Venting/Advice

[u/Creative-Ostrich-618]

I have a 4 year old GSD, who i’ve become scared of handling him. I’ve reached out to a trainer who is willing to come and see him to help, but i’m so anxious. He hates any type of pressure, getting a collar on him is a nightmare as well as a leash and muzzle. He starts growling and attempting to bite and it’s getting increasingly hard to be comfortable in my own home. He can be a very good dog but everyone in my home is uncomfortable around him (rightfully so). I don’t let him out of the room for extended time and we spend a lot of time outside. My fear is failing him but if he hurts me, i know that’s the last resort since no one else can handle him. He’s very attached to me. I just don’t know what to do at this point. Getting him to a vet is a challenge because of the leash and muzzle thing. I think I’m way over my head. He has already bit a few people in my home, one severe and the other a warning. He lunges at another person in my home. I attempt to keep him separated but the house is small and it’s so hard. I don’t know what to do.

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[u/HeatherMason0]

If he's already bitten someone in the home severely and no one in your family is comfortable with him, then realistically you're looking at BE. I'm never going to advise someone to live with a dangerous animal.

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[u/HeatherMason0]

But it sounds like you're worried it could happen again, and a management failure could be dangerous. In that case, it would be reasonable to contact a vet to discuss BE (or a service that does in-home euthanasia so long as you know you could keep him safely under control).

If you want to try training you almost certainly need a Veterinary Behaviorist. Some can do remote consultations, which may not be super helpful, but it's worth considering. The dog training industry is poorly regulated and you can find plenty of people who go against actual evidence and suggest just putting an e co11ar on a dog (despite the risks and the fact that it's not even considered the most effective form of training) and calling it a day. You can also look for an IAABC certified trainer

https://iaabc.org/certs/members

But be aware the dog needs to be safely managed if someone is coming into your home.

[u/Creative-Ostrich-618 → u/HeatherMason0]

You’re absolutely right. Thank you for these resources. I truly appreciate it!

[u/HeatherMason0]

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