My guard dog is aggressive to me, a new family member. How to bond?

It sounds like Bruno has not been socialized well with other dogs, which does tend to make it difficult to introduce him to other dogs. Try introducing the dogs in neutral territory - like a park. If it's not their house, then they will be much less likely to fight. While having the muzzle on does add security, it can make the dog act aggressive. Same can happen if you are holding the dog or putting tension on the leash. The best and safest way to introduce them would be at a neutral place with a fence inbetween them. Let Bruno off lead to explore the other dog. If he's aggressive right away, then it won't work. If he's not aggressive and seems interested, then the next step would be to introduce them while walking on lead or in an open area off-lead. This is a bit more risky, so just make sure you're nearby to break up a fight, but don't be overbearing (i.e. holding the lead tight). I hope that helps and all goes well.

It's good you are trying to get control of this issue while Bruno is still young. Food guarding or resource guarding can be a serious issue. 1st make sure no children or other pets are around as you try to control this. You can't leave the food or food bowl out for Bruno. This gives him something to guard. Only put it down at meal times and put it down while empty then walk away. Then come back and give him 1-3 pieces In the bowl. Continue to do this so he associates you approaching the food bowl as putting food in not taking it away. Here are some articles with good info. This is a serious behavior issue so if these exercises don't help please seek out a behaviorist who can help with Bruno. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1740 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1462&S=1&SourceID=47 http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/resource-guarding-treatment-and-prevention

Bruno will continue to be friendly towards strangers if he is introduced to them on a regular basis. If you truly are using him to be a guard dog rather than a companion or family pet, having him spend time with lots of strangers is not going to make him effective at performing his job. This will make him well-socialized and ultimately a friendly well adjusted dog. If you haven't already considered it, I would recommend looking into Schutzhund training. There is a ton of literature and media on this available, which will demonstrate how to train Bruno into being a good protector. German Shepherds are generally better dogs when they have a job do, and this type of training will provide just that type of stimulation.

I'm sorry that you're going through this difficult situation. You may be correct that Jett is territorial/resource guarding, or there may be other factors at play. He could also be anxious or fearful, leading to him acting “aggressive”. It is very important that you have Jett see a veterinarian to rule out medical causes, and to see if medical therapy is indicated for his behaviour. It is also essential to make sure he is up to date on his vaccinations, particularly his rabies vaccine, in the case of a bite. I recommend you seek the advice of a veterinary behaviorist to help curb this behavior. If left untreated, Jett and Sasha may end up in a fight, where one or both of them may be seriously injured, or worse. I’m not sure if you mean that he is barking and lunging or if he has actually tried to bite you or Sasha when you say he is aggressive, but it is important to curb his behaviour before he gets to that point. Please work with a veterinary behaviourist, or if that's not possible, a reputable dog trainer who uses positive reinforcement immediately. Hopefully he will improve with training and learn what is and is not acceptable behaviour. I would advise keeping him on a leash and away from other animals and people until you have the chance to work with a trainer or behaviourist. In the home I recommend using baby gates and dog crates to separate the dogs from each other, and alternating the areas in the home in which the dogs spend time so neither is left alone or one one side of the home for too long. The links below have some good information on how to introduce dogs to each other. If you decide to "reintroduce" them, you can try having Jett wear a basket muzzle (while supervised, of course) to help prevent injury. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8677941 https://indoorpet.osu.edu/dogs/new_additions_dogs/dog-dog-intro Good luck, and I hope things get better soon!

If this is a new behavior, have him checked by the vet to rule out any medical cause. If he is physically healthy, he needs some serious obedience training. He will need to learn to be respectful of your other dog's food and guests in your home. It sounds as if he may have been the king of the hill, but now he needs to have his place in the household redefined. I can help with this, but it is not an issue that can be resolved in a few sentences here. You can click on the prompt to initiate a consult, where we can discuss this at length.

Poor Bongo! I bet the amount of people being around was overwhelming to him. Heck- it overwhelms me. If he has a good food drive, I would recommend using that to train him. It is best to use one person st a time. Make sure they have a yummy treat- something he only gets during training. Have the person walk by & gently toss the food to him & keep walking. No telling or staring at him. He will start to associate yummy treat with people. Have the person move closer if Bongo isn’t responding. The person holding Bongo’s leash needs to remain calm and praise positive behavior & ignore unwanted behavior. When he has that down- have him sit & allow the person to hand him the treat (make sure you trust that person). I would not place him in situations with large numbers of strangers for a while. I would also recommend a good basic obedience class-it will help him learn in a group setting. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi Shreeyut! I am so sorry to hear that your dog does not seem to recognize you. I would start by always moving very slowly around him. Offer him treats and praise him for any small positive interaction with you. Do not yell or punish him for being scared. It may take time, but hopefully he will come around. Above all else though, keep your personal safety mind. I would never want you to be bitten or harmed. I hope this information helps. Good luck!