Dominance Agression in German Shepherd Puppy

Question
Dear Dawn:

I found your website after a very distraught 24 hrs. I recently obtained a purebred GSD from a reputable breeder. I got him at 8 weeks and he is now 14 weeks. He is a very smart, funny and obedient puppy and has been a joy to have around. He has won over my 11 year old neutered male GS as well as my cat. In the first few weeks he was literally attached to my foot and followed me everywhere, while at the same time being receptive to friends, their dogs and children. He has never bitten (mouthed) anyone but me, and I took that to be part of an oral stage. However, at about 10 weeks he begn barking back at me when I corrected him. I got firmer in my corrections which included holding his muzzle closed, as well as a scruff shake. He has gotten much better with the chewing on my hands and feet and now knows that his bones and chew toys are the proper objects for teeth. Yesterday, I took Seamus to the vet for his third set of vaccinations. Because of the clinic policy, we did not see our regular vet. When I lifted Seamus onto the examining table he fussed and howled and growled but stopped when I reassured him and he felt the table under him (although the slippery steel did make him nervous). After a cursory and somewhat rough examination and temperature taking, the vet pronounced that physically he was fine, but he was a dominant agressive dog who was guaranteed to become worse and eventually bite someone. He recommended euthenasia. I have had dogs all my life, including my 11 year old Shepherd, Springers, Shelties, and Labs. I don't think this puppy is any worse than they were at his age. I have read a number of books on training and GSDs and put into practice many of the techniques of the Monks of New Skete, as well as Brian Kilcommons. I am attending puppy socialization classes, and we are enrolled for clicker training and obedience in the next few months.

This was the 4th visit to a vet, and none of the others noted any behaviour problems or suggested such a drastic remedy. This vet had spent a total of 3 minutes with this puppy. He is the head of this clinic. When I asked him what other recourse I had, he said "none" and assured me this was not my fault it was totatly genetic and the fault of the breeder. I used to breed Shelties and I am aware of the potential problems with breeding and choosing breeders unwisely. I spent a lot of time researching the breed and visiting the kennel and meeting the sire and dam before I decided on this puppy. He was never the most dominant of the litter. He is very eager to please with or without rewards and is very polite with other people and dogs. I am very upset and worried by what this vet told me and on one level I would like to ignore him, but I am now worried that the fact that my dog doesn't want to be picked up means he is defective. When we were out for our walk this morning I sat on a bench and picked him up and, yes, he was upset and yelled and growled. I made him stay on my lap (all 30 lbs of him!) and when he was quiet I put him down. I repeated this 2 more times with the same initial reaction but a shorter time until he relaxed and was quiet. I would like your opinion on whether or not this one response to an obviously uncomfortable situation is enough to warrant having a dog put down.

I had previously had a bad experience with this vet and his handling of my older Shepherd who is as gentle as a lamb, and I should have used my better judgement yesterday and asked to see my regular vet. This man is very nervous, does not make eye contact with owners, and does not reassure the dogs in any way. I swear if he was canine he would be the blue heeler I used to live next door to who liked to sneak up behind people and bite their ankles. Sorry, I needed to vent.

I look forward to your response.  

Answer
Hi, I would stay as far away from that vet as possible.  The one thing they don't teach in vet school is canine psychology (which I think should be a required course).  He obviously has no idea what he is doing.  Some of the training you are doing is dominance training, which I don't personally recommend on a dominant dog, which he is when he talks back like he does, but I honestly prefer the dogs that talk back because it is a good sign of intelligence.  I recommend leadership training, especially with a dominant dog.  The vet was right in the aspect that he is dominant, but recommending to euthanize is crazy, especially at that age.  The dog is still in the imprinting stage of his life and has a lot of learning to go.  As far as being aggressive, it probably was out of fear, and judging after 3 minutes is utterly ridiculous.  The only reason I don't recommend dominance training on a dominant dog as they tend to fight back more because they have dominant tendincies.  Sort of like butting heads.  But if you use leadership training which basically uses their natural instincts to train and guides them into doing what you want, it can be a lot easier.  Sort of fooling them into doing what you want instead of focring.  :) You are on the right track in getting him trained early, and I would avoid that vet like the plague.  Hope this helps,

Dawn