When a German Shepherd shows aggression towards someone and is met with aggression back, the dog views it as a challenge – and a German Shepherd will not back down from a challenge. because people scare me about my 5 month female german shepherd she keeps on biting me in a playful way and im afraid she will turn out to be vicious. You have to allow your pet German shepherd to mingle with other dogs and people in your family or friends circle, to bring out their cordial and playful sides among those who are strange and foreign at first. Dogs can have some pretty subtle and easily missed body signals that they use to communicate how they feel. Just don't. I will give you an example from my personal experience when the other person did not do as instructed, and they got nipped. This topic is addressed a number of times on this site because it is so important. If you lay each brick carefully, you will have a solid wall. As long as you stay still and quiet, the dog may lose interest. Figuring out what these triggers are is winning half of the battle in “curing” your German Shepherd’s aggression. More likely, the dog is just trying to tell you to leave the area. More specifically, the constant is you and the discipline that you give to your puppy. GSD are very active and require a lot of play and exercise time. This article will break down some common things everyone should know about German Shepherds. Do another while out shopping. Make sure the object is close to you and not extended out toward the dog. Probably every K-9 and army German Shepherd unit knows this command. As with all kinds of dogs, the most important thing to keep in mind is that how a dog was raised as a puppy will influence how they behave in their adult life. I've owned and trained German Shepherds for over 20 years now. Whether you call them German Shepherds, Alsatians or even Deutscher Schäferhund, this working-line breed can be traced back all the way to the 1800s. Keep cool and stay quiet. This could be a board, a briefcase, or a large book if that’s all you have. So make sure that your puppy experiences as many different surfaces as possible. It is possible to manage an aggressive dog. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean that older dogs are a lost cause. Health issues can also impact how a German Shepherd behaves. If the object is protruding, the dog might be able to squeeze around or under it and get to you.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thegermanshepherder_com-leader-4','ezslot_20',120,'0','0'])); If you don’t have any flat object to act as a wall between you and the dog, then any object can be used to direct the dog’s jaws toward. German Shepherds and Pugs have only started being cross-bred relatively recently. It will think, “well that didn’t work and that didn’t work, but this worked. Do not try to restrain it, and certainly never smack or hit it. German Shepherds can be trained to listen, follow, and … If the dog has any intention of lunging, you don’t want the squishiest parts of you to take the brunt of the attack. We can’t stress this enough: good training early on is the best way to prevent a German Shepherd from developing aggressive tendencies. Historically, in movies and television especially, we see examples of German Shepherds behaving badly. And you must. The GSD has a powerful jaw, sharp teeth, and strong muscles, all aspects capable of mortally wounding a human being. According to DogsBite.org, a national nonprofit working to support dog bite victims and reduce dog attacks, attacks by German shepherds and German shepherd mixes account for less than 2 percent of all reported dog attacks between 1982 and 2010. If you have tried everything within your own power to manage your dog’s aggression and it has not worked, don’t give up yet. Their body will go stiff and statuesque. The dog will freeze. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thegermanshepherder_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_17',116,'0','0'])); And if you meet your dog getting physical with you getting physical, you are simply showing it that it has now found a way to get your attention when all else has failed. I'm originally from Indiana, though I've lived in many different states and traveled extensively. Do another inside of your car. I don't know if this works on German Sheperds, but I asked a staffordshire bull terrier expert how to restrain a staffie if it locked onto my arm or something. Or if you live in an apartment building, your dog will be crossing paths with many other dogs in close quarters. Try to place your dog between a barrier of some kind and yourself. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thegermanshepherder_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',124,'0','0'])); It’s not just people that you need to get your German Shepherd used to meeting in order for it to be properly socialized. Slowly maneuver yourself away from the dog. However, this time when your german shepherd jumps up and bites you, let out a yelp or cry of pain before turning away and not facing them. Seriously. To him, he was just clearly defining his boundaries. How to Prevent Aggression Through Proper Training and Socialization. The process continues with … Rather it means positively reinforcing your GSD every time that it does something correctly. Do not raise your voice or say anything at all to your dog. They might bring a toy to you or bring you their leash to go out for a walk. If this is the case, you will always have to be on your guard. Just ask yourself, “is this different for my puppy?”. It is unfortunate that people do not know any better than to explain their dog’s aggressive behavior in this way, because what that unintentionally does is create an excuse for the dog to continue behaving in this manner, while also giving the owner an excuse to continue allowing the behavior. Because of your reaction, in the future, when your dog wants something he may not even try to get your attention in any other way because you have proven to it that getting aggressive works quite well. According to the FCI, the breed's English language name is German Shepherd Dog.The breed was officially [who?] As simple as something like this may sound it can make a big difference to your puppy. And when it’s used – that person, on which the command has been targeted will have to hope for the best, as outrunning a trained dog nowadays is not a simple task… An owner that is not able to assume the dominant role with their dog should refrain from visiting the dog park until they do. This can be a loaded question with a variable answer. By doing so you will be able to ensure that there is not a medical cause for its behavior. During the course of its life, your dog will run across countless other dogs. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thegermanshepherder_com-leader-2','ezslot_4',118,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thegermanshepherder_com-leader-2','ezslot_5',118,'0','1'])); Understand that this will take time, repetition, and consistency on your part. When a German Shepherd selects you as a playmate, take it as a sign of affection. While your puppy is going through all these changes, there needs to be a constant. Fighting back should be a last resort, because it can make a dog attack more ferocious. The dog may begin to growl or bark, but not all German Shepherd will vocalize before they attack. Because German Shepherds are one of the brightest breeds, be sure to be consistent, use positive reinforcement-based methods, provide plenty of … Bite inhibition means a puppy learns to use its mouth gently. Originally bred as herding dogs, to protect cattle and other livestock, this smart breed was eager to learn other skills. As long as you carefully train a German Shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder, you shouldn’t have any biting problems. When the dog shows signs of fear or aggression, have your assistant stop and wait. While you don’t want to casually saunter away with an angry GSD snapping at your heels, you don’t want to run at full speed either. A German Shepherd can become aggressive to a stranger because he perceives the stranger as a threat to his owner and his territory. Slow, smooth, fluid movements are key. Much of it has to do with the environment that the dog was raised in as a puppy and how well socialized it was. After all, what can’t your dog do? How do I stop my German Shepherd from tearing up my shoes and furniture? Sometimes a puppy will lightly nip or put their mouth on someone, but not actually draw any blood. This may make your dog fearful, in which case they’d continue to bite out of fear for their safety. This is a yes and no answer, and it has a lot to do with dog psychology and training. Just because German Shepherds got a bad reputation years ago doesn’t actually make the entire breed bad. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'thegermanshepherder_com-box-3','ezslot_6',108,'0','0'])); The biggest question is: Can a German Shepherd kill you? Usually, a dog’s parents or siblings will teach them not to do that by yipping in response to tell them it hurts or they don’t like it. You can look at the book Training Your German Shepherd on Amazon to get more tips about how you can train your GSD. For the most part, an unleashed dog running toward you barking and snarling isn’t usually going in with the intent to bite you. So when introducing your GSD to a new person, your behavior is key, as well as the behavior of the other person. Unfortunately, they might also cause scarring, which can take a toll on you emotionally. While dominant behavior is exhibited by a dog to show everyone who’s boss, the root of almost all aggression is fear. Ensure you are a responsible dog owner and encourage others to abide by the rules.. Pet dogs can attack and kill sheep – remember this includes your own pet dog no matter how docile!. if a 5 years old german shepherd bites or attacks someone and she/he bites? Many well documented cases where a GSD has attacked their … Your dog loves you and has limitless forgiveness toward you – you should have the same attitude. This is ok – praise your puppy for asking politely. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thegermanshepherder_com-box-4','ezslot_26',111,'0','0'])); It is at this point that her puppies, because of their fear, may also begin to become prone to aggression. Once the dog is dead, there’s no turning back. 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