Training Fear Aggressive German Shepherd 

I raised a western working line GSD for a seeing eye org. Basically, I had to take her to basic obedience classes, and follow a 53 pg book of things they wanted her well socialized with-taking her to stores, hearing machinery in stores like Lowe's, getting her used to traffic, riding in vehicles, buses, trains, going to games in bleachers, ice rinks, etc etc etc. She was removed from their program after 10 weeks back (I had her from 12 weeks to 13 months) so we adopted her back. I was taught to teach her "Go say hi!" whenever I want her to greet others, otherwise she stays by me and we continue about our private business. It's worked very well thus far (4.5 yrs). She is dealing with some triggering/fear aggression bc we are building a house and temporarily staying with a friend who has an obnoxious, untrained, wild 12 yr old min pin who bullies and terrorizes our GSD EVERY time we exit or enter the house. (We stay in the basement so there's a side door). My dog graduated from 2 group obedience courses and worked 10 weeks in a group setting at the seeing eye org, and was WELL SOCIALIZED. It is VERY difficult to get my dog to ignore a loud, obnoxious holy terror who stands at the landing ferociously barking and growling out of its own fear aggression bc her owner of 12 years never worked her, never took her to any obedience classes, and thinks it's cute and a sign she's "smart" when she leaps off the couch and barks at every dog she sees on TV. I take my dog EVERY day to escape this temporary madness, so she can have calm, quiet and normalcy. I'm sure she misses our old house. But we found a quiet park where she can do her favorite thing-play ball!! And it's hilly so she really gets a work out going up and down those shit bumpy hills. And she rides with me to the new house which she loves -she greets every worker bc I always give her the "Go say hi!" command. We feed the chickens, then go to the barn to work with the horses. And then unfortunately, it's night time again and we have to head back. My husband knows and understands what's going on and that a min pin with an oblivious owner is bullying our great GSD and is moving as fast as humanly possible to get the house move in ready. The goal is 3/1. If things get to be too much, I'll take her and go stay in the horse trailer bc I know she probably wants to kill the min pin, bc I certainly do!!! I'm not angry with her but her owner bc he allowed her to become this scared, terrorizing mini monster (my dog could kill her!!) but every time I hear her coming, my BP goes up and I want to snap and kill her!!! She wins The Most Obnoxious Dog award. Plus, I can't stand little dog barking, and she's nonstop all day. Even in winter he leaves his front door open so she can watch and terrorize the mailman, delivery ppl. So I understand my dog, and she probably senses what I'm feeling as well. It SUCKS. Anyhow, thanks for the great video! I'm glad my GSD has a strong obedience basis and trusts in us. She responds very well to treat training and ball, and she's a continual work in progress. She's the funnest of the 9 dogs I've had the pleasure of having in my life over my lifetime. I just can't wait to get into our house and away from this scared little bully!!!! I should say my dog reacts back. The min pin doesn't care that my dog sounds like a K9 Unit that just found the bad guy. If I owned that small dog and the friends that saved my life from cancer, nursed me back to health were staying with me, I would hold my dog back every time I heard them coming or going, and I'd have a baby gate up at the landing. I'm SOOOO angry and how he has never cared about his dog, and that he allows her to be a continuous fearful dog of everything. You may be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but you can't teach an old dog's owner anything!!!

This is my german sheperd / malinios rescue 100%. She is 1 ywar and 4 months. Fear agression on leash to dogs mainly. If she gets loud and lunges ... the scary thing goes away. Ugh. So she keeps doing it. I was letting her walk and sniff freely and then when a trigger would be in eye shot. I would use my (beside/heal) command and then should would be beside me as she experienced the trigger. (She has very good obedience (if focused)). You mentioned to always keep the dog beside you when out, and this might be why we haven't progressed as much. I like to take her hiking and biking/skiing where she is on a long lead of bikjoring/skijoring (pulling ahead). To address her physical/mental needs. But perhaps that is contributing to her ***Ill handle it mom, i am a leader, so ill protect us*** attitude. Which is likely true. Maybe i should put a hold on that stuff for a year or longer .. I wonder if I could have her doing that sport and when we come across a trigger, i put the leash back on her pinch, get off the bike/ski and manage her reactivity as if we were walking? I dono, its so hard with a breed that needs to RUN/work .. inorder to dump a lot of anxiety/energy. But she is also fear agressive. Which makes doing the stuff... sooooo hard... I am also glad to hear you also use a pinch collar ..me too. (Only for walks). I tried a slip lead, flat, martingal ans nothing worked. The pinch was a game changer. I will try to keep her beside me at all times moving forward... but i dont know what to do about the sports.. she loves hiking/biking/skiing. Any advice? Thanks!

Thank you for this. This is where my 10 month old st bernard is. Very stressful and am finding it hard to find the right trainer.

My dog only does this with other dogs. I think it’s because she was terrified by a huge lurcher mix dog who was going after her as a puppy and I had to lift her up in the air and yell NO SIT at the dog until the owner finally heard and called it away. She’s nearly two and she still tries to leap into my arms when she’s scared at other dogs

Helpful video. Do you have one about fear getting into the vehicle? My 1.5 yr old shepherd suddenly refuses to get into the vehicle when we need her to! Not an issue before now.

I want to ask that my GSD is affraid of mostly every thing that make sound and is bigger so can you please help me to get him out of his fear

Oh no prong collars they are banned in the UK and I think my gsd would seriously hurt herself shes so strong and reactive id be scared ...im lost now not sure what to do

My 2 yr old German Shepherd hasn’t had a lot of socializing. My brother recently came to live with me for awhile. He has bitten my brother about 6 times, not real hard. He bites if my brother gets too close to me. Although he has bitten him a couple times when my brother just moves. We live in a fifth wheel so it is very close quarters. My dog will let my brother give him scratch downs or throw ball for him. He seems all good with him then all of a sudden my brother moves he will bite him, not all the time. When he bites I immediately say in a stern voice NO bad dog. What else can I do?

Are you close to PA, we've raised male German Shepherds since I was a kid, and we have a black 1yr old male who is a sweetie, and a black and tan 1yr old female who in her 3rd month started fear aggression. She is the first female dog I have ever had. We already went through Puppy school and the trainers were afraid of her and we always sat out during pass the puppy or play time. Now she is a year old and challenges our male every time he enters the house from being outside and when she wakes up in the morning she charges him first thing. And makes him Yelp. I am constantly correcting her. She is very intelligent. We cannot have any company over. When we go for walks she tries to go after every person and dog she sees. I am looking for a trainer that specializes in fear Aggressive German Shepherds. Any suggestions. Would be appreciated.

Is this also work with Rottweiler

I thought your information was ok but talking about it is of little value compared to showing your training in real time situations. I want to see what you do not hear about it. Just a suggestion.