My GSD showing agression toward me

Question
Hi,

I've had a GSD(Reese), since he was 6 wks old. He is now 7 yrs. and an intact male. I also have a 2yr old female GSD (Scout), that has been with us since she was about 8 wks old. I had planned to breed them, but, after 2 cycles, she still hasn't become pregnant.

This morning some time after I had already gone out and fed and watered them, I was leaving for work, and I spoke to them and said bye like I always do. They are in an enclosed area of my back yard. As I approached the fence Reese growled and barked at me, which he has NEVER done. My hair was wet from the shower and I thought he maybe didn't recognize me, so I put my hand down against the wire. He smelled, then backed up and repeated the growl and bark.

Reese has always been wary and unfriendly toward strangers and he is very territorial. He has never shown ANY aggression towards me, except once, when I burst into the house wearing a large hat. Once he figured out it was me he was happy to see me, as always.

It baffles me that he seemed unfamilar and aggressive toward me this morning even after smelling my hand.

The only thing that I can think that might have caused him to act like this is, the other night, in that same corner of the yard, my brother-in-law was harrassing him.

Could it be that he remembered that,and gotten aggressive in that same corner towards me?

Another thing that worries me is that it might be a medical problem. Reese has never shown any kind of aggression towards me in all these years. I can't understand what might have caused this behavior in him.

This afternoon when I got home, I went out and gave them fresh water and played stick. There was no behavior like this morning.

 I don't know if it's my imagination, ( he can make your blood run cold and it did scare me a bit), or if he really has a different look in his eye. He does seem a bit different to me.

This is so unlike him, we have always been close and I've never felt anything but trust in Reese.

Any ideas or suggestions? I love Reese, and whether it's a medical problem, just a quirk, or I need to ban my brother-in-law, I need some advice and help to put my mind at ease.

                    Thank you,
                     Peggy L Dennis  

Answer
Hi Peggy,  Yes a dog will get suspicious of anyone with a hat, towel or anything else on their head, as it tends to disfigure a person's looks.  He was probably more suspicious since he had been harassed earlier by your brother-in-law.  If you just had gotten out of the shower, your hand might have smelled different from soaps, shampoos etc, so that also might have added into it all.  I think you had a few things all combine together to cause him to be overly suspicious that day.  I wouldn't worry too much unless he does it again.  I would pass on to your brother-in-law that dogs never forget, and Reese will never trust him if he harasses him, and if he gets bitten by Reese, it is because he harassed him in the past.  Hope this helps,

Dawn