German Shepherd-

Question
My german shepherd is about 2 1/2 years old. He is a great dog around our family and friends, however he is very aggressive towards other male animals. He has bitten one dog so far. We also have a golden retriever and they get along fine, but I have noticed that the german shepherd is always trying to show dominance. When my husband takes the german shepherd for walks, he consistently is struggling with him to hold him back from other male dogs. The german shepherd fails to listen to my husband. When my husband raising his voice, the german shepherd gets nervous and pees on the floor. Is this normal behavior for german shepherds (males)? Is there a way to correct this behavior and make him stay put instead of running after other dogs.  

Answer
Is he neutered?  If not, do so.  It is no cure all, but helps many behavior problems.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/

Obedience training includes proper walking on lead.  As you approach other dogs, talk to yours keeping his attention on you.  If you still can't control him, try a head collar.  The leading brands are Promise, Haltie, and Gentle Leader.  They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle.  They work by pulling the dogs head around.  No other way gives you such great control with so little force.

The peeing is called submissive wetting.  Many breeds show the problem.  I am not sure German shepherds are worse than others.  The obedience training should also build the dog's self confidence along with some other things.  Play tug of war with the dog and lose.  However at the end of the game, take the rope or toy and put it up, less the dog becomes confused about who is top dog.

Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds.   Ones I made
lasted much better.   Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the
foot.  Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope.   Melt the ends, and tie  knots in it.   Get
them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer.  Watch
carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.

Finally, make sure it has a den to live in.  If you are not using a crate, buy one.  The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at
feeding time for more than one dog.