People aggression.... only not.?

Question

I have a 15 month old English Shepherd mix. The ES is particularly noted for its strong guardian instincts. Normally this has limited itself to quiet "mom, something's weird"-type wuffs or barking at the door if someone shows up late at night. However, last week while on a very late night walk I stopped to chat with someone and then noticed that my dog was very intently staring at something behind me. I turned to look at noticed an older woman standing in the gate to her garden, in the shadows. After a few moments she started to walk forward and my dog went nuts, lunging and bark-growling and generally sounding like he wanted to rip her to shreds.

This reaction was completely abnormal for him. Usually everyone is "bestest friend ever love joy cookies!" to my dog, even at night. And even after this incident, he was excited-happy bouncing whenever we'd walk by someone on the way home. The only difference I can see is that the woman was "hiding".

So, I would love some advice on *channeling* his protectiveness nature, not shutting it down entirely. Any comments to that effect will be ignored. I feel that attempting to remove from him entirely a behaviour that was *bred into* the breed on purpose will only lead to a breakdown sometime in the future that could have disastrous results.

Also, I would love some references for appropriate trainers in the San Francisco Bay Area of california, if anyone who sees this lives around there. My pup has been... interesting to try to train due to his sometimes aggravating tendency to think and reason his way around a command. Such as a "down stay" clearly.... means that he needs to stay laying down! Thus inching forward slowly is completely okay, so long as he's still laying down. He's only finally starting to learn that stay means "in this location".

Answer 1

I would not call your dog aggressive after just one episode, and especially in this situation, if people stand still it often freaks dogs out, you should see mine if they sit on a seat and don't move, she thinks it's a monster.  You have learnt something about your dog that is important, that he can get spooked and react.  

He sounds like a real character, the dogs with most character are the ones hardest to train as they have the most intelligence.

Edit

You need to teach him a key word that means ATTENTION, list to Mum.  Pick a word that you do not use very often, I use Oye.  Train at home by dropping something like a teaspoon or teabag, when he goes to sniff it, yell the word and charge towards him.  He should react in a rather horrified fashion and run away.  Do NOT reassure him or treat him, this is what you want, his complete attention.  Just ignore him and go back to what you were doing.  If he does not react, get a large flattened box and use it to push him away, rather violently.  This is a great word that can be used when you are in need of quick action and want him to stop focusing on something and on you.  His reaction should be to stop what he is doing and to run away, this will stop him biting another person if you fear it.

Answer 2

Your dog may have been reacting to the old woman's bad energy. She was probably hiding because she is afraid of dogs, and your dog sensed her fear and reacted to it. I generally try to avoid people who are afraid of dogs because they overreact, and may cause accidents to happen.  

Answer 3

Your dog noticed something appeared odd to him in the middle of the night on a walk and reacted accordingly saying 'I dont think I am comfortable with what is over there'. I don't expect my dog to greet most people like an old friend on a walk in the middle of the night either! I would hardly call this an aggressive incident. I doubt he even knew it was a human.

Answer 4

I dont think your dog was wrong in reacting that way.

Your dog realized the person was there and that you did not and warned you.  

Answer 5

I think this might be an isolated incident.

If he's never done it before, maybe something about that woman creeped him out.  Remember, dogs can smell things like illness and cancer, in addition to perfumes and detergents.  Maybe she just really stinks.  He got annoyed by the smell.

Don't know any trainers in the Bay Area.  If you wanted to drive into Sacramento, look up All Breeds Dog Training.  They're excellent.

As for "channeling" him, well, like I said, it doesn't seem like an ongoing problem.

When he starts up, say "That'll do", and make him sit.  Put your body between whoever he's barking at and give the command.  It teaches him you want to know about potential danger, but not to go insane, and to let you handle the issue.

I just love a cleaver dog!

LOL!!!

I've seen bumper stickers that say "My Shepard is smarter than your Honor Student"! and it's so true I just have to laugh.

I hope I helped.

Cheers.

Answer 6

no way lady,he is a dog!you absoultly can not try to change this aspect of him,he sees his purpose in life is to protect you.i have 2 ridgebacks they gaurd.its not something i have ever told them to do,they just do.i would say the dog was gaurding you but with very good reason.someone was hiding,and by you own admision you didnt see them first fido did,and while you might be in sound mind about making decions ect,you didnt know someone was there untill fido told you.your lucky it was on old lady wernt you?could have been a rapist couldnt it?youd sure as h**l want him to gaurd then wouldnt you.you need to learn about dogs and stop giving fido a hard time for doing his thing.

Answer 7

Would be because he thought that the old bird was a threat, or that he didnt know where she was and couldnt see what she was like,

how you said that she was in the shadows.