There are many causes of aggressive behavior in German Shepherds. It might be due to a dominance related issue between you and the dog, or it might be a trigger that was never satisfactorily dealt with from puppyhood such as an attack by another dog.
Whatever it is that is causing your German Shepherd’s aggression; you need to address it as soon as possible. The results of prolonged attacks can be not only scary but fatal if not quickly taken to task.
German Shepherds are intelligent dogs that are very strong and athletic; they are used for guard dogs, police dogs, drug- and bomb-detection dogs, therapy dogs, and loving family pets.
German Shepherd owners need to know what they’re doing with such a strong breed of dog. Unluckily many owners get a German Shepherd without having done their homework first. This is often where the problems start, and very sad, mixed-up, and often aggressive German Shepherds are at times abandoned.
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Are German Shepherds Aggressive?
Yes, German Shepherds are usually considered as an aggressive breed, but this can be managed. Some countries and states in the USA enacted Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL).
This law bans or regulates the possession of some breeds like GSDs. They decided to enact this law because of attack statistics of certain breeds like the German Shepherd.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 279 deaths of humans in the United States due to dog attacks from 1979 to 1994.
CDC based their report on the data from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and media accounts in the NEXIS database. This report also shows three cases of dog-bite-related fatalities (DBRFs).
One of the fatalities involved a 2-year-old boy in South Dakota who died because he was attacked by two wolf-German shepherd hybrids.
In Which Age German Shepherd Become Aggressive?
German Shepherds can start becoming aggressive about six weeks of age, one of the most critical age in a German Shepherd puppy’s life. To avoid aggressive behavior dilemmas, it’s imperative not to separate him from his mother and littermates before eight weeks of age.
He needs the security and sense of belonging that his family gives. Start teaching him to bite interference to prevent biting problems. It’s also critical to expanding his socialization to other dogs or animals and other people. Remember to be gentle and avoid punishing him harshly.
Are male German Shepherds More Aggressive?
Male German Shepherds tend to be more aggressive than their female counterparts. Male GSDs are more aggressive because of their regional problems and dominant behavior. Compared to a neutered male GSD, an intact male tends to mark his region more because of his higher testosterone levels.
The Reasons for Aggressive Behavior in German Shepherds
German Shepherd Dog aggression can begin as young as six weeks of age, a crucial age when a German Shepherd puppy should be socialized with other dogs and given the important training that keeps them from biting other people. This period of socialization lasts until the dog turns 14 weeks of age and can extend even further beyond that
A German Shepherd, like other breeds of dog, needs to have been appropriately socialized and friendly with people and other dogs by the time he reached 14 weeks. This socialization will avoid any future aggression issues.
Actual aggression can be triggered by any number of factors. Heredity and genetics are certainly factors – some breeds can be more aggressive than others – but it is by no means a hard fast rule. Additionally, dogs that have not been neutered or spayed are more prone to aggressive tendencies.
Aggression can grow from the need to build a pack pecking order. Biting, snapping, growling, posturing, and fighting with other dogs is often the result of a German Shepherd examination for dominance.
You’ll need to authenticate dominance at a young age and maintain that position throughout the dog’s adolescence to ensure it doesn’t get a chance to take control of the house. If you do not take on this leadership role, then your German Shepherd will.
Why are German Shepherds out of Control, not Calm or Aggressive?
There are different reasons behind the aggression of German Shepherd; You can check one by one. If you are doing this with your German Shepherd Dog, please avoid all this.
Owner Training Aggression
GSDs may growl, lift a lip, snarl, snap, or bite to prove they’re in charge of a situation. This occurs when they feel their position is being challenged primarily by their owners or children.
For example, This is often the case with children under six years of age. German Shepherds can attack children who misbehave, such as associating with the GSD while the GSD is eating or pulling the GSD’s tail.
The owner of the German Shepherd needs to calm during training instead of being angry. Angry behavior directly affects the personality of the GSD. There is one thing dog trainer needs to know about German Shepherd treaty him with good otherwise dog becomes aggressive or did anything wrong with. That’s why need use a safety kit during training sessions.
Protective Aggression
This happens for safety purposes. There is no need to worry about this phenomenon. A German Shepherd can become aggressive to a stranger because he perceives the stranger as a threat to his owner and his territory. Even though the owner doesn’t consider the stranger as a threat, the German Shepherd can attack the stranger.
Dog to Dog Aggression
Socialized GSDs usually show excessive aggression towards other dogs. An unsocialized GSD will try to accept change, such as meeting and interacting with other animals like dogs appropriately. Training is an effective way to make your GSD calm. Experts agree this is better rather than enforcing BSL.
When do German Shepherds Calm Down?
Even though German Shepherds are active and energetic, they will generally calm down as they mature and get older. This is a gradual process, so you should train them while they’re still young. If your German Shepherd is currently not very calm, find out the reason why he’s not quiet and do something about it.
How to Control German Shepherd Aggression
If your German Shepherd shows aggressive behavior after 14 months of age, when it has reached sexual maturity, you must address the problem immediately. First, make sure you have established yourself as the pack leader.
Never pay your German Shepherd for aggressive behavior, even if he is scared. Train your German Shepherd to respond to your requests, control feeding and walking times, and make sure that you are the pack leader in the household.
If you allow your German Shepherd is to take alternatives in your home, it will exhibit more energetic aggression toward others. If your German Shepherd is defensive-aggressive, they may strike out at a person in fear.
These dogs may not have been adequately socialized. Keep them away from small children, which they may see as direct threats and attend a training session or behaviorist who can gradually acclimate the dog to a social atmosphere.
Socialize Your German Shepherd
Introduce your GSD to your family. Then you can introduce a few friends. You need to go for a walk with German Shepherd along with those people who are randomly your visitors. Slowly but surely, invite more friends and more newcomers to accompany you and your GSD.
Daily Exercise
Your GSD needs a daily walk, a high-intensity activity, and mental stimulation. Take him running, hiking, skating, and biking with you. You can also play games, such as Frisbee toss.
For his mental stimulation, provide puzzle toys for dogs or play ‘scent and nose games.’ After mastering how to control your GSD’s aggressive behavior, there are times you need him to attack control. This will further strengthen your dominance with GSD.
Stopping and Controlling Aggressive Behavior in Dogs
If your German Shepherd shows aggressive behavior after 14 months of age, when it has reached sexual maturity, you must address the problem immediately. First, make sure you have established yourself as the pack leader. Never reward your German Shepherd for aggressive behavior, even if he is scared.
Train your German Shepherd to respond to your commands, control feeding and walking times, and make sure that you are the pack leader in the household. If you allow your German Shepherd is to take liberties in your home, it will exhibit more potent aggression toward others.
If your German Shepherd is defensive-aggressive, they may strike out at a person in fear. These dogs may not have been adequately socialized. Keep them away from small children (which they may see as direct threats) and attend a training session or behaviorist who can slowly acclimate the dog to a social atmosphere.
How to Train a German Shepherd for Aggression Control
Make sure you train your German Shepherd from an early age. Older German Shepherds can still be strongly trained, but it takes more time and effort to first ‘untrain’ them of any unwanted habits already acquired.
- Your German Shepherd must recognize that you are the alpha dog (Pack leader). Make sure you’re acting like an alpha from the very first day that he joins your household. If you don’t, then you may experience resistance at first when trying to assume that role.
- First, wear a protective bite sleeve that covers your arms. This will keep you from bite injuries.
- Never use humiliation, hitting, abuse, or rough corrections when dealing with aggressive behavior.
- Teach your GSD the word ‘attack’. Tell him to sit then tap his face using the glove on your arm. This will annoy your GSD and he will attack the glove. As soon as he attacks, say the word ‘attack’. Reward him by giving him treats.
- Repeat this process until he understands the word ‘attack’. If he attacks your gloved arms when you say ‘attack’, it means he already knows the command.
- Always reward good behavior during training. This is called positive reinforcement training and recognizes that most dogs – especially intelligent ones like German Shepherds – respond very well to encouragement and rewards. Harsh corrections such as loud angry voices, hitting or humiliation results in the dog ‘switching off’ and not being able to learn.
- Make sure that all the family members understand the alpha status, on dog psychology, and dog communication.
- To check if your GSD knows how to apply ‘stop’ in this situation, say ‘stop’ while your GSD is attacking the intruder. If your GSD is familiar with the word ‘stop’, he will follow your command.
Final Words
If you are thinking about German Shepherd as a Pet in your house with your family. You need to consider one thing, That is about the training of your German Shepherd Dog.
For example, if you successfully training your GSD, There is no need to worry about the aggression of your GSD. If the training is not good you will get bad results in shape of barking or biting by your dog.
For new owners, You need to contact the training services provider for GSD. You need to spend some extra cash for this purpose but in this way, you will get good results.
To wrap up this article, One and only thing if your dog is showing bad behavior or some type of things like that. You need to consider the training of the Dog.
