i have an 11 month old GSD who at times is aggressive towards other dogs

what i mean "at times" is any dog he is familiar with, ie. dogs in my neighbourhood who he has grown up with or sees very frequently there are no issues

at the dog park any dog who is immeadiately submissive, or any owner i am having a friendly discussion with he is also fine

the problem arises when another dog is not so quickly submissive or when another dog unexpectedly comes into my space

what kind of agression is this? as far as i can tell it is a dominance issue and a protection issue (if you can consider that an issue)

what can i do to reduce this aggression besides the obvious "avoid the dog park?"

any links or advice are appreciated! thanks

mv

 Quote: mark vogt

... the problem arises when another dog is not so quickly submissive or when another dog unexpectedly comes into my space

There's an overwhelming "flavor" here of "the dogs get to decide on submission and dominance and pushiness."

How is a strange dog even in a position of submitting or not?

Your dog isn't protecting you, BTW. He may be resource guarding (not a good thing, indicating that he perceives you as his possession) ....

But it's almost irrelevant (except that if I saw resource guarding in my dog, I would know that I had better step up and start making the decisions about aggression, etc., and stop allowing my dog to perceive this as his job).

What's more relevant to me is, how is this situation even arising? It's not your dog's job to determine appropriate reaction to strange dogs.

How is a strange dog "in your space"? Do you mean unleashed dogs approaching you and your leashed dog?


This scenario being OK with you: at the dog park any dog who is immeadiately submissive ... is also fine IMO is a disaster in the making.

eta
Back to the dog park: that whole thing about allowing the uncontrolled dogs to establish rank, etc., may be a common idea, but that doesn't make it a smart or good one. JMO! And it's a huge part of why off-leash dog parks have so much potential for disaster. Again JMO!

I agree 100 % with Connie's post.

Hopefull, you will listen to the post that Connie made & not think that it is great to have the bad ass dominate dog at the dog park. It is NOT a good thing.

You might be able to desensitize this dog's aggression to some degree. It is unlikely, that you will FIX it or eradicate it completely, but that may depend on the reason (source of)for it. You may also be able to 'correct' the dog when it is displayed, if you are in a control the dog's position, like having him on a leash.

The likely hood of any of this happening if you choose to have this dog running off leash in a dog park with other dogs that YOU cannot control is unrealistic.

BTW...I own a dog aggressive dog & it's a PITA!

right on, thanks anne

i will just keep up my training, and reduce the possibility for this to occur

This isn't dog aggression. If it was you couldn't get near another dog yet you comment about how he's ok if the other dog lowers it's head or rolls on it's back.
I think he's just being a bully and your allowing it.
He should be neutral at best with other dogs and he's not going to get there if he isn't corrected for his behavior.
Stay away from dog parks. They're a disaster waiting to happen!

" ..... he's just being a bully and your allowing it. "


Yup.

Again, this would be one of my examples of why off-leash dog parks are a bad idea.

No to pile on you, Mark, because I think you are asking and absorbing! It's good you posted, because letting your dog do this is going to eventually lead to another dog saying "Blank you!" and they're off.

A dog fight is not pretty, not amusing, and not safe even for innocent bystanders (dogs and humans, including children).

"Stay away from dog parks. They're a disaster waiting to happen!"

Exactly. I guarantee that there's another dog who has the pushy/bully habit, whose owner allows it, and who is likely to cross paths with your dog.