Since I don't have little kids anymore, I bought me a German dog. All of the breeds are police attack/guard dogs. My dog is more than what I could have ever asked for. She is so loving and affectionate. My other dogs weren't too much like this, but were loved a whole lot.

This is what worries me, the German background of the dog that didn't seem to be a big deal when I got her. Now she is half grown and thinks playing is a soft form of attacking people, but loves everyone.

In the past, with younger kids in my home, I would never consider a German breed. From my readings, they are all police dogs, at least the breeds you can buy.

Do all German breeds play attack dog, but are nice? I don't really want my dog to be a mean one, but I really think she might be. She is so different from any dog I have owned. She loves her people so much more and seems so dependent on love in return, which she gets. To me, this is very unusual, from past experience with different breeds.

I knew this pup had agression potential when I got her. Since I have always admired German breeds and the fact that I don't have children in the home, just late teens that grew up with animals their whole life, I didn't think it would be a problem.

I am afraid that this wonderful dog, that I love so much and she loves me, will attack if she feels threatened in any way. She is already showing signs of this type of thing and I don't know what to do about it or if it is just the German breed. She gets larger and stronger as the weeks go by. I have trouble ignoring her behavior as puppy play when she is big enough to knock me over just greeting me and does at times.

Does anyone have experience with an agressive breed of dog? Do you have any training tips so she doesn't eat the neighbors? Am I overreacting to the German dog mannor of play, attack dog? Since this is my first experience with an agressive breed, I wonder if this is normal to constantly play attack dog. This is the only type of play which she likes. She doesn't hurt me or bite hard at all and does calm down when I command her to. Should I worry?

Any advice with my dog from owners of German breeds will be much appreciated. My dog is a bit spoiled, but I can't help it! She is so kind and loyal to me.

I am by no means at all an expert on German Shepherds but, I just this past summer had to put down mine. She was my best friend and the best dog by far that I have ever had. She never had a mean bone in her body and loved everyone. I would hope that if push came to shove she would have defended me if she had to, but, we never had to go that route. She was the easiest dog I have ever had to train. She was so well behaved and smart. I never played things like tug of war and all with her as a trainer told us not too. I could actually put a piece of food on her nose and she would sit and look at it till i gave the command to have it. There is someone on the site (Karrow) who is a trainer and can much better answer this type of question that I can. Good luck...and enjoy your dog!

Dogs are alot like people...some are calmer and less aggressive than others. That said, if your dog is exhibiting signs of aggression, you should definitely seek expert assistance in training him/her. These people know more about specific breeds and what works best with them.

Just this morning I was talking to a guy I work with...he purchased a black german shepherd from a breeder and has been working closely with canine officers/trainers as well as trainers at the local PetCo. The dog was beautiful and for the most part, was very well behaved. Unfortunately, it did exhibit some extensive aggression that he was trying to break him of. Even after all of the training, he could not stop the biting (it was sporadic, not something the dog did on a regular basis) - this past weekend, the dog bit his wife pretty badly...and after consulting with vets, trainers and the breeder, he had to put the dog down (he was only 9 months old). He tried everything...like I said, he did VERY extensive training with several trainers specifically skilled with german shepherds...and had no alternative.

So - what I'm saying I guess...if the dog is showing aggressive behavior - deal with it immediately - and get assistance from those who know the breed or the behavior best.

Something else I thought of to say is that my dog was the german breed of the sherpherds. Her mom was over from Germany and was not a friendly dog at all. Her dad was a cop and worked for a police department in Ohio. So even though her parents were very agressive she still was not.

So you have a German Shepherd Dog. There is no reason to think that the GSD is innately more aggressive than other breeds.

The bigger the breed the slower it is to grow up and mature physically and mentally;under six months for the tiniest, well over two years for the tallest.(Most Great Danes are suspected of not maturing mentally ever, but don't tell )

What you describe sounds perfectly normal. Not just 'normal for GSDs' but normal for all breeds. (Chihuahuas do it; they do it to each other and bigger small dogs; but they find it devilishly difficult to reach your arm, so you'd never know ! )

This 'mouthing' or play- biting, part of the growing up process, and intended as play in the litter, can be very irritating ( and if my Standard poodle forgets once more and does it again she's dead meat; and at 9 months too !). It can be alarming, particularly to non-dog people or children. The dog quite often leaves red marks on exposed skin; it has no intent to bite and doesn't close its jaws to do so, it's a play, just as with its sibling pups it was and would be.

Any basic book on dog training will tell you how to deal with this ( I must go out and buy the standard poodle one ).

Basics: First don't respond by shouting, smacking or pushing away. Step back, turn away and ignore. Second ignore a jumping puppy; praise a pup/ youngster only when all four paws are on the ground. Third, in the park, use an extending lead to control jumping up at passing dog-lovers. Make sure that everybody in the family does the same.

Use a leash indoors; when you hear a visitor coming clip on the leash. When the visitor comes in snap the leash if the jumping starts, saying 'no' firmly. The same practice is effective outside, naturally.

Don't let the dog jump up and greet you when it wants to. It should be ignored for 15 minutes when it jumps on your coming in until it calms down. Once it is sat then praise it calmly.This may puzzle the dog at first but at least it is consistent and not confusing to it.You'll notice that show dogs,not just obedience dogs, are trained not to jump up for praise until the owner encourages them to do it on a signal.( Then they nearly get knocked over by anything bigger than a setter )

Now I've not mentioned the biting; stop the jumping up because that lesson lasts a lifetime. The dog will grow out of the play biting that goes with it. All dogs should know the command 'down' or whatever word you choose, to lie down anyway; but responding to 'no' in a tone of 'don't even think about it' when it comes to potential jumpers is a start !

[This message was edited by FredPuli on 02-03-04 at 05:11 PM.]