Another couple notes... on a young dog, a 'complete' BW panel does not include anything that checks blood work. It's an add on option with labs. You want to look at the T4 and Free T4 values. (If you're interested in pursuing personality changes that could be medically explained)

I also wanted to second Anne's post of DRIVE + not social. I have a Dutch Shepherd that has been described as 'over the top drive' by several very qualified (competed at world level SchH events) who is a social as they can get. He can turn it off and on. We didn't get there without a lot of work though.


I'm sorry he's not going to be as multi-purpose as you'd originally hoped. I can see that it could be a disappointment for you. Concentrate on what he's shown you he enjoys! Go lay a track for that boy!

I'm not as experienced as the excellent posters who have contributed to this thread, but I had a red flag go up on the 'corrections' situation, too. Your dog is exhibiting anxiety, and giving you a warning that he is not comfortable with the situation. Giving a correction for the feeling state is going to exacerbate the anxiety, not relieve it. Whether your dog is suited for these situations or not, it sounds like he needs help to relax, and trust that you will keep him safe. If my dog was growling at me, it would be my first order of business to rebuild our relationship and to make sure he felt sufficiently affiliated with me and trusting of my presence that he would not be anxious if I am getting in close. I often find myself in situations where my head is in close to my dogs, not on purpose, but just untangling something or getting something out of his mouth. I have to trust that my dog is going to be okay with this, or we will have another whole layer of management to take care of.

Welcome to this board! I am sure you will find great advice here from people who walk the talk and care deeply for their dogs.

I believe he's getting older starting to test you sometimes it's the dog, not anything is medical. i would not tolerate him growling at anyone i pulled a dog off of his handler ( 78 stitches) when i grabbed the lead. he didn't even growl and went to his crate. later after speaking to the handler he admitted the dog had be testing him. i am never cruel to a dog ,but i will give a strong correction for handler and or dog aggression. stop it before it get's worse make you corrections as Easy as Possible but as Firm as Necessary good luck

I think it's time to bring in someone who can actually see the dog and evaluate it. Only because some of the posters responding, are responding as if this is a temperament issue. While others are responding as if this is a dominance issue (I don't consider dominance a temperament issue). I tend to lean towards this sounding like a dominance issue. And while the advice to remove this dog from therapy work and interactions with kids is sound either way, how to handling the growling/snapping really would depend on why the dog is growling, which we can't really accurately diagnose over the internet.

" .... while the advice to remove this dog from therapy work and interactions with kids is sound either way, how to handling the growling/snapping really would depend on why the dog is growling, which we can't really accurately diagnose over the internet."


Good point.