overpowering me and aggressive

I got my dog (german sheppard) at easter after she had been rescued. Shes app 7 months and can already pull my step dad along and hes pretty strong, it wouldnt be to bad but because she's rescued shes very timid and protective so if someone passes by she will go for them. She dosnt sink her teeth in but we have still had to get a muzzle. She has had to do the 1st training course twise this is her second time now. Dont get me wrong she is really intelligent, she can even lock the door and if you tie her up she will untie the knot, It always makes people look at her as a dumb, untrained mongrel but she's not like that. The people that Know her get to see what a wonderfull dog she is i just wish everyone could see it. Can anyone help?

Hi,
Your dog is obviously not stupid. She is very young to have learned how to make people leave her alone which is what she wants due to her past experience.
Training is the way forward although a class would probably be counter productive for her. She is still a baby and this has to be overcome soon to give the dog a decent quality of life. I would love to help you but this is a problem that needs serious one to one training for you both. Ask at the training class if anyone knows of a dog trainer that can help, try your local shelters and ask at local pet shops. Good luck, she is just a frightened baby and needs to learn the limits of acceptable behaviour. You need to learn how to give her the confidence in you as her pack leader - it's a challenge that you should give serious thought to. She may be better off with someone more experienced. If you decide to go on with her you will learn so much and have a fantastic relationship with your dog, but proffesional help is needed here. Again, good luck and let us know how you get on.

wow Thanks, If she dosnt get better we are considering taking her to a animal sicatrist/hypnotist.

Hi again,
She really doesn't need a psychiatrist and a hypnotist will not be able to help. Good solid training with a sympathetic experienced trainer is all that you both need. She will not improve on her own and needs to know she is safe and how she should behave to be happy. Good luck.

A couple of thoughts here -- one, get a prong collar. It is a self-correcting collar which should be fitted at the mid-point of the neck. Do Not jerk on this collar in any way. As she moves against it, she will put pressure around her own neck and will come to realize that that is no fun and slack off. I've recommended them to many of my students and had great success when they're used properly.
Thought two, begin a program of desensatization or distance socializing. What you do is take her somewhere where she can see people doing all kinds of things such as a park or mall but keep her at a distance from the activity praising her quietly so long as she behaves. SLOWLY, move her a few feet closer and keep praising as long as she behaves. If she begins to misbehave, stop the praise and back up a bit. Once she settles again, beging the praising again and let it go for the day. We have a tendency to be very strong with negative responses, so don't respond negatively as that will reinforce the "bad" behavior even more. Don't let anyone approach her for a good while as she will see this as a threat. If you ever notice when dogs approach each other, it appears as though they get up on their toes and hold their heads high -- it's a dominance thing. What your dog is perceiving is all these quick-moving, potentially dangerous, dominance things approaching and she's going to let them know early on that she's not going to take it. Kill or be killed, so to speak.
The muzzle might be a less than great idea as she will come to associate it with being around scary things and it may negatively reinforce the behavior you're trying to prevent. One-on-one professional training is a possibility, but make sure you like how the trainer acts around your dog and you. The more the dog can get out and about and get praised for good behavior the better she'll be, but go slowly and quit while she's being good. She will eventually realize that not everyone is out to hurt her and will learn to trust you and your judgement. It'll just take time.

[This message has been edited by ktreva52 (edited November 15, 2000).]

Have to say a word here about prong collars. They are wonderful tools in the right hands but when I have worked with animal rescue groups, I have seen the horrors (and serious damage) prong collars can do. There was one GSD at the local shelter that had the prongs imbedded into his skin and had to be surgically removed. The owner had obviously put the collar on him and never taken it off. After seeing cases like this, I cringe whenever I heard the words "prong collar".

A prong collar MUST be used correctly. Be sure to have someone with knowledge about the collar show you how to use it. DO NOT leave it on the dog except for walking or training.

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***Save a life, ADOPT***

What I mean by one on one training is a trainer who is concentrating on you and your dog and will help you through the socialisation period, rather than taking your dog to a class. A muzzle will not have bad associations for your dog as she should not be scared at any time during this with a good trainer. She will probably be as excited to see the muzzle as she is to see the lead as they both mean you are going out to do some fun stuff!

1 Girl and her Dog-

My black shepherd is very similar in nature, although he was not hurt. He is protective, would growl and "go for people". In just 4 weeks he has improved alot. You need someone who can hold him STRONG, in fact muzzle him, and take him for walks were people are i.e shopping centres or parks. Each time he growls yell "NO" in a harsh voice, and I mean EACH time, and tug her collar. Your dog needs to know you mean it. I found this worked, and I am still working on it.Your dog should be able to overcome this issue. You also need to be strong and not let people's comments and looks get to you. Be strong and confident and your dog will pick up on this. A word of inspiration, a trainer told me I should consider putting my dog down, just 4 weeks after that comment and my hard work, I can walk him at a busy beach with no troubles. He is still alert, but allows people to walk by now. So dont give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (but of course, balance this with people's safety)