What a great post!

And yes, Tracy is right: every one of us is willing to guide, to help, to give detailed answers.

Ashley, I feel for you. I know what it's like to deal with an animal aggressive dog. Although it doesn't sound like your aggression issue is really all that bad. I think with a little work and patience it can probably be easily turned around.

I first joined this site because I tried to take a German Shepherd from my Dad that I felt like didn't have a very good life. He was basically just left alone with his mother in the back yard for the entire 6 years of his life. He had no OB training but he was a very sweet dog with people. Basically he spent his whole time in the back yard becoming really good at killing other animals (he's got about a dozen racoons now). I tried to take him and give him a good home but he would rip my fence into pieces because he wanted out so that he could kill the neighbors dogs that they let roam the neighborhood. He was a 120lb very athletic Shepherd and no chain link fence was ever going to keep him contained if he wanted out. He even ripped the door off of the vets kennel a few times. We have had several Shepherds before but never one like this. I joined the site to gather the information that I needed to help him and I called several local area trainers who all told me that they really couldn't help me solve this particular dog's animal aggression issues. I quickly realized that I was not going to be able to fix Max (though I did love him) because I simply did not have the time necessary to put the work needed into him. Unfortunately while I was trying to work with him he killed a neighbors dog who was roaming the neighborhood. Max was actually on lease at the time but the other little dog ran up to him. He also killed my daughters cat as well. So I ended up having to send him back to my Dad because I simply didn't have the resources available to actually fix him and he wasn't safe to keep in my neighborhood. It's easy for a lot of people on here to say that you just have to put the time and work into the dog. But if you're looking at having to spend hours a day specifically working on a problem with a dog and your a person with young kids and a tough work schedule then spending all that time working on fixing the dog simply isn't feasible. I found that out the hard way and the lesson that I learned is to never let my dogs develop behavioral problem. If I fix any small issues up front then I won't have to worry about the large issues in the future. I hope that you can fix this small issue now because I really don't think it sounds all that bad. But I do understand the difficulty in finding time.

Most of the people on here are what I would call "Hardcore Dog People". These people love their dogs as much as their own childern so giving up on a dog is not something that anyone here would ever do. So when you post about letting go of your buddy that kind of topic makes a lot of people on here upset. So your going to get responses that sound kind of angry. But understand that these people also know that there really isn't much of a chance of you actually finding a home for a dog aggressive dog and that probably means that your dog will most likely be PTS because it's just going to end up in the pound.

I would encourage you to try to work with your dog and try to find information from this site to help. And to other posters, I would hope that you encourage her to work with the dog and not get angry with her.

I typed my post while Tracy was posting his and I agree with him 100%!

 Quote: AJ Evans

... your going to get responses that sound kind of angry. But understand that these people also know that there really isn't much of a chance of you actually finding a home for a dog aggressive dog and that probably means that your dog will most likely be PTS because it's just going to end up in the pound.

I would encourage you to try to work with your dog and try to find information from this site to help. And to other posters, I would hope that you encourage her to work with the dog and not get angry with her.

AJ is right.

A request for help rather than a post about rehoming a basically un-rehomable dog (at this stage) would have fared better, and you are right about this:

"... If I fix any small issues up front then I won't have to worry about the large issues in the future. I hope that you can fix this small issue now because I really don't think it sounds all that bad."

If no effort is made and no management implemented, then we can't help.

And we do want to!

JMO.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

... why is the dog having interactions with strage dogs anyway? 6 months ago, if you'd asked, any one of us could have told you that many (most) dogs have no business interacting with any dogs outside their own household. The notion of neighborhood doggie friends is myth. You, your dog and his housemate dog are your pack. There's no reason he needs to interact with any other dogs ever.

Tracy points out a big potential shift in how to view this issue.

Systematic desensitizing is a good thing.

But management can make all the difference right now, immediately.

 Quote: AJ Evans

Most of the people on here are what I would call "Hardcore Dog People". These people love their dogs as much as their own childern so giving up on a dog is not something that anyone here would ever do. So when you post about letting go of your buddy that kind of topic makes a lot of people on here upset. So your going to get responses that sound kind of angry. But understand that these people also know that there really isn't much of a chance of you actually finding a home for a dog aggressive dog and that probably means that your dog will most likely be PTS because it's just going to end up in the pound.

I would encourage you to try to work with your dog and try to find information from this site to help. And to other posters, I would hope that you encourage her to work with the dog and not get angry with her.

I'm not seeing this at all. The first four replies, plus Tracy's, all advocate management of a rather simple issue, shift in philosophy, and show compassion by those responding.

I want to go back and clarify one point and expand on something Connie said.

There are times when re-homing a dog is in the dog's best interest. And most reasonable people would think that's a good idea. I don't believe that a rigid "you took him, he's yours forever, regardless" is fair or practical in every instance.

OP, I think you can fix this if you want to fix it.

That said, if you had come here and written: "We've tried to fix the behavior issues with our dog, but it's becoming more than we can handle, and I don't think we are the best home for him in the long run. We've found a situation for him with ____ (on a farm in the country where he won't have to worry about other dogs...with a single person who has fallen in love with him and is willing to work on his issues...with my parents who have agreed to take him in and have more experience with dogs than me...etc.)"

THEN, I'd be saying, "Sorry you couldn't make this work, but it sounds like you tried, and, hard as it is, you're doing the right thing for your dog."

Find a situation that honestly meets his needs better than what you can offer. If you can do that, that is also a responsible choice. But that won't easy at all. There are just so many dogs out there looking for homes, and yours has three strikes against him: he's not a puppy, he's not a purebred, and (worst) you'd have to disclose a behavioral issue. He couldn't survive in a shelter environment because he's dog aggressive.

Let us help you figure out a way to keep him. Or tell us that you've found him a new home.

Ashley~

I really feel for you and pray that your dog, who loves you and your family, will be able to stay with you.

My last GSD was dog aggressive, a problem, I never knew how to work with at the time. Probably my fault when he was a puppy. However, he was, sweet and I couldn't have loved him more. He died at 11y/o last year on Dec. 7th, and although I love my new puppy more each day, I still grieve for Lucca. His soothing sweetness and his being will never be forgotten.

I made many concessions just for the privilege of his company, and I would give anything to have him in my life again.

Make sure if you re-home him, that it is good for him, and that you will not spend your life regretting it!

ummmmm have to say how shocked i am to read all of these, at the moment i feel very discourage and upset.

i guess to clarify a few things, When he was a puppy i thought the right thing to do was to socialize him and have him get used to being around people and dogs and other animals so that problems didnt develop. Is this wrong?

As soon as the issues started i immediately started keeping him away from all other dogs except our own and my brothers ( he lived with us)

Our issues now are when i am trying to do the right thing and get him the exercise that he needs. I live in a town where people don't leash there dogs (I realize its against the law but thats what happens here) when i walk down the street i am constantly scanning looking for dogs loose in the front yard.
I have a whole list of streets i DONT walk down because of loose dogs, i cant take him to the river because dogs are loose there as well.etc

I realize that i made the commitment to adopt him and keep him through out his life i just want what is best for him. What if i am walking down the street (on his leash) and a dog approaches us and duke attacks him? what if i stray dog comes up to our yard? (i have a 6ft wood fenced yard but still)

I have never dealt with a problem like this and its scary. i dont know what i did to make him aggressive. i feel a little attacked to be honest. I never had any intentions of sending him to a shelter or sending him off to someone who would be in the same situation as myself. I came here to get advise. i have been worrying my self sick over this and was greatful to have a place like this to come.

 Quote: Ashley Aldrete

I have never dealt with a problem like this and its scary. i dont know what i did to make him aggressive. i feel a little attacked to be honest. I never had any intentions of sending him to a shelter or sending him off to someone who would be in the same situation as myself. I came here to get advise. i have been worrying my self sick over this and was greatful to have a place like this to come.

I don't think you did anything to make him aggressive so don't go there. Could you perhaps have sought advice a bit earlier as to how to handle it - sure, but at least you are here now. NOR do I think you are dealing with an "aggressive" dog...

A LOT of folks on the forum have to deal with dogs off leash on their walks, so you are not alone there. But before we try to deal with what to do in THAT situation, backing up and starting at square one (which I'm going to leave to Tracy and Connie and others far more experienced with reactive dogs to advise you)is step one. Don't worry about DOWN THE ROAD when the first steps are going to start safely at home.

I don't think you dog sounds unmanageable at all. Yes, you have a busy life, but so do we all. You love the dog, the dog has bonded with you and your other dog so I honestly think he deserves a good effort on your part before rehoming. YOU will grow closer to him in the process of helping him through this issue - I promise. (Working with and training our dogs teaches us far more about ourselves than we teach them.)

Don't get hurt or offended. Let THAT roll off your back and re-focus on the important situation - learning how to help this dog. You are fortunate to have a fenced in yard - MANY dog owners do not!! At least he can get some exercise there and if not enough - find a fenced in tennis court you can use...