Fearful Dog

I may have missed it, but is he fixed? If not, I would suggest fixing him...
He is obviously protective of you and the family... That is something that can be really good, or bad. BUT I would say watch him for behavior changes with you and your family. IF he gets agressive with you and yours then think of getting rid of him. He's a teen dog and may just be trying to figure out the "hormones". :-)
Keep up with the training and as he matures he may pay more attention to you. YOU must continue to be the alpha dog though so when you speak, he knows to listen...

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yes, we had the same problem. We had a german shepard. We got her as a puppy when we first got married. Same thing as you.....wonderful with us (even when whe had our first child), very gentle and loving with us, but ANYONE else, she would become ferocious and scary. We had numerous problems with that. We couldn't have anyone over without putting her in the basement. Visitors and neighbors were scared of her. Even the mail lady once wouldn't deliver our mail because she thought that gypsy would hop over the fence and eat her alive. She had nipped a couple of people as well. She did go to obedience training when she was a puppy, and she was obedient. But same as you though, once she gets in that "mode" she tunes us out completely. We watched the dog wisperer (he's wonderful BTW) on tv all the time, trying to find solutions and answers. We even got his book "caesars way" that seemed to help too. The biggest thing he said would help is to exersize your dog alot. Walk them at LEAST twice a day for 30 minutes. If you have to get on a bike and run them, that would help too. Even if you had a treadmill, he teaches you how to get them used to running on a treadmill. The point was to get them tired, because it's then that they will be submissive and then as they are tired, introduce a stranger to the house, then praise them for not going balistic.
What I found hard about that is that who has the time to do all this work???? I tried a few weeks. I even bought some roller skates and went skating with her. She was wonderful!! However, I took a small break for a couple of days because I was tired and BAM! she bit the neighbor for no reason. That was the end of it. We almost had her euthanised but found someone that was willing to take her.
It took ALOT of convincing. My husband would get angry with me and think that I was heartless for wanting to get rid of her. It's been 2 years without her, and we miss her but I'm glad we did it.
I guess my point is, try educating yourself with some books. Try a couple of different routes. And yes it can be changed. I think your vet is wrong when is comes to that. It CAN be changed but it takes work. But like many people facing this problem, we didn't have the time to make it work. It's sad.

Sorry this was so long. I feel for you though.

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My brother-in-law runs a self business called Bark Busters. They train dogs in your home. The main thing that they do is establish dominanc over the dog so you and your husband are the Alpha. His business is in NJ but I know that they do have some around here. barkbusters.com
Good Luck, K.

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Hi Well I don't know if you have cable but try watching "The Dog Whisperer" with Cesar Millan he's on the national geographic channel Friday nights and during the week at 2pm, he also has a website:

www.cesarmillaninc.com

He really gives you a different perspective on dogs.

Also honestly if your vets only recommendation is to put the dog down I'd get another vet. There are always better options.

Lastly, your dog is still in the puppy stage so he needs constant training and exercise with walks that are 45 min. or longer, to help make him a good dog.

Please if you need to, PM me, I know it's hard to know what to do when the problem is peoples safety.

God Bless
K.

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I agree that obediance classes may help. I am a dog lover myself and would also recommend surrendering him to the Humane Society versus putting him down, or try to find another home for him.

However, it sounds like your dog is great with your kids and isn't around strangers much. If it were me, I would let it be and get him in some classes. He is just very protective, which is normal. My dog has to be muzzeled at the vet as well, but she is a great loving family dog. Good Luck, and if it doesn't work out...I know of may great dog "foster" homes!

H.

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