dominance aggression in shepherd

Question
Hello, I have just adopted a rescue Dutch Shepherd, nine years old. I had her
for 2 weeks, and had to go away for 2 weeks, and have been home for 1
week. Her previous foster environment did not say much about aggression -
but I find that she increasingly has become dominant aggressive to other
dogs, especially females. The foster mom who took her for the 2 weeks I was
traveling indicated she got along well with the 5 other shepherd mixes in her
pack. So, it seems this aggression has something to do wtih me. My intuition
is that she knows she has a real home, and is protecting it and me. She
seems better behaved away from me.
Unfortunately because of a minor leg injury and arthritis on her part, I have
not been exercising her much, (to improve her healing) so this adds to some
pent up energy. I am seriously concerned about handling an aggressive dog. I
live in a neighborhood with other loose dogs and she has fought with one
female a few times, which is very distressing.
Is there hope that as she settles in she will become less aggressive? How can I
curb this behavior? Is there anything to the idea that its best to let them work
it out? Or should I always step in and pull her off?

She is smart, sweet alone, and I do like her so much. I want to know what the
most effective attitude to have is. Should I control her more, or less?
Introduce her to more dogs, or less? Be more involved with her interactions or
less?

Thank you!
Hilary

Answer
HI Hilary,

Thank you for sending me your question here at AllExperts.  

Regarding your Dutch Shepherd, first I want to say that it sounds as if your dog has been under quite a bit of stress lately.  She went from a foster home to your home, spent a couple of weeks with you, then was boarded with the foster "mom", and now has been home again for one week.  I don't know how long the dog was in its 'original' home before the foster home, or how many other homes she has had.  This is a lot of change for a nine year old dog, especially one with arthritis and a leg injury.  I don't know how she got the leg injury (you didn't say), but however she got the injury and the injury itself are most likely contributors to this dog's stress levels as well.  To repeat: Your Dog Is Under Quite A Bit Of Stress!!!

So, your dog is under a lot of stress.  What does this mean?  It means that adrenaline and cortisol could be running rampant in your dog's system and causing behavioural changes, and may be contributing to reactivity that's already there and making it worse.  A dog under a lot of stress will typically react more quickly to things that trigger the dog's reactivity, and with more magnitude.  Recovery time may be longer as well.

Your writing that your dog has become "dominant aggressive" to other dogs doesn't tell me anything - I don't know what her behaviours are, specifically, so I can't comment.  There are a lot of misconceptions about what dominance is, and it is usually more productive to talk about stress levels, ranking, and the dog's management and training.  You also don't mention if your dog is intact or spayed. To say that the dog's aggression has something to do with you may be less productive than to say that the dog is under a lot of stress due to a lot of recent changes and perhaps also due to arthritis pain and any pain due to the leg injury you mentioned.

Whether she knows she has a permanent home is debateable - she went from a foster home, to your home, back again to the foster home for boarding, back to your home...you get the idea.  Dogs don't understand English, so your dog may be anticipating when the next 'Big Change' is gonna come and likely is unable to relax into her new home with you.  At the very least, I might suggest that you keep her environment stable for several months with no traveling and no more environment changes, if you're able, and see if the dog starts relaxing and if you see any behavioural changes for the better.  If you haven't already, I might also suggest that you consult a vet about the arthritis and the leg injury and see if there's anything you can do to relieve any pain the dog might be feeling that's very likely contributing to her stress levels.

If she has both arthritis and a leg injury, it might be a good idea that she hasn't been physically exercised too much.  Is there a way that you can find to give her more mental stimulation, such as scent games; training; discrimination games (choose toys or objects on cue); etc.?  This might be the time to consult a professional trainer to see how you can keep her mind occupied while allowing her body to rest.

You also wrote that you live in a neighborhood with "other loose dogs."  I'm wondering if your dog is loose as well?  I'm also wondering if there's a way to keep her away from the other loose dogs in your neighborhood and out of fights with these other dogs?  You don't want to be taking your chances letting dogs "work it out."  It's best to keep her away from other dogs and safe from them if she has a fight response to them rather than a freeze, submissive, or flight response.  Here, management of your own dog may be your best option - don't even let the possibility of a fight with another dog be allowed to occur.  If fights do occur, you and/or your dog can get injured trying to pull two (or more) fighting dogs apart.  

I certainly would not suggest letting her roam into other dogs' territory and letting her make decisions on her own.  YOU need to be her protector right now, and manager, and keep her safe from other dogs, especially because she may not be feeling too well right now given her recent environment changes, her arthritis, and her leg injury.  

You mention that she is sweet when she's alone.  This tells me that when she's under less stress, she's a fine dog.  I don't know how many more years this dog might have left, but is it possible for you to make these last years of hers stable, safe, and productive for her mind?  Can you keep her comfortable from arthritis pain and free of injuries?  

If I had just adopted a dog of nine years with the issues you mentioned, these would be my questions for myself at this time and my most current concerns.  I would certainly consult with a vet if I were you about her physical medical condition, and you might also benefit greatly from seeking from in-home professional training and behaviour advice from an expert.  You can find professional trainers in your area at APDT.com or theABMA.org

Best regards and I hope you don't give up on this one...,
Madeline (www.ny-njDogTrainer.com) at AllExperts