Dog Health Questions: Help with Dog Fear Aggression?

I adopted a puppy a month ago from animal control. He is roughly 5 to 7 months old. He is part German Shepard, and possibly Chow Mix. The first day he would not settle so I began to crate train him.

He has come along way but the issue is, he seems to have fear aggression. If another dog, or person he does not know approaches he starts barking, growling and wants to get them.

I have another german Shep mix, and the two got together. They seem fine since then, but I don't let them play too much because I don't want them getting together like that again.

I tried Obedience Dog training but we had to leave because he became fear aggressive.

I am at the end of my rope. He is good with the family, he listens to me very well. He has come a long way since I brought him home.

I can tell he was abused by his former owners and likely not socialized like he was suppose to be.

What can i do? If I try to socialize him, he gets fear aggressive? I don't want him to bite anyone?

HELP!?

Dog Training Schools - Who is Being Trained, You Or the Dog

Recommended Answer:
You're not going to like this and I'm going to get major TDs here:

A dog with nerves this bad - no matter how kind you are and how far he's come - will NEVER have a truly good quality of life. Nor will you ever be able to truly trust him; there's no way of knowing when he'll get triggered. Your kids' safety is, I presume, of higher priority to you than your soft spot for this poor dog is.

I'm going to star this in hopes someone like Greekman or Kaper or Dutch or Curtis will jump in and say I'm completely wrong in suggesting that you consider staying with this dog while he's being put down.

If you insist on keeping him, I highly recommend finding a vet who'll work with you using beta blockers and other appropriate pharmaceutical aids in desensitising the dog.

Using a Dog Training Harness to Train Your Dog

• Put him down, now, today. It is simply not worth the well being of another human in the house or outside to let this dog live.
  Fear aggression is a temperament issue, nothing to do with abuse as everyone in here likes to claim. You simply bought a dog that has weak nerves that are manifested in fear aggression.
  I dont care how far he comes, he will NEVER become stable enough to live a good life.
  Bunny huggers in here will tell you to do all kind of things and limit YOUR life and that of your family to keep a dog like that around, ITS NOT worth it.
  Thanks in advance for the TD, badges of honor, everyone of them. Hope I helped.


• IF you are accurately describing the dog...then I have to agree with Greek & Curtis. Before I jump to conclusions though, I think you should take him to see a "real" trainer. I'm not talking about some Bozo that has a "Group" class at the park. I'm also in no way suggesting any Franchise trainers. Avoid anyone that advertises that they are "CERTIFIED"....and by all means don't waste your time on someone calling themselves a "Behaviorist". Find a REAL TRAINER to evaluate him. Owners trying to diagnose a dog disorder of any kind is generally a mistake....and none of the other dipsh*ts I mentioned would have any sort of clue.
  
  For Shar Peis & Chows, I have had repeated success using a method I actually created after pulling my hair out through the first 15 or 20. It takes time, facilities and several people to work though.
  
  Another "Old" route that had limited success is to actually "bring out" the aggression. Basically, you "re-wire" the way the dog thinks. No matter WHAT anyone says...including Border Collie owners...ALL dogs are pretty stupid when it comes right down to it. Teach a forced retrieve sometime...you'll understand. Anyway, you agitate the dog, then re-introduce to the agitator "With a Command". You allow the dog then to show aggression...and praise him for it...then give the command "It's OK" (or whatever). The dog through "conditioning" learns to run to greet the "so-called threat".
  
  The last option would be drugs. Once again...without seeing him, I'd have to go with euthanizing.


• You bought a dog that's half Chow...Chow Chows are the closest thing to a wild animal there is..they're fear aggressive more often than not, and the #1 dog I'd love to scream from a mountain top "DO NOT BUY!!!!". I actually agree here...even with good training I'm not seeing a dog that will ever be safe...so unless you have some land and are willing to build a zoo quality enclosure on it and keep it locked up tight...put the dog down.Side note: Chows Chows, Akitas, Jindo dogs, Shiba Inu...ALL Asian Spitz type dogs are a handful and often fearful by nature (and often choose fight instead of flight). They are not dogs I would ever own. When considering where, and how they came about. It is understandable. They were treated as hunting machines, fighting dogs, and cattle. They often had to find their own food. Thus they are..."less" domesticated than your average dog. All Spitz type dogs are a handful...the easiest to handle are the Huskies...ask Husky owners how "easy" they are to handle...then multiply that by 10 and you have your Asian spitz breeds...