Territory Aggression

Question
QUESTION: I have a rescue dog that is 55 lbs. and we think part golden ,German shepherd, and who knows what else.  He is about 1 year, high maintenance and was unneutered(which was quickly rectified).  We have had housetraining issues which are getting better but he is having territorial aggression issues now.  He barks and runs to the edge of the yard looking very scary he does the same at the door.  Sometimes if the person comes in the yard or the door is opened and he goes out to the person on the porch he may try to nip at their hand.  Sometimes he gets them.  Never breaks the skin but I have kids and when the other children come to play this is UNACCEPTABLE.  Once the initial display is over there are no more problems, they can come and go from yard to yard without so much as a peep from him.  No one is afraid of him, which I find rather remarkable considering his greetings.  I take him for walks in an empty field almost daily so he can expend some energy and he runs like a crazy dog, if we encounter other people there(although rare) we have had no issues. I am trying train him by pulling him aside, making him sit and be quiet, and rewarding him with treat or praise when he is good.  Is there something else I should be doing?

ANSWER: Hi, Patricia,

When you take him to the field do you ever play fetch or tug with him?

LCK

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No, we are just there to run and get exercise.  Sometimes he will get a groundhog and kill it.  I did have a previous rescue dog that did that without any aggression.

Answer
Hi, Patricia,

Fetch and tug use up a lot more energy than just running alone. Playing fetch with a type of Frisbee known as an Aerobie would be really good for this dog. Tug is actually better in some ways because it gives the dog an outlet for his urge to bite, which is probably one of the causes of his hand-nipping behavior. Generally speaking the more a dog gets to bite a tug rag in play, and the harder he bites it and growls at it and "kills" it, the less need he'll have to nip people's hands etc. Plus it'll be easier to distract him away from that behavior by calling his name and showing him something he can actually plug his energy (and his teeth) into: his favorite tug rag.

There are a few rules though:

http://www.tiny.cc/tug

http://www.tiny.cc/MythofTug

Please let me know if you have any problems (like if he won't play with you),

LCK