11 Month Old Gsd Bitch Lunging No Growling

we have just re-homed a young 11mth old gsd bitch only had her 3 days so know its early days, she is very well behaved she sits curls up by my and wifes feet very affectionate to us and today my son was stroking her and she lunged at his face with no warning he was sitting on the floor with her and was fine up to this point she also when the kids walk around the house she will nip them as if she wants to play all the time we dont know her past 100%

if the kids go into kitchen or in another room she barks at them

we are not new to dog ownership but never had this before as we used to foster dogs for a rescue

any advice appreciated

doesn't sound like she is a dog to have around children, be very careful

Sorry if this offends but i would never tolerate a dog that show any aggression around kids if you keep i would look to muzzling until she can be assessed.

what was her previous owner say about her behaveure or was she from kennels?

as the lady says be carefull with her around your kids sounds as she cannot be trusted with them

Masta- as a GSD person, can I suggest that you ascertain whether the dog is indeed showing aggression before labelling it? Nipping is still completely unacceptable and yes, I would make sure that she is not in a position to hurt the children, but she's not necessarily being aggressive at all.

Biting, chewing and nipping can have completely different causes and completely different intentions from the dog.

I've always maintained that if my dog was to bite anybody (that's a bite meaning it and not in response to being really hurt or threatened) then I'd have her put to sleep myself, because the future for a GSD that bites is so grim it's really not something I'd want for her. I love her too much to see her end up being a scrap yard dog or abandoned in a kennel and I'd rather see her die than end up like that.

However, we don't know at the moment that this dog actually is biting. The OP says that she's nipping. Can you give some more detail please?

What happens before this? Are the children playing and getting loud? Is the dog playing and getting excited? Or is something else happening?

Nipping may be her way to get attention, in which case she needs to learn that it's compeltely inappropriate and that she will NEVER get attention when she does it. In fact, she will get wordlessly removed to a quiet room as soon as she does it (as a starting point) and left there for a timeout for 10 minutes. A clever dog will learn in only a couple of instances that they really don't want this to happen- but her motivation is what's important as a starting point.

I have to say having children myself - I wouldn't trust a dog that lunged at my child's face after 3 days in the house, especially one that is big enough to do damage, whether it was playful or meant.

I agree with Masta, you mustn't trust this dog alone with your children until you are confident it is completely safe.

If it were me and my children I too would be very concerned.

I'm not suggesting that any risks should be taken around the children at all, and I would also be taking steps to ensure that she isn't capable of doing this again.

All I'm saying is that I've seen an awful lot of dogs labelled as biters and aggressive when they really weren't (and that label is very hard to lose and is desperately negative for the dog's future) and when it's something that can often be trained out relatively simply.

Is this dog from a rescue? If so, then the rescue needs to be made aware of this and hopefully will be able to offer some help with a behaviourist or trainer who can look at the circumstances and start to ascertain the triggers and reasons behind this unacceptable behaviour.

What age was the child involved and what exactly was happening at the time? Have you any other dogs at home?

eingana said:

Masta- as a GSD person, can I suggest that you ascertain whether the dog is indeed showing aggression before labelling it? Nipping is still completely unacceptable and yes, I would make sure that she is not in a position to hurt the children, but she's not necessarily being aggressive at all.

Biting, chewing and nipping can have completely different causes and completely different intentions from the dog.

I've always maintained that if my dog was to bite anybody (that's a bite meaning it and not in response to being really hurt or threatened) then I'd have her put to sleep myself, because the future for a GSD that bites is so grim it's really not something I'd want for her. I love her too much to see her end up being a scrap yard dog or abandoned in a kennel and I'd rather see her die than end up like that.

However, we don't know at the moment that this dog actually is biting. The OP says that she's nipping. Can you give some more detail please?

What happens before this? Are the children playing and getting loud? Is the dog playing and getting excited? Or is something else happening?

Nipping may be her way to get attention, in which case she needs to learn that it's compeltely inappropriate and that she will NEVER get attention when she does it. In fact, she will get wordlessly removed to a quiet room as soon as she does it (as a starting point) and left there for a timeout for 10 minutes. A clever dog will learn in only a couple of instances that they really don't want this to happen- but her motivation is what's important as a starting point.

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where children are involved ascertaining isnt an option, in my book a big dog with an undetermined past 3 days into a new home that lunges at a child is suspect i have a 6 year old and 6 dogs if any lunged at her a muzzle would be on and if it happened again they would be rehomed into an adult only environment or pts

The nipping/herding doesn't hugely concern me though it does need working on, but the lunging at a face is a HUGE cause for concern to me. My first stop would be to get back to where you rescued from and find out as much info as you can. Was the dog child-tested, what kind of background is it. Of course there are things that are 'puppy' things and 'breed' things that need patience, understanding and training, but lunging at anyone's face - esp a child - isn't one of those things.

Certainly it IS early days, and you need to build the relationship with the dog if you are going to keep it. Training classes, and perhaps even a couple of one on one sessions would really benefit, both for your own understanding and the bond between you and the dog. Taking the family and letting the whole family be involved in the training is good too.

Don't set the dog or child up for failure. At the moment it's not necessarily safe for the child to be on the same level as the dog (I'm not talking about dominance here, I'm talking about from a practical point of view). If the dog is sitting on the floor and so is the child stroking it, then the child is in easy distance of a snap or a lunge. If the dog is sitting on the floor and child is sitting next to mum on sofa and stroking the dog mum can intervene.

For now I would never have the dog unsupervised with children - neighbours or own. It's still early days and he/she may not be comfortable yet and dogs can react to the high pitch of children's voices. Advise the children on the proper way of interacting with the dog. They are not to maul it or get in its face. A gentle stroke, maybe offer a treat in an open palm. All of these things can help the dog feel more comfortable in a strange new environment.

i had a Jrt 30 years ago that decided to start lunging at friends and family as they were leaving the house (let them in ok and never bothered anyone whilst they were in the house) he bit my older sister badly on the thigh and stupidly i gave it a 2nd chance got up to make a cup of tea and he bit me, he was taken to the vet pts i hope there is a better outcome for this GSD but sincerley hope it is moved on to an adult only house and assessed,

A child attacked by a dog will carry lifelong mental and physical scars

sorry but 100per cent with masta, 10 yrs back my pal and his girlfriend went to a rescue center and on way back in car this gsd attacked her and left her with scars for life, so what we all saying is how can you trust a dog you dont know? now another quick story my ex had a gsd that by the time it was 7 months old was out of control barking growling so they asked me to take charge, i did but found it hard at times but came through and was a wonderful dog, by the way im not a expert at all with gsd.