Hi Wendy, I’m no expert but I am currently living with/managing (and totally adoring I might add) a weak-nerved, potentially dangerous, fear biter. We have got things well under control but #1 – I am his protector. His mode of defense is much different from your girl in that he is full on frontal and it’s triggered by eye contact. Should someone have their back turned, be walking beside us or walking away, he has no interest, is aloof and actually very calm. However, children, within a close proximity, are his biggest fear. I won’t get into this but in order to protect him and maintain our trust; he is always removed from a situation when a child is present or should they arrive.
There were a couple of things in your post that caught my attention:
The second owner was a breeder/farmer. Her job there was to guard the barn and herd cows.
She loves the hose but has to patiently wait for me to finish watering my flowers before playtime.
Herding cows is thirsty work. I can’t help but think this may have been one of the happiest times in her life. Do you know how long she lived with this farmer? She got to guard and herd – two things that are inherently bred into these dogs. She had a job. She doesn’t want to/can’t breed, she wants to work. Is there any chance you can allow her to do this, a club perhaps or a nearby farmer that needs some help?
It was like this big powerful dog, who scares most people, was confused and scared.
One thing I have to mention is that this one incidence is the first time she showed fear. Most of the time when we have visitors she tries to stay in between the visitor and our family
She is so nurturing, she loves small children, any small children. She has the most issues with adults mainly men.
It sounds like she wasn’t showing a lot of fear initially when you got her. Possibly the normal discomfort and uneasiness most dogs would feel when coming into a new home – in her case being re-homed for the 4th time. I think this dog is terribly confused.
…all of a sudden she quietly will nip their calves and ankles when they move around
She has never gone for more than a calf or an ankle, but this time she lunged for the upper body.
I need to let you know that Kinsa nipped my father's ankle last night.
She bite my father, no skin broken, but a full out bark, bark, two front legs up and bite at his hip. He looked at her and then turned his back and that is when the bite happened
The one job she loved, she was removed from. In order for her to maintain some stability in her mind she’s trying to incorporate the actions she was taught and rewarded for (I’m thinking more natural self-satisfaction and worthiness than anything) into a somewhat unstable situation as she sees it. She is now being corrected for exerting her love of herding onto humans. When she sees your father moving away, she could possibly be trying to speed him up, or perhaps she thinks his place is back with the pack/herd. Now she is receiving corrections for these actions, confusing her even more and associating them with your father. The natural act is now becoming painful causing her to react more aggressively (hips, upper body)– seems to me out of frustration/confusion.
She is very obedient except when visitors come to our home.
Outside of our home she is 99.9% obedient.
In October, my boy will have been with us for two years. The first year and a half, he was immediately crated when anyone entered our property. Most people didn’t even know I owned a shepherd. We work a minimum of 3 hrs a day on strenuous exercise and obedience. His job is to obey me and he does this with such enthusiasm – I would even go so far as to say he loves it. I must always keep up my end though – constantly giving him “jobs” to do.
He’s to a point now that we can have company over and once everything calms down, he’s invited out. The rules are still the same as day one though. No one touches or talks to him. They are simply not allowed to interact with the gorgeous shepherd lying obediently by my feet. Again, I am his protector at all times – he trusts this and will do anything I ask of him including calmly lying at the feet of a trusted guest, if that’s where I’ve asked him to lay.
Your girl needs a job. I can't help but think herding would be right up her alley and give her an outlet for her frustration. A job and daily dedication to obedience training will give her a purpose and activity that she has a love and natural ability for. "She's 99.9 obedient outside the home". She sounds perfect for a club or farmwork. Problems arise when visitors come over - she must be removed and crated.
My goal would be to have a dog that I can trust with anyone, but I am now seeing this may not be the case.
This is probably a very noble goal but personally, I want my dogs trusting my judgment in who they can trust and interact with. Unfortunately, I have more trust in my dogs than I do with most people and in order to maintain their trust in me, I’m very selective about who I allow to interact with them.
You’ve indicated you want to “rescue and rehabilitate” dogs. This is not easy work and it certainly doesn’t happen overnight. Depending on the issues, her resiliency, genetic temperament and the effort you are willing to put in, getting her rehabilitated to an acceptable social level may be a year or two or perhaps it will be a life time of adapting to the way you live with her.
Again, I, as well as many others, totally concur with what Mr. Rambeau has advised you to do. Until you have complete faith in her ability to calmly obey you at all times, she needs to be crated when you have guests over. It's a simple solution and will keep everyone safe.
The upside to all your hard work will be a tremendous improvement to Kinsa's quality of life and you'll get the dog that you have worked so hard to create.
I wish you the best of luck with her.
Re: Trying to figure out the bite drive in my GSD
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