Increasing Aggressiveness Toward Strangers

[ugapam]

What advice can you give for reducing aggressive behavior toward strangers of a rescued neutered adult male 105 lb. Rottie who has become more aggressive over the past 8 months? Monty is a pussy cat with (most of) the family (he's not the alpha among our 11 dogs--the adult female German Shepherd is), but he nips at strangers and barks his head off when he sees people while traveling in our SUV. This aggressiveness toward strangers, particularly young men, has developed over the 8 months we've had him. My 22-year-old son cannot come around him, even though we introduced my son to him. No problem with my 24-year-old daughter--he loves her and our 1-year-old grandson. I don't know if this is fear aggression or just plain dominance. I have trained Monty to do the basic commands, but when he sees strangers, he pays no attention to me and just goes off. Being a rescue, I don't know how Monty was treated his first few years of life. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.

[Judi W]

Well, I would question whether there are the resources to deal with a dog like this in a household that already has 11 dogs. It appears as if whoever did the evaluation missed a few things.

A dog like this needs very concentrated work, and high level obedience regardless of his background. A dog that cannot be around a family member who is admitted to the house and welcomed, is dangerous and you really need to rethink harboring him. Certainly he should not be around a toddler whether his aggression is due to weak nerves or being a bully. He is not deferring to you or your instructions which means that the next person he decides to target could take you by surprise and with very bad consequences.

[ugapam]

Thanks for your opinion. I will look for an animal behavioralist to see what can be done about curbing the aggressive behavior toward strangers. Getting rid of the dog is not an option.

[damp]

I guess (all over the world) “day and night” is 24 hours (and even you do not work) you have to sleep about 8 hours. Then you have 16 hours left to do cores/housework/ spend time with adult kids, family and friends etc. etc. and NOT MUCH time left to take care of/ train/exercise/work with a ZOO of 12 dogs... but only feeding and keeping them alive!
Besides Judi’s advice, my advice is to stop collect dogs (or other animals) You "may" have experiences with dogs (living with 12 dogs) but you allowed problems to arise over a period of 8 moths... problems you "obviously" recognized but did NOTHING

Rescue means RESCUE and again that means spending time and showing dedication to the dog(S). If you can’t live up to that, there are better homes and places for animals.

[RottiMomCT]

Originally Posted by ugapam

What advice can you give for reducing aggressive behavior toward strangers of a rescued neutered adult male 105 lb. Rottie who has become more aggressive over the past 8 months? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.

A ful workup to rule out any and all medical issues that may be causing his aggressiveness or aggravating something that may be painful for him, and then find someone ASAP that can help you, although I'm with the others - you have 11 other animals and a 1 yr old grandson - to me he's a risk factor and a risk that I am not personally wiling to take.

He's taken it upon himself to tell people that HE is in charge and who is or is not welcome in the home - and that's a big risk.

He needs training, ASAP, a consistent, fair and firm training regimen, and NO babying or anything free from anyone he meets. He must EARN everything including attention and food by doing soe obedience behavior.

You know he goes off when he sees strangers - remove him from the situation until you CAN control him. If he goes off when strangers (or people he knows but does not know well) are in YOUR HOME, you give him hell...he has no right to make those decisions if youhave invited these people into your home.