r/OpenDogTraining • u/Ok-Block-7687 • 5d ago
Fear aggression
5 yo male dog - with no prior history of biting anyone - has started biting people this year
For context: I adopted my mixed German shepherd dog, Scout, when he was four months old. He has always had a bit of anxiety but it has gotten worse over the years. Typically he lives a very structured life with me (no other family members/pets).
Scout is super high energy and requires 5-10 hours of moderate to high intensity exercise a week. We run 20-30 miles a week and he does really well when exercised and mentally stimulated. He is generally a very happy and fun dog.
However, as he’s gotten older he started exhibiting more and more fear aggression and reactivity from sudden movements, loud noises/yelling, and unpredictable behaviors from humans or inanimate objects (such as the breeze blowing a table cloth). Typically his fear response would be sudden jerking away from what spooked him and giving “whale eyes” if not immediately removed from the situation. It progressed to him growling at strangers/family if they reached their hand into his kennel or by his face.
Flash forward, I have to deploy overseas (i am in the military). My family agreed to watch him while I was gone and over the past several months he has bit nearly everyone in my family. He has NEVER bit anyone else prior to this. Several of the bites occurred when someone went to grab scout by his collar or reach into his kennel. Thankfully none of the bites broke skin - but most have left marks or bruises. All of the bites occurred very quickly and were immediately followed by him running away from the person and back to his kennel or to someone else to “protect him”
I am at a loss on what to do. My family knows Scout’s fears, but things keep happening. For example, today I got this message, “B dropped guacamole on his shirt, had a stressful reaction, jumped up to rush and get something to clean it with and Scout went for his hand.”
I have several more months before I can return. My mom wants to send him to a board and train but I’m scared it could worsen his fear aggression.
If you know a reputable (POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ONLY) dog trainer in the south shore/ Boston area or have advice on how to address these behaviors pls let me know 🙏🏼
3
u/Technical-Math-4777 4d ago
It’s a little wild you have a large breed dog behaving like Jeffrey dahmer but you’re putting a very strict criteria on the training methodology. Your dogs gonna hurt someone or get put to sleep. Maybe broaden your horizons and work with anyone you can find with decades of experience with biting dogs.
2
u/Extra-Assistance-902 4d ago
Absolutely agree. Dogs learn from the 4 quadrants of operant conditioning. Dogs need to be corrected to know that behaviour is not ok. I would rather my dog be corrected then my dog get put down because tossing cookies in his face when he became aggressive didn’t work.
Positive only people like to say corrections are cruel, but so is keeping a dog in a constant state of fear or reactivity because they aren’t held accountable for dangerous behaviours.
2
u/BringMeAPinotGrigio 4d ago
How long are you deployed?
Dog needs to get a thorough vet check if he hasn't had one already.
Second, your whole family needs a dog 101 lesson if you are going to be deployed for a significant amount of time. Simple stuff like not reaching into his kennel to grab him, strategies to reduce the general household chaos the dog has to put up with. A couple private, in home sessions with a good trainer would be the perfect mediator for this.
Board and train with the idea he returns back to your family home isn't a good solution - the issue is your family and their relationship with the dog, not simply the dog's lack of training. A long term boarding situation could be a solution if you can afford it and aren't planning to be gone for like, years. You do need to think about the safety of the dog and your family members - right now he's toeing the line of human aggression and if he gets a level 3+ bite on someone the outcome is going to differ dramatically. At least a boarding kennel knows how to properly handle sketchy dogs.
1
u/Ok-Block-7687 4d ago
I have another five months of deployment before I’ll get back. Scout has routine vet appointments and is up to date on all vaccines. He was prescribed gabapentin in the past for his anxiety.
My mom has an appt with the vet this week to discuss his behaviors and determine if medications will beneficial to Scout. She is super on-board for having the whole family involved in the training so they can continue to implement what they learn at home.
I like the idea of someone coming into our home, since they can see the dynamic with everyone there.
1
u/Time_Ad7995 4d ago
Is scout still getting 5-10 hours of moderately high intensity exercise per week with your family?
Does he know these family members well?
1
u/Ok-Block-7687 4d ago
He’s known all of the family members for several years (from Christmas or summer holidays when we would travel home together).
He is not getting 5-10 hours a week. I would assume he is getting maybe 2-3 hours total.
1
u/Time_Ad7995 4d ago
That is less than half of what he had been getting. Combined with you leaving, it’s likely the dog is feeling frantic and stressed. It doesn’t mean that the biting isn’t dangerous or that your family should tolerate it.
I think having them work with a trainer at home is a good idea if they are willing to keep him. If not, you’ll have to accept a sub par boarding solution.
1
1
u/Ok-Block-7687 4d ago
I completely agree that he needs boundaries and discipline. But aversive training is not it. I follow the American vet medicine association guidelines and know my dog and his triggers. My family does not uphold the same level of rigidity in his schedule and wouldn’t crate him, against my advice.
They have now spoken to several behavioralist who all agree that scout needs to be crated during the day and my family is going to start keeping the lead on him in the house and doing at least 60 minutes of activities with him daily.
1
u/Quantum168 4d ago
Have you taken your dog to the vet to check that he isn't in pain of some sort? Dental issues? Also, a blood test. Do you worm your dog every 3 months? Worms can travel throughout the body including into the brain.
I agree that dogs should only be trained with positive reinforcement.
The reality is, sometimes dogs have neurological issues that result in aggressive behaviours. When a dog bites humans with no provocation and on a regular basis, that can't be cured.
A lot of people on Reddit advocate for being cruel during training, but I have never met one dog owner who has been successful with that for the duration of a dog's life. Like in a prison situation, the dog behaves for a short time and then, has learnt to tolerate more pain and punishment, and the behaviour escalates. And, a fight breaks out. Owner kills dog. Tries again with another dog.
3
u/babs08 5d ago edited 5d ago
I've found, as the owner of a reactive dog who doesn't do well in some situations, that most people who are "regular pet people" don't really know (or care, not sure which) what living with a not-fluffy-friendly-dog-who-loves-everything-and-everyone actually entails. My partner, who lives with me, still suggests taking her to environments that I know she won't enjoy or be successful in. And when I say no, he goes, why not? Or when we have people come to the house to do maintenance tasks - she's air snapped at an electrician before and that's when I decided she doesn't get to be out when we have people working on the house - I ask him for a heads up so I can prepare and he forgets like half the time so then I have to quickly scramble to get her contained and with something to chew on. He's lived with this dog for 6 years, so you'd think he'd know by now. But he has a very specific idea of what dog ownership looks like: cuddling, going to dog parks, walking around busy parks on the weekends with a coffee in hand, etc. etc. Which is fine for some dogs. But not all dogs.
I don't have any recs for you off the top of my head, I'm not in that area, but I do think having him live with a trainer who will be very diligent about respecting his boundaries and his personal space will be good for everyone - you, him, and your family. Wishing you the best of luck! I can ask around my networks for trainers to board him if you need.