about your dog thats for sure.

Brendan-
Comments like that are offensive and disrespectful to everyone on the list. I bet you think that you seem funny, but it is just stupid.

Thats the reality Ted of
1. owning a dog that is a fear/indescriminate biter

and 2. of life inside a american jail.
If you cant handle that reality tough luck, go watch Bambi.

The orginating writer didnt mind making highly offensive and agressive comments towards Michael because she heard some advice she didnt like.

Its because of people like her that it is now illegal to do activites like schutzhund/or protection training in the state I live in.

Terri,

I agree that some of these people are being a little harsh, but I believe they all have good intentions. They are simply concerned about the well-being of your grandchildren.

I'm in a situation similar to yours. I have a 9 month old GSD who is fear aggressive. The difference is that I don't have any children in my life to have to be responsible for. You're dog is never going to be able to be around your grandchildren without wearing a muzzle. This is a problem that can't be trained out of the dog. It may be able to be controlled, but the dog will never be 100% trustworthy around people.

I know this is not what you want to hear. I know how difficult this is. The reality of it is that the dog is either going to need to be put to sleep or you are going to need to accept the fact that it can never not be around your grandchildren. Your grandchildren's safety must be your first priority. If you opt to try to work with the dog, do not think that just because it's been great around people for days or weeks or months, that it is trustworthy. It will never be completely stable or trustworthy around people. If you are willing to accept that and handle this dog responsibly, you may want to check out this forum for some good suggestions that were left for me on training this type of dog:
http://www.leerburg.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=20&t=000002

Please consider your options carefully. Sometimes the most humane thing to do is to let the animal go. If you cannot bring yourself to do that, please make sure your grandchildren are never in a situation where this dog can harm them. Their safety is the most important thing.

Good luck.

What part of this statement from my post indicates that I was EVER willing to risk the safety of my grandchildren??
<I am willing to muzzle him and try to build up his confidence if there is any chance this can be done. However, I have 6 grandkids who range in age from 1 month to 15 years, and he must eventually be a safe, friendly dog with the kids.>
I was seeking advise from what I though were experienced, levelheaded members of this forum.
I don't (to quote Michael) "have my head up my ass", I never indicated that I was willing to keep the dog if he was unstable (quote from the brilliant Brendan)<" You just better hope they dont access your comments on this web site because then theyll say you knew the dog was agressive for no reason but didnt take effective action to protect the community from it.">
I simply gave a discription of what we had experienced in 4 days with him and his background as we knew it from the breeder, and asked for advice from someone who may have had a similar experience.
Let me just say that I also emailed Ed privately about this pup, and his response was professional,helpful and enlightening.
By following up on his suggestions we have been able to obtain the information we needed to make the right decision regarding this dog. I also received a couple of private emails with excellent information and suggestions from members of this forum.
I will never post to this list again requesting "help"! I truly do appreciate and THANK the folks that were willing to share their knowledge and advice without feeling the need to attack me. However, I now have first-hand experience with the few who use this forum to badger, insult and publicly attack.
How unfortunate that a forum that clearly HAD the potential to assist and direct someone asking for advice has become (for a few members)a means to be abusive.
Please consider my post/ request for help as CLOSED!