Excellent post Mike and I completely agree. The creature in training was the human, more so than the dog. Had you let her handle one of your GSD's, maybe you would have had a confused human (handling another dog) and a confused GSD (handled by someone other than it's consistent handler). In any case, well done!

No need to get defensive, we can agree to disagree. I stand by the thinking that a rescue that anybody has for just 2 weeks should work on bonding before introducing corrections. We'll also have to agree to disagree that a dog that'll let a stranger give corrections is a weak dog, in my opinion it is. My favorite dog is like this, no biggie. Maybe you just never met one that would really make you pay for that mistake. I wish you and your neighbor well and of course the dog,
Good luck,
AL

OMG, you & I must be "twins separated at birth" <:-) My grown son just rolls his eyes & tells Duke the Dobie, "Believe me, Dukels, I know exactly how you FEEL" (whenever I foist kisses on him)...

As a matter of fact, I had to get my Akita because my uber-aloof Borzoi simply will NOT be affectionate, no matter what (all that mushy stuff is WAY beneath his dignity) -- So when I was selection-testing Akita litters, the pup who was the biggest kissy-face, all other considerations being equal, went home with me <:-) and she's still a super-licker at 2.5 years old, but has also been an ultimate guardian right from the get-go!

Sounds like we may be of the same ilk. My Dobe is a top-notch watch-dog, able to strike fear in the hearts of all would-be intruders convincingly; but the illusion dissolves instantly when mum wants smoochies. It's one of the things I like best about Dobes; mine have always been driven, menacing.........love-sponges. I wouldn't want to be an intruder trying to break into my house though....

We got a Boxer about a year ago. He was not feed and locked in a room. That is really all I know. He and I are close, I love him very much.
He has always been a little nervous at different places and with different people. My first visit to the vet with him he snaped at the vet so it was on with the muzzel.
I took him to the petsmart hotal for a stay and he did ok...but very nerved out.
They after a few moths he went back to the petsmart hotal and snaped at one of the workers as the reached in to pet him while I was there. He stayed there and they said he was good.
Ok, 5 months later.
He has jumped a fence to go after another dog at a friends house.
He snapped again at the vet. Then got kicked out of petsmart for snaping at them and freaking out after I left.
While walking he lunges at people with no warning.
Today he jumped another fence to go running after a person walking down the street.
He works well with me. Sit, stay, down, no. At home in our house he is so sweet and loving. Just don't knock at the door.
I'm at the end of my rope. I don't trust him. I'm having bark busters come to the house next week.
Should I have hope? It's breaking my heart.
I would put a picture up but I'm at work.
Help!

Jennifer,

First, You should re-post this question in a brand new thread. You changed the title of the original poster's question and the whole subject. This is affectionately known as "hi-jacking" a thread. No biggie, just re-post it.

I'm not an experienced trainer, but my current GSD (from rescue) was very much the same way when I got her about 18 mos. ago. I believe it was fear aggression. You have a fair amount of work to do. First, get/read/listen to all the articles/podcasts here about groundwork, basic obedience and such and start establishing yourself as the pack leader - in charge at all times and also letting your dog know that you are there to protect him so he doesn't have to react to everything aggressively. You have to develop and project some control and confidence. Right now he's picking up on your insecurity and distrust and that's just contributing to his bad behavior. You're not the pack leader, so his is assuming the role. After doing some reading and gaining some understanding and confidence on how you should be acting, I'd start socializing the hell out of him - in small doses and in situations where you can control him and he's not overwhelmed by a lot of people or new environments. When you see he can handle the simpler encounters, you can ratchet it up to where there's more people, more dogs, etc. - but definitely not for a while.

The fact that he bit the vet twice shows the vet is either dumb or, more likely, didn't remember the first encounter or that you didn't warn them that he needed to be muzzled, knowing what happened before.

I don't know what bark busters is, but I'd save the time and money and devote it instead to reading/listening to the absolutely great resources available on this site. And keep coming back with questions. There are a lot of very knowledgeable members here, more so than me. What you need to do is very basic stuff, but it takes time and a commitment to keep at it for the long haul. You have more basic problems to address here than a visit from bark busters can cure. On the plus side, follow some of the advice you find here and you'll be proud and amazed at how you yourself can turn this dog around.

JMO HTH!

Mike

Hi Jennifer,

If you haven't already done so you need to take the time and read this: http://www.leerburg.com/dominantdogs.htm

Read all of it.

And before you sit down and read this you absolutely MUST make your fence higher and escape-proof and do not leave your dog outside alone until you are 100% sure he can't get out. Do it ASAP. It's only a matter of time before he bites someone and then any options you may have with this dog will be gone.

Jennifer, Mike & Sarah are right on. Don't throw your money away on Bark Busters or ANY trainer right now for that matter. It's not going to help YOU as much as spending a day or two reading all the fantastic & FREE info on Leerburg. Listen to the podcasts, read the e-books, then ask questions on the forum. How old is your Boxer and where/how did you get him? Fix that escaping asap! He could also be hit by a car.

Mr. Arnold & Mr. Curbow,

Deffently not trying to ad fuel to the fire here. But i do agree with both of you.

Curbow, You say that you think that a dog is week if someone else corrects the dog other then the owner. To a degree i agree with you. Now if this was a working dog then i would agree 100% but this is a new house dog.

What has happened (in my opinion) is that Mike Arnold's neighbor invited him to show her how to train her dog. The dog has only be there for two weeks correct? To me this means that the dog is still getting to know his new owner. When she brought Mike into the picture the dog had no clean answer who was in charge, he didn't see Mike as a outsider just another person. I am guessing now the dog sees the pack as three strong, more then likely the dog sees mike as the pack leader and then hopefully the owner then the dog.

Arnold, I can deffently see where Curbow is coming from. I personally wouldn't let anyone hold the leash to my dog ever. But that is just different training methods. I do hope you keep on helping your neighbor and i am sure her and the dog will become better from it.