My Pet World: Dog needs specialized training to overcome aggressive reactions to people
Dear Cathy,
I visited my son and daughter-in-law over the holidays. They have an eight-year-old rescued German Shepherd (GSD) mix that I had never met. In the past, she attacked a neighbor's dog, ripping its ear. When I met her, she gave me a fierce stare and growled. My daughter-in-law petted her and said, "It's all right, it's all right."
I had never experienced a dog stare like that (except once in a shelter when the dog was behind bars), but I knew it was trouble. The only thing I could think to do was to turn my body sideways from her, fold my arms, and look away. That calmed her — for the moment.
In the few days that I was there, she bit my son once and drew blood. We thought she wanted to bite me, but she was leashed and could not, so she bit him instead. Later, she managed to nip me, making red marks, but not breaking skin. They put her outside then, but she lunged and tried to bite me through the glass every time I walked past the patio doors. So, they isolated her in a spare room the rest of the time I was there.
I expressed my concern that this dog is dangerous and recommended they find a trainer specializing in aggressive dogs. Because she is very sweet and affectionate with my daughter-in-law, though, they nixed that idea.
What should people do to protect themselves from an aggressive dog? And can a dog like this ever be trained out of its aggression?
— E.F., Tucson, Arizona
Dear E.F.,
If a dog is that aggressive toward and in front of her family, it's definitely a reason to be concerned. Dogs can be overly protective of their families, but it's up to their families to manage those behaviors and ensure a dog is not a threat to someone’s safety.
That can be challenging for owners to do on their own, so specialized training is imperative. Her intense stare was a sign she viewed you as a threat, and you did the right things to calm her down. Also, your son and daughter-in-law were smart to put her in another room during your visit. But if these behaviors are left unchecked, they will worsen, not improve, with time.
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