How to Train a German Shepherd to Not be Aggressive
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Introduction
There is no doubt that he has a fierce exterior. However, for the most part, your German Shepherd is calm, gentle and loving inside. Unfortunately, though, he does have moments where he lives up to his German Shepherd characteristics when he’s overly protective. You’ve caught him barking and even trying to bite other pets and strangers. You’re fed up with worrying when new people come over to the house.
Training your Shepherd not to be aggressive will alleviate that concern. It will also reduce the chances of him causing harm to someone else. The result of which is that he may need to be put down. His aggression could also get him into a fight with another pet, which could lead to pricey vet bills. Training him not to be aggressive will also mean you can stop fitting him in a muzzle whenever you leave the house.
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Defining Tasks
Training a German Shepherd not to be aggressive can be challenging. The first thing to do is identify what is causing the aggression in the first place. You can then go about tackling the underlying problem. Training will need to consist of socialization with other pets and people. You will also need to use obedience commands to increase your control. Some deterrence measures may also be required to prevent his aggression developing further.
If he’s a puppy he should be a fast learner and receptive to training. This means you could see results in just a couple of weeks. However, if he’s older and this habit has developed over many years, then you may need a number of months and the help of your veterinarian or a professional dog trainer or behaviorist.
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Getting Started
Before you get to work, you will need to get a few bits together. A water spray bottle and deterrence collar will be needed for one method. You will also need treats and toys for incentives and rewards.
Set aside 15 minutes each day for training over the next few weeks, and be ready with a confident and positive attitude. The more consistently you train, the sooner you will see results.
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The Deterrence Method
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This is particularly important if your German Shepherd is a puppy. He must have a safe space he can escape to. Just like humans, dogs can get frustrated and want some time alone. So make sure his crate or bed is his safe space.
Water spray bottle
Whenever he gets aggressive, barks or growls, go over and give a spray of water near his face. This will quickly get him associating being aggressive with negative consequences.
Deterrence collar
They are available both online and in local stores. A remote control allows you to give your dog spray of citronella if he needs to be deterred from biting. Use this consistently and he will soon think better of being aggressive.
Don’t wind him up
It’s important you don’t get him too worked up when you’re playing games, such as tug of war. It’s also crucial that young children don’t tease him too much. You need him to remain relatively calm.
Don’t laugh it off
It’s vital everyone in the house reacts in the same way. If one of you laughs or shakes it off, he will be confused by the rest of training. So sit everyone down and ensure all are on board.
The Introductions Method
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Obedience classes
Sign him up to group obedience classes from an early age as possible. This will help socialize him with other pets and people. Here will learn what sort of behavior is and isn’t acceptable.
Basic commands
Teach him ‘down’, ‘stay’ and other useful obedience commands. This will increase your control and reinforce your position as pack leader. All of which should limit his aggression and make him more submissive.
Stand ahead
If your German Shepherd is in front of you when you meet other people and pets, he will think it is his job to protect you. However, if you are in front, he will relax and believe it is your job. This will prevent initial aggression when strangers approach and reinforces you as his leader.
Keep it short
When he does meet new people and pets, stay close to him and watch his behavior. If you see his tail drop or he starts to get tense, ask them to step back. You need to respect his boundaries.
Reward
Give him verbal praise and the odd treat for as long as he remains calm when he meets strangers. This positive reinforcement will help him associate being calm with positive consequences.
The Routine Method
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Increase his exercise
He’s a big dog, he will need lots of exercise. His biting may be a result of pent up energy. So take him out for an extra or longer walk. Playing games as you go will also tire him out. A tired dog is a calm and gentle dog.
Tug of war
If he does start getting aggressive, it can help to pull out a toy and play tug of war. Directing his aggression down a safe avenue will help show him where aggressive behavior can be released.
Cold shoulder
If tug of war doesn’t seem to catch his attention when he turns aggressive, you may want to give him the cold shoulder. If his aggression is attention seeking behavior, simply turning away and ignoring him could show him this will not get him what he wants.
Encouragement
You also need to constantly reward him for calm play. Relax and stroke him, while giving him the odd treat and verbal praise. He needs to start associating calm behavior with positive consequences.
Never punish him
German Shepherds are big, strong and capable of doing serious harm. So do not anger him by punishing him when he is aggressive. This may only worsen the problem. German Shepherds respond best to positive reinforcement.
Written by James Barra
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 02/28/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Schnitzel
german shepard
Two Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My dog is very aggressive to people who get near him he starts to growl and tries to bite them how do I stop it?
Nov. 25, 2023
Schnitzel's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
I highly recommend hiring a professional trainer to help you in person with this. First, pup needs to be evaluated to determine what type(s) of aggression are present. For example a dog who is fearful is trained a bit differently than a dog who has learned to use aggression to get what they want or a dog who is acting possessive of something. Often treating aggression involves building the dog's general trust and respect for you, through things like having pup work for everything they get in life by asking pup to obey a command like Sit before you give them anything. This helps pup listen to your instruction and relax knowing you are handling the situation they are uncomfortable with. It involves giving pup a lot more boundaries and rules to follow to build structure and predictability into their routine and help them make better choices. Often a basket muzzle is introduced gradually using food rewards so that pup can wear that to keep you safe when interacting with pup, until things improve. Pup would also be desensitized and counter conditioned to what they are reacting toward about using food rewards to reward pup for good responses, very gradually increasing his exposure to people overtime, using safety measures like a basket muzzle and back tie leash, to keep distance between him and the person practicing with him. A training group with lots of different trainers, who can practice being "strangers" while knowing how to safely interact with him in a controlled scenario that's been set up, can allow him to practice this counter conditioning without putting others in danger. If pup lacks impulse control, then you would also work on commands that specifically help pup increase their level of control over themselves gradually. There may be other specific things that need to be addressed as well. Look for a trainer who specializes in behavior issues like aggression and fear. If pup is aggressive toward strangers or other dogs too, you will need a trainer who works with a team of trainers and/or has access to other well mannered dogs, like the trainers' dogs so that the training can be practiced around a variety of people and other dogs, to help pup generalize what they are learning to people and dogs in general, and not just the trainer and yourself. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Nov. 30, 2023
Solomon
German Shepherd
4 months
Question
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0 found this helpful
We have 2 very old dogs (13, 14). He has recently become very aggressive with them. Any time they enter the room he immediately targets them for an attack. It's like all of a sudden he has a one-track mind: attack the other dogs. We have him in training, have taught him some commands, but he "zones out" when he's about to attack. Please help. We don't want to get rid of him.
June 6, 2023
Solomon's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Is the training he is in an obedience class? I highly recommend hiring a private trainer to come to your home. Specifically only hire someone who has a lot of experience with aggression and reactivity. I would also involve your vet in this, and look into rage syndrome with your vet. It's possible that pup is playing with the other dogs, practicing attacking and ambushing, which is more of a self-control issue than true aggression. However, there are things like rage syndrome that are genetic and this needs to be evaluated in person to see what's going on, and to determine whether and how to address it depending on what and what is going on with pup internally and mentally. I would also reach out to your breeder if pup came from a breeder and ask about family history of aggression in parents, grandparents, siblings, or previous litters from those parents. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 6, 2023