I'm beginning to get worried about Mojo's aggression toward other people. It seemed to start after he becomes comfortable in his surroundings, anyone that approaches us he goes nuts, barking, growling lunging at them as they walk by.
I live in a condo, with a large yard out front. I began taking him there on day one, about three times a day. It started one day after maybe two weeks after I got him. Some guy walked by and he started barking at him. I didn't think much of it. Then the neighbor walks by and again flipped out. Sometimes he doesn't do anything but look at them walking by. However over the last few days he seems to bark at everyone. Before when I take him out he was very shy of people, now he's beginning to bark at people all the time wherever we are. I've tried the leash pops but he doesn't seem affected by it. I know he's to young for a prong collar. Should I do the scruff of the neck disipline to try and get him to calm down or just wait and see how it goes. He's as aggressive as a 13 week old GSD can be.

If my pup Cato (9 weeks) even so much as looks at a stranger walking by, which he does, he is a baby seeing the world for the first time, I do something, anything (noise, scruff feet, call his name) to get focus on me, eye contact then treat. Marking attention on me. Sometimes it's constant, other times he does really well and already ignores strangers.

The only thing Cato has barked and lunged at is the cat another room away, although again, total distraction with that damn duck he loves or *anything* to get his attention, praise and treat when focus is back on you. This is how I am handling him at this time and so far so good.

If you make it no big deal, hopefully, your dog will pick up on that and follow suit.

Oh, and did you purchase the Dog Obedience video (or Puppy 8 weeks to 8 months) Good information.

 Quote: mike arnold

Mr. Egan,

There are those much smarter than I who will provide some suggestions and opinions, and mine are easily discounted and dismissed but that seldom inhibits my propensity for obfuscation - now you gots ta admit that was a cool sentence.

Mike, you crack me up.

Ed, I'm not a trainer but, here's a small suggestion that perhaps you can incorporate into the plan:

If you are outside the condo w/your pup and you spot someone in the distance approaching, make sure the timing is just right and then completely engage your pup, get and keep him totally focused on you as the person is approaching. Anything that is completely enjoyable for him. Does he go nuts for a ball? Does he love tug with a rag? Does he love food?

My dog loves other dogs so when I'm on a leisurely walk (no heeling or training is underway), and I see someone w/a dog approaching,I take out a treat, put it under his nose and get him focused on me. I start walking backwards so I see his every move, where he's looking, etc. and talk to him as a get him trained on the treat. If he focuses completely on me and not the dog, he gets the treat, I then take out another and do the same thing until the dog passes. As I continue to do this, I am increasing the time he actually gets the treat so for my 2 year old, he'll end up with getting 2 maybe 3 treats during any 'incident'. Sometimes I'll say, "Where is it?" which he knows as a game and he has to find the treat. So now he's determined to find the treat hiding in my hand behind my back. I mix it up every time. It's working very well for me so I thought it might be helpful in your situation too since he's only a pup and this very well may not be an aggression topic.

Good luck with your little tiger Ed!

Ok, mike I must admitt when I first started reading your reply, I was like is this guy for real? Too much Bill O'Oeilly or what?
Thanks though, you have some good ideas.

Yes I got him at 9 weeks or so, he just looked at people as they walked by back then.

Yes I have Ed's 8 to 8 DVD and Basic OB.

Yesterday I discovered the old saying a tired puppy is a good puppy. I took him out and he did his usual barking at people, but I ran him harder than normal. Afterwards we hung around and people walked by and he was back to just looking at them. The second time we went out some young kids and their dad were playing with a ball, I made him sit and watch quietly. He did well.

Thanks for the advise, I just don't want a people aggressive dog and was afraid it was the beginning of such behavior.

Eddie

Ed why don't you show up at training and get real help

Hi Angelique, I plan on it soon. I just wanted to try and get some basics down and let him mature some.