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Awe…bless, thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing your story Shannon…..I think many people have had similar experiences with dogs as small children, and during those formative years those experiences can stick with us for a long time! As Adults we have the ability to rationalise any experience, and with rational thought it can quickly become apparent that those dogs you feared had a lot going on in their on life that was contributing to their behaviour. One of my favourite sayings is ‘when we know better, we do better!’ and that definitely applies to our relationships with dogs…..and not just our own! All the Best, Doggy Dan

I can feel your frustration and emotion, trust me I can…and I understand it. I do want you to know that there is hope and that you can turn your relationship around with your dog…..if you want to and that’s really important, because in order for your relationship and your dog’s behaviour to improve then you will need to change your behaviour first. I’m not talking about spending hour upon hour training and working with your dog, what I’m talking about is quality and relevant information that makes sense to your dog AND will help overcome the issues he is experiencing. From his perspective, he doesn’t want to behave the way he is but he feels he has to….he is confused and needs help to work it all out. Frustration and anger are not the ingredients that will help him reach his true potential…….but trust me when I say he will be your biggest teacher and you will learn the most from him, especially about yourself. It can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are in the middle of it, but I guarantee you it’s there if you head in the right direction. My approach is an holistic one, aimed at building trusting relationships between dog and owner, and my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

I paid the fee on him when my spouse retired (spouse picked this dog out at a shelter) and I KNOW my spouse is doing a lot of work but now I think there is separation anxiety setting in and now we’re held hostage by the dog. We can’t have people come over without him behaving like an idiot (I say put him in the crate when people enter so they can come over and say hi, he can settle a little, then he can come out) and we can’t go anywhere and leave him with the other adults in the household because we don’t know that he won’t scratch (again) or bite.

Thank heavens the dog is good about being crated overnight and enjoys the puzzle toys I’ve purchased, I’ve looked into scent training, we’re going to be enrolled in obedience, I’ve purchased a no-pull harness, we may get another kind because this dog can set back and slide out of it, I have hopes that maybe agility is in the future eventually, he’s learning some basic commands but challenging us constantly and honestly – I dread coming home to this dog. I don’t want to be jumped on, I don’t want to be used as a tackling dummy and all I want to do is hide in my bedroom to get away from him.

All the dogs I’ve had up to this point were hunting dog breeds and while I put a lot of time and training into them I ENJOYED THEM. I do not LIKE THIS DOG and now I’m saddled with it for another 10 years or more (it’s 13 months old – neutered about 6 weeks ago) and it’s sapping the joy out of my life. I can’t get a dog that I like when I retire because I doubt this animal won’t rip it apart because of its prey drive and food aggressiveness.

I want to cry whenever I come home out of dread, but I can’t. So I cry in the car for 45 minutes as I drive home from work. My spouse is working hard with it and doing well; I will put a lot of work into him as well but all I can say is I’m tolerating this dog. Why spouse has always had such a soft spot for this breed is beyond me. I’m guessing that the only GSD my spouse encountered as a child/young adult were old and/or beautifully trained dogs so it was easy to discount my stating this is a breed that requires a disproportionate amount of time, energy and training for so little pleasure.

FML.

Hi Rick…big thumbs up for choosing to bring a rescue dog into your family. Sometimes dogs develop certain behaviours that initially their owners think is cute, but they can then develop into a much more intense, almost obsessive behaviour….like biting water out of a hose! A great way to overcome the behaviour is to do a little practice around the garden hose, starting at a lower pressure. You can enlist another member of the family to operate the hose as you have your dog on-leash and positioned further away. Turn the hose on slowly and if he becomes agitated then hold the leash short so he movement is restricted and he will be less likely to become over-excited. Practice this until he is not reacting and then increase the flow of the water, repeating the technique. If he becomes really agitated then turn the hose off and allow him to calm down and then try again. Short, frequent practice sessions will keep his adrenaline level lower and show him how you now want him to behave. You can use treats/praise to reward the correct behaviours as well. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com also shows you very clearly how to address obsessive behaviours…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Thanks for sharing your stories about Max, Terri! What a special dog. Dan

Hi Marvel! This type of behaviour can be all about a dog trying to gain attention. If she starts to walk between your legs try gently taking her by the collar, move her out of your personal space and hold her there for a few seconds. Make sure you do all of this without saying anything to her…..just allow your calm and consistent actions do the work for you. She will soon realise the behaviour is no longer working for her and she will stop doing it! Give that a try, Doggy Dan

Hi Carl,
Your post raises something I talk about a lot…the difference between dog training and dog behaviour. Dog training (sit/stay/drop) are all great things to teach a dog BUT when it comes to addressing behavioural issues this type of training is not suitable. I draw the analogy where I liken Dog Training as ‘icing’ on a cake….but first you need a cake otherwise all that ‘icing’ can come crashing down under the slightest amount of pressure. How many times have you heard a dog owner say….”my dog’s great until I try to take them for a walk/they see another dog etc.’ What we do is teach owners how to make the ‘cake’…the foundation of showing any dog that they can trust their owner with all the tough decisions no matter what is going on around them.
So my personal opinion is that you can absolutely help this dog provided you give him the right information and focus on the ‘cake’ as well as not just the ‘icing’. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to go about this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

I was brought up with German Shepherds and even named after my parents favourite Karl, though my mother registered my name with a C not a K.

I have not owned a dog for over 40 years, though now retired young at 56 and all the time in the world to enjoy a loyal companion.

I have been to see a 15 month old who was returned to the breeder by its owner due to family and friends being scared of its behaviour.

He barks and lunges at people he doesn’t know out of protection if himself, his family and the property. He was in my face and telling me that he was in charge.

Yet when the breeder got out his biscuits and used them as treats, he followed all the commands intently. I took some treats and he was totally fine with me. Yet afterwards returned to a bark and lunge to remind me who was boss of the manor.

They are not sure how he was treated by the owner, though it seems that he lived most of the time in a large crate and is used to wearing a muzzle

Once he had calmed down, he was playing with the breeders partner and you could see how much love he has to give and licking his face, etc.

Based upon your knowledge, assume you would not see any issues in training him and using the dog code to change this behaviour to be that loyal loving companion.

I am aware that he is totally fine out walking and meeting people walking their dogs, yet not people on their own.

I would appreciate your response, though it seems that you have covered these traits well already.

I know that it will take time and effort to change this behaviour, thankfully I have that in abundance, especially being outside and active as I walk about 50 miles a week.

Regards
Carl

Hi Charla, it is amazing just how much a calmer approach from owners can ease the mind of an anxious and overwhelmed dog! Simple, common sense strategies are often the best! Doggy Dan

Hi Rachel,
It is a really common trait for family dogs to get a little agitated when younger members of the family venture too far ahead on a walk. The dog feels that the child could be in danger and that the rest of the family should catch up to ensure they are kept safe! You can solve the behaviour with a just a little practice and by putting a few key principles in place. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has a free 3 day trial going at the moment….it will give you an idea of the processes we use to help dogs (and their owners) live a happy and stress-free life…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Vickie,
Illness and injury can make dogs feel really vulnerable, which can lead to them over-reacting in certain situations. Just to reassure you, you can address this behaviour even if you feel your dog has missed an important socialisation period. Dogs are way more resilient than we often give them credit for and they can learn to adapt their behaviour if they are given the right information and the opportunity to learn. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…we currently have a FREE trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Tawnya,
Some dogs can really struggle meeting new people, for very good reason if people have treated them poorly in the past, but you can help calm things down by developing a consistent strategy and remaining calm yourself. It can be really helpful to pop your dog on-leash whenever visitors come to your home, or if you are out on a walk allow her some extra space and keep her close to you. Ask the person to delay greeting her, in fact ask them to ignore her all together (no eye contact or speaking to) until she is totally calm in their presence. This will give her the time she needs to work out the person means her no ham and is nothing to be worried about. If you feel she is genuinely calm then they can attempt a greeting BUT ask them to call her to them to say ‘hi’ rather than approach her and invade her personal space. Doing it this way allows her the freedom of choice and if she is not comfortable or she is still a bit anxious then she will not approach them….which if she chooses to stay away then avoid forcing her to interact. If she starts to bark then calmly place her out of the room until she is quiet and then try again. Practice, consistency and patience will prove successful here. If you need any additional help then my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…it’s a FREE trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan