Pit-German Shepherd mix, male dog turning aggressive

Question
Ms Hack,

I have a three year old Pit-German Shepherd mix, male dog.  I had him fixed very early because of the pit in him and I was told it would help him with his aggressiveness.  He is a great dog through the day, but come feeding time he will not let anyone near him. Then in the mornings he will charge growling but with his tail wagging.  He weighs close to 110 lbs and I can not take a chance of him actually biting someone.  If I have raised him with love since he was 6 weeks and can not control him, I would not feel comfortable passing him on to a different owner.  I love this dog very much, please help me!!!

Answer

Hi Tom,

There are some behavioral problems that can't be resolved by just reading about possible solutions. This is one of those instances.

You need to have your dog evaluated by a dog behaviorist, who can then show you how to take charge of your dog, as your dog learns how to obey. Ask your veterinarian or local boarding kennel if they can refer you to a dog behaviorist. If you can't get a referral, you may be able to find one here:  http://www.apdt.com/petowners/ts/default.aspx

Until you can start working with the behaviorist, you should not put yourself or others in situations where your dog is known to appear aggressive. Leave the room while he's eating, and be really low-key in the morning, don't give him any eye contact. Tail wagging while your dog is charging at you and growling does not mean the same thing as a tail wag when a dog is relaxed. Depending on context of what's going on while a dog is wagging it's tail, the wag will convey many meanings ranging from excitement, anticipation, playfulness or happiness, to anxiety uncertainty or apprehension.

You can start to gain some control over your dog by practicing a very passive behavior modification technique called "Nothing In Life Is Free". You can read about that here: http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

I doubt Nothing In Life Is Free will resolve your dog's issues, it's a good start, and with the help of a professional dog behaviorist your dog will be live up to his full potential as a trusted and beloved pet.

Best of luck,

Patti