John,

What exercise does your dog get on a daily basis?

Thinking about things like walks, playing fetch, running around the yard, obedience practice, etc...

In the morning it’s a combination. We walk to the park, about 2 1/2 blocks away. I have her Sit on every corner (she is a pro on that) when we get to the park I play fetch with her for a good 30 minutes with balls. I also let her roam around grass since there are not a lot of people around that time.

When we walk back from our morning outing I have her sit and lay before i give her water.

@ night I come home and take her out immediately for a walk and to relieve herself, there is no running or fetching because its dark in Chicago after 430pm during the winter times. When we arrive home I don’t give her food immediately i make sure she earns it by sitting or laying multiple times.

Most of her problems are when she is at home during the day, or when we are in the car driving to the store.

Thanks,

Time for a new vet.

 Quote: Cheryl Gee

Time for a new vet.

There are dozens of detailed threads here about the critical importance of nipping tail-chasing in the bud, instantly. Most experienced trainer/handlers know this.

This isn't what I think of as a question I would pose to the vet, but I wish the vet had said "I don't know," which is obviously the case, instead of giving such bad advice.

German shepherds are very susecptable to OCD. Tail chasing & spining is usually started by dogs that are bored & underexercised. This dog has a serious case of OCD. It should have been stopped when she first started it. It may be very difficult to stop at this point it has become so ingrained. Dog will need to be corrected immediately when it starts & then redirected to a toy & and an activity. If this dog is acting aggressivly toward you....I'm not sure if things will exculate the aggression. It might be more advisable to get a handle on the control of the dog & then address the tail chasing so you lesson the chance of getting bitten.

This dog needs tons more exercise then it is getting. A really tired dog is less enthusiatic about tail chasing. You are not even touching the tip of the iceberg in terms of the amount that she is getting to date if what you stated is a normal day. Tongue dragging would be my discription,as Connie stated, numberous times a day.

As for the growling & biting...this dog is testing the limits. If the dog is given a clean bill of healther by the vet. Check thyroid levels. Then I would start heavy pack structure/boot camp training & NILIF(nothing in life is free)

Dog would be on a leash at all times in the house & a long line outside. Dog earns EVERYTHING!!! Has to sit for her food. Sit or down for a pet.

She has had no limits or boundries placed on her behaviors up to now. What did your wife do when the dog bit her? Dog should have seriously been corrected. Biting/mouthing etc is NOT allowed EVER! You have lost all control of this dog. Forget this, when she is in a nice mood crap. You are the boss not her. But you have allowed her to think that she is. Time for you to have a wakeup call before someone is seriously injured.

This dog should not be allowed to have ANY freedoms at any time, make no decisions on it's own. You control every breath it takes. If you can't have it on a leash next to you, it goes in a crate. Dog is to be tethered to you all the time when out in the house. You have to go to do laundry dog goes with you. You have to gt to the bathroom, dog goes with you. Doesn't matter if dog is sleeping on the floor next to you...she goes with you if you have to more. That is the way that it is done. Toys are yours. Dog only has access to toys when interacting with you. Food & or bones in her crate. If you don't get a serious handle on this RIGHT NOW...you will have a very dangerous situation as this dog get bigger & stronger.

Above are some suggesstions to start thing going. But....It sounds like some experienced help would be a good idea to get you on the road to fixing some of this. You are way in over your head to do all this without some one on one help.

That vet should be ashamed of theirself for such terrible information. I would be seeking out a new vet for sure.

Thank you Anne,
for all the good advice and information.

After my wife was bit, she had to get away immediately because she was in pain. Our GSD just stayed put, after i helped my wife a little bit by cleaning up her blood on her hands I immediately went to the kitchen and tied her up to the door and turned off the lights. She was ignored for a good hour.

When the dog growls and does aggressive barks what are we supposed to do? No does not seem to help many of the times.

Once again thank you. I am going to look for a behaviorist.

Thanks,

I second the behaviorist suggestion &, just as medications are used to control OCD in humans, it may help your dog. But not in the absence of further training, as an adjunct. Just as w/people, it is an adjunct to therapy.

Does the dog have access to a yard or do you live in an apartment?

I am definitely moving her to a new Dr. this week.

We recently moved to a 2 bdrm. apartment by the lake. We use to live in a house with a yard and she would dig holes and destroy anything she found. We couldn’t tolerate the destruction so we bought her a 20ft. wired cable to have her in control while she was out in the yard.

Thanks,

Has anyone bought these videos?

1. Dealing with Dominant & Aggresive Dogs.
2. Establish Pack Structure with the Family Pet.

Thanks,

The pack structure one should be good, although I haven't seem it.

As for doninance...I doubt that is the case. She just doesn't have enough exercise or mental stimulation to make her tired. She has been let run the show.

Digging is a boredom pasttime for most dogs except maybe terriers.

She is just not been made aware that she is NOT supposed to be running the show, becasue you are not. I believe that the aggression is due to lack of leadership, not real dominance, and not because she is truly a nasty aggressive dog.

Isolation in not an answer. Dog most likely had no idea whay she was left tied up & left alone. Corrections need to be immediate or the dog has no idea why you are correcting it. Ten minutes later or even 10 seconds later is ineffective.

You need to step it up on all fronts. Read what I wrote earlier & start living that way with this dog. You will see the difference in her behavior within a couple of weeks. Tail chasing may not be helped but it may be less freequent if she is more tired.