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We adopted our 1 1/2 year old Dutch Shepherd six months ago (rescue dog from shelter) and have had some behavior concerns. You can read a full description in my earlier post titled "New Member with Behavior Problems". Basically, our dog is showing fear aggression toward other dogs and also gets excited and nips/bites at our family members when there is a lot of activity or chaos in the house---like when kids are running around, people chasing each other, lifting/tickling at each other, etc. Otherwise completely trustworthy with the kids. They can lay on him, take toys or food out of his mouth, etc and there has never ever been any sign of aggression in calm situations. But the excited biting we need to stop. He also grabbed the back of a neighbor girl's coat when she was running in our yard with my daughter. The worst bite was on my daughter's buttocks which broke skin through her pants and left some bruising.
So after posting here and reading everyone's suggestions, we consulted an in-home dog trainer. She requested that when she arrived, we have both our dogs on a leash and hold them ten feet back from the door. She said not to talk to them at all (ie. no telling them it's ok, sit, settle, etc.). She wanted to see their body language & she said and that would tell her a lot. She said we should not talk much and she probably wouldn't say much of anything either.
Ok, seemed weird, but I complied--she's the expert after all. Of course, Simba did not know what was going on. She was a stranger. He barked and looked her in the eye. She came in and out of the door several times, each time he barked she squirted him with water. Eventually he tried to hide behind my legs and she said to shorten the leash so he could not retreat. The in and out of the door and the squirting continued eight to ten times until he finally layed down and turned his head away.
Then she told us she would not charge us for today...she was basically done. She said she thinks he is in the wrong home. And if there was any hope at all she would work with him. She said he will bite again. She was very condescending....acted like we knew nothing about dogs or the breed. Even though I had told her on the phone he was a Dutch Shepherd she said, "I think there is something else mixed in with the German Shepherd...maybe Malinois?" I told her again he was Dutch Shepherd. She said they use those dogs for police work and he is not a good family dog. Again reiterated how he looked her straight in the eyes and barked when she was intruding into our home. She suggested he go to a home with a college student or an elderly couple. ????? What ????? She was here a total of ten minutes and took one step inside the front door.
Needless to say, I am very disappointed with this encounter. This is a young dog who absolutely adores our kids. I am not trying to minimize the biting/nipping. Obviously, it needs to stop and that is why I consulted a 1:1 trainer. But I feel he just needs to learn to turn "off" the excitement and react in a way without using his mouth. He is a loving dog---he would not intentionally hurt the kids. I am sure of that.
Thoughts or opinions? I would especially welcome the input of those of you with more experience with problem behavior and training. Sorry this is so long.
. She did not agree with first....uh, what shall I call her?....."trainer" (I use the word loosely). She said Simba is exceptional--he does not have the typical high-drive personality most Dutch Shepherds do and she felt that was probably why he was neutered and apparently dumped. She could see how affectionate he was with all the family members and to herself as well. She mentioned his personality is more like a collie! I don't know about that, but she thought we were doing everything right and he is making fine progress.