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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.
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.
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.
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
He seems more aggressive when he is ON a leash. When we go to a park and he sees other dogs or people while off leash, he is ok, or I am able to use a toy to distract him. It’s very odd. He seems very anxious while on a leash.
June 8, 2022
Zeus's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello Crystal, It sounds like pup is leash reactive. Sometimes a dog will become frustrated while "trapped" on leash, or they will feel a stronger desire to protect or act possessive of you while kept so close, or they will pick up on your anxious or tense body language through how you handle the leash when you see another dog, or they have had a bad experience on leash where they couldn't move away due to the leash - any of these factors can lead to leash reactivity. I would focus your training to counter condition pup to other dogs and address the aggression with pup on leash during training practice as well - so pup's expectations about what it is like to be on leash around other dogs will change. A G.R.O.W.L. class is an on-leash class where reactivity and aggression to worked on around other dogs, with the additional safety of a basket muzzle you have introduced ahead of time, that pup and the other dogs wear during class to facilitate safe interactions. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 9, 2022
Mia is over agreesive with me. She will spin in circle bark jump up on me she has even bit me on more that one occation
June 2, 2022
Mia's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello Alice, When are these episodes of aggression happening? Is pup excited and getting too rough trying to play? Exposed to something exciting or arousing like another dog, your arrival home, something specific going on in the home, ect... How this is addressed depends on exactly what's going on, and whether the behavior is meant as rough play, pup is truly trying to harm you out of real aggression - and what's triggering that so we can determine what type of aggression, or if pup lack impulse control and is expressing their arousal toward you. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 2, 2022
He is fine with people in house but aggressive with strangers while walking him.
June 1, 2022
Shiloh's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello Richard, At six weeks pup is probably fearful of new people. Check out the Pair People with Treats section of the article I have linked below. Recruit people you know to meet pup out on a walk and do this regularly. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-socialize-a-shy-dog/ Check out this e-book and the information on socialization also. You can download it for free as a PDF at the link below. www.lifedogtraining.com/freedownloads Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 1, 2022