Hello all...had a bit of an adventure today. I regularly take my 6 mo. old GSD to my brother's house to run around with his two GSD's (who are his parents). They have always gotten along, save for a couple minor corrections if he's pestering them too much.

Today however, within about 3 or 4 minutes of being chased by mine who was wanting to play, the male (dad) snapped and attacked him, leaving a bleeding hole in his neck and him shrieking in pain. I took him straight to the vet (and got pulled over on the way) and they took care of it - he'll be ok.

But my question relates to his parents, other dogs, etc. Given that it happened with dogs he is very familiar with, was this just a hard correction that I shouldn't worry about in the future if I want to take him over there, or are there bigger issues now?

What about his becoming very aggressive with other dogs? Where I live we encounter other dogs almost every day. As it is currently, the hair on his back always stands up when he sees another dog and he usually barks once or twice. He never charges or gets nasty - it seems more defensive and curious and when he does meet them he's good about not overdoing it. But I would also like to know how to prevent the hair-raising and barking just on sight of another dog from a distance (more than 15-20 ft).

Thanks.

I would not let him play with the older dogs anymore, at 6 months he is at an age where they will not tolerate him like they do young pups.

Until what age should I keep him away?

I forgot to add - I've had him on a flat leather collar since day 1. He is about to outgrow it and I'd like to put a prong collar on him. At what age is the prong collar appropriate?

Is there a certain issue that makes you feel he is in need of a pron?

I started with a prong collar at about 5 months for walks and for chasing/trying to break the cats neck.
he now wears it at other times as well when I feel it is needed...he sometimes has more challenging days with the cats, or just in general... he is really fond of challenging authority.

But he does not wear it all the time because it tears up his fur and I worry about irritation to his neck area.

I would keep him away from the adult male from now on, it is just not worth the risk to his safety and mental and emotional well being.

It just isn't worth the risk.

Well.. This could have been 100% preventable if you were educated on pack structure and other things. I think you might want to do some reading on Ed's site about pack structure and dog fighting/dominance issues. I would not hesitate to buy a book on body language by Brenna


http://leerburg.com/dominantdogs.htm

http://leerburg.com/dogfight.htm

http://leerburg.com/packstructure.htm

http://leerburg.com/groundwork.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_behavior

http://leerburg.com/984.htm

http://leerburg.com/995.htm

I'm sorry that your gsd got attacked and he didn't deserved to be bullied or corrected by other dogs. I believe it was because you make a bad choice to bring the dog over your brother's house. Now, you wonder why it happens. Well, the answers are in those books and the links that Ed wrote about pack issue/dog fighting. You need to read all of those links and books, then you should have a better understanding why it happens and how to prevent it.

Sorry i should have been clearer - he has been pulling a lot. It wouldn't be full-time, just for walks, especially for my girlfriend as he easily overpowers her.

Thanks.

Yes I think he is old enough to use it one walks, but you have to train with it, you can't just put it on and expect it to stop the pulling, he will just learn to pull through it.

What have you tried with the flat collar to solve the pulling?

I have been working with Yote on the prong for over 6 months and we are just now to the point where we can go for a very short walk on a flat collar and he won't try to drag me down the street. He is at 100% loose leash walking with the prong on though, which is really really nice.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

Yes I think he is old enough to use it one walks, but you have to train with it, you can't just put it on and expect it to stop the pulling, he will just learn to pull through it.

Double true. I have a 65-lb male who pulls like a freight train on his prong collar. He is more controllable with it on though (as in, can't drag me down like he can with a flat collar - he is VERY strong!). But what you need is training - the collar itself will not fix anything.