German Shepherds are often being linked with bad temperaments or aggressive tendencies. The reason for this can partially be understood by its origin itself. In the year 1899, a dog named Horand von Grafrathwas first declared as a German Shepherd Dog by Max von Stephanitz who later found the Society for the German Shepherd Dog. Later this particular breed was rapidly bred for natural qualities such as intelligence, strength, and speed. These qualities were also the perfect requirements for German Shepherds to become active guard dogs. GSDs were bred initially, with the motive to serve as guard dogs in the community rather than companion dogs. Thus, being a guard dog for generations, aggression comes naturally to them.

According to a study made by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) concludes that GSD is an aggressive breed in case of biting frequency if not trained properly. So, it is very essential to properly train a GSD, so they can manage their skills to prosper and not end up creating chaos. Over the last few decades, GSD has gained a bad/poor reputation for being one the most aggressive dogs and quite often poorly portrayed by media and news channels. But, apart from aggression, they are extremely loyal and loveable dogs to have around.

Are German Shepherds naturally aggressive? :

It would be highly insensitive and ignorant if we flat out stated, ‘GSDs are aggressive’ without considering its characteristics, personality traits, and the effort required to keep them well disciplined. The German shepherd is a large and interesting breed. They are a combination of power, confidence, and intelligence which makes them incredibly interesting and if not trained properly can turn out to be harmful to humans, as well.

Some of the most striking features of a GSD is that they are very protective towards their family and are always on high alert. Besides these, they are naturally loyal, fierce, and extremely brave. They possess an alpha trait that naturally makes them dominant, and coupled with the protective trait they pounce or bite on a stranger by sensing them as a potential threat to the family, one of the most important reasons contributing to the generalized idea of considering German Shepherd dogs as aggressive.

Types of aggression seen in a German Shepherd

Aggression is a psychological issue, which may have several underlying causes. Types of aggression that are commonly observed in a GSD.

●        Protective aggression: As stated earlier GSD are very protective towards their family. Because of their alpha trait, they treat their family as a pack, and whenever they feel that part of his is under a potential threat they act quick and swift.

●        Fearful aggression: This type of aggression arises out of fear. Generally, a fearful GSD will retreat to a corner and feel aggression in the only way out.

●        Defensive Aggression: This might be similar to fearful aggression but instead of retreat a GSD tries to defend himself and attacks

●        Possessive Aggression: This type of aggression is generally associated with foods. Primitive dogs had to search for their own food and had to protect it from other potential predators, this nature is still predominant in most modern dogs.

●        Frustrated Aggression: A dog is nothing but a child and when they are held back from a thing or person of interest they lash out. This type of behavior is quite frequent in GSD.

●        Territorial aggression: This type of aggression is due to another primitive nature of protecting the territory. This is most likely to the home they live in and the space surrounds it.

●        Predatory Aggression: This is another primitive trait. A GSD will chase something aggressively if they think it’s prey that is getting away.

Symptoms of aggression in German Shepherd?

Aggressive behavior cannot be described by a single word or expression, It’s a combination of various expressions under various circumstances. Some of the very common symptoms are as follows

 ●        Your GSD continues to bark and growl at you even after saying “NO” and started to bark even louder.

●        Your GSD snaps back at you if you try to refrain him from something he’s doing.

●        Your GSD tried to harm other animals or human or chase while barking continuously

●        Your GSD bites you with force

●        Your GSD snarls at you showing the teeth

If you do notice some of the above-mentioned signs frequently it’s time to address it.

What triggers the aggression in your GSD?.

Behind such behavior, there is a possibility of an underlying issue. It is necessary to know the source of behavior in order to control it. There are a lot of reasons that causing such behavior. So, first, let’s have a look at some of the triggers

●        Lack of proper training: A GSD is extremely smart and intelligent. That is the reason they are often used as police dogs. Moreover, they can be trained very well because of their high level of intelligence. Moreover, good training is extremely important for this magnificent creature to socialize properly. Lack of proper training makes them aggressive and arrogant.

●        Lack of exercise: As they are guard dogs so they need to remain very active. An adult healthy German shepherd requires at least 2 hours of exercise. It can be a combination of various activities like, walking, running, and playing. But when they don’t get it adequately they channelize the energy somewhere else and thus show signs of aggression. Lack of exercise impact their attention span and makes them restless which results in aggression.

●        They are bored: GSD tends to get bored easily if they don’t get enough attention, Your GSD is just like a human child. They are very loyal and emotionally attach themselves easily to the family, in return they expect attention and interaction. Whenever they don’t get the desired attention they get bored and express the boredom through different aggressive behaviors.

●        They are overprotective: As stated earlier that a GSD feels extremely protective towards his family and any unfamiliar face or animal near any of your family members becomes a potential threat to them and they continue to bark or snarl aggressively.

●        They are being dominated: GSD is free-spirited and possesses alpha instinct. They love to live in the packs and their sole responsibility is to protect the pack. They are naturally indomitable but trainable. So if you try to dominate them instead of there might be high chances that they will turn on you. They are very loveable and loyal, so don’t try to be his master rather try to be a leader to train him properly.

Are male German Shepherd more aggressive?

A GSD is a dog one can surely fall for. But sometimes it has been reported by people that a male GSD is showing more aggressive behavior than a female. To know the reason we need to take a look at their individual personality as male or female.

Male GSD is larger in size than their female counterparts. They are more muscular and powerful. They tend to be more possessive as they grow up and are more dominant as well as territorial. That’s why most of the police dogs are happened to be male.

Whereas a Female GSD is generally more friendly towards children and other dogs, and they are excellent in training. They are very good at socializing with others.

Due to these striking differences in characteristics, male GSD is often considered to be a little more aggressive than female, so you need to set your purpose right before adopting any gender.

 How to control the aggression of GSD?

Once you know the reason behind the behavior it will be much easier for you to control the situation.

●        Train them properly: It is the first thing you can do to help your GSD to overcome aggression. Their smartness is an added advantage along with the high level of intelligence. They can be easily trained to adopt healthy behavior

●        Help him to socialize with other humans and dogs: Dogs love socialization and  they love to stay in the pack since the primitive ages. Modern urban lifestyle prevents them from socializing with other animals and humans, which affects adversely their psychology and leads them to behave aggressively. So it is important to help them socialize with other breeds and animals or even with humans. Take them on a walk to the nearby park every day and spend some good quality time socializing.

●        Consult a Vet:. A vet can check for any underlying health issues that might be causing the behavior and prescribe certain medications to eliminate the root cause

Do’s and Don’ts to control aggression

Wrapping Up,

The German shepherd is one of the smartest and loyal dog breeds. Their protective and dominant instinct makes them a potential guard dog and exceptional work dog. Whereas they are bred to protect you and your family which makes them naturally aggressive than other breeds under certain circumstances.

The good news is they are excellent in training and it’s easy to teach them healthy habits and behaviors. Most of the time the underlying cause of the aggression is lack of activeness or they are being bored. So before adopting this wonderful breed you need to set your purpose and desire in proper alignment. A GSD needs lots of attention as they are very active and playful, lack of these will lead them to become aggressive. Moreover, it’s important to understand the root cause behind every behavior which needs dedication and patience.  Once you find out the cause it’s easier for you to make your GSD feel secure and well adjusted to your family.

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However, not training them in the right way and doing things to irritate them can lead to problems. If you are planning on getting a German shepherd, then you undoubtedly have made a good choice. However, there are some things you must know about their aggression before bringing them home. These factors are stated further in this article.

Top 5 Triggers of an Aggressive German Shepherd

1.   Fear

According to research, you need to remember that aggression comes from fear. No dog has an inbuilt emotion of aggression, but the way you treat them can create an aggressive nature. If you constantly keep yelling on the dog, then it will create a fear factor, and the dog will consider you as someone dangerous and will eventually adopt aggressive behavior.

2.   Strangers

German shepherds are extremely protective of their owners. It may sound good but can sometimes be a problem when you have surprise guests or strangers visiting you. As per BCSPCA, It is when the dog may start barking and become aggressive towards the innocent guest.

Therefore, you will have to train the dog and make it comfortable with accepting other people but not too comfortable. Try to make it understand your gestures of acceptance and danger. In that way, the dog will be trained to be calm in any situation.

3.   Separation anxiety

A German shepherd loves his/her human more than anything. Research says that staying away causes stress and anxiety in the dog. It may try to escape, bark excessively, or may show any other abnormal behavior. The best you can do is ensure to give some time regularly to your dog. Make the dog more comfortable with other acquaintances, so it has someone when you are not around.

4.   Hyper-active

These dogs are extremely active and need some exercise time daily. A morning walk will probably not be sufficient for them. Yes, they sure are cuddle buddies, but they need their energy activities as well. You cannot just tie your german shepherd on the porch and accept it to be fine. Instead, it will bark on every moving thing constantly and become aggressive.

5.   Ignorance

Your ignorance can be the cause of your german shepherd’s anger. Ignoring the initial little acts of aggression, such as biting or barking, can develop the habit of such acts in the dog.

You will have to train the dog on everything related to barking or biting or any other behavior that can be a concern for aggression. The job of training may be tough in the beginning, but it will eventually pay off. Also, if you don’t train your german shepherd, then it will not only be a problem for you but for everyone around. An aggressive dog can attack anything that occurs dangerous to it.

Types of Aggression

According to k9aggression, there are three basic types of aggression in german shepherds. They are :

1.   Dominance Aggression

A German shepherd may build a dominating nature towards other individuals. It is very unlikely for this dog breed to feel this way for its owner as they love their owners too much.

However, other things around can be a source to dominate for them. It can be a family member or a worker or even another dog. The reason can be anything, such as the motto of being the only one who gets its owner’s attention.

2.   Territorial or Protective Aggression

As already mentioned, German shepherds are extremely loyal and protective of their owners. However, you will have to pay the price if you don’t direct this protection in the right direction.

Territorial aggression forms when the dog thinks that its owner is in danger. So, the dog may bark excessively or show any other aggressive behavior to protect its owner. The dog can even attack if it perceives that the danger is not going away.

You must make the dog comfortable with other members of the family and the people you regularly see. German shepherds are very protective, so you have to be careful with that.

3.   Fear forming Aggression

Fear aggression occurs when the dog is scared. A German shepherd may bark, growl, snarl, or may even bite when he/she finds something potentially dangerous and scary.

Constant nagging and yelling can also develop such a nature in the dog. You must not bring something that always scares the dog in front of it in order to avoid such behavior. Doing things that the dog is afraid of can eventually form a permanent aggressive behavior in the dog.

What causes Aggression in German Shepherds?

There can be many reasons for a German shepherd to behave in an aggressive manner. Some of them are :

1.   Anything that triggers fear

Research has shown that fear and anxiety are the most common reasons for any dog to be aggressive. When a dog is constantly brought forward to face something it fears, then it adapts aggression.

The aggression that emerged on the first encounter can become habitual aggression if the fearful situation keeps happening again and again. The dog adapts an aggressive nature to protect itself. Past experiences can also bring out such a nature in a german shepherd.

2.   Lack of interaction

Here, the interaction refers not only with the owner but the interaction in bigger social terms that involve everything around. When a German shepherd is not familiar with other people, animals, or any other thing in the social context, then it will throw a tantrum when taken to a social place.

Anything like a walk or taking the dog to a vet will become disastrous if the dog isn’t familiar with it. Studies have shown that dogs negatively react to uniforms. So, make sure they are known to the uniforms that come across on a daily basis.

3.   Injury or illness

A german shepherd may behave aggressively because of an injury or illness. Injuries or illnesses can cause discomfort for the dog, making it feel annoyed and, therefore, aggressive.

It is better to consult a vet if your dog starts to behave aggressively out of nowhere. Therefore, the injury doesn’t need to be physical; rather, it can actually be the consequence of mental damage because of the dog’s painful past experiences.

Top 10 Ways To Calm an Aggressive German Shepherd

You must know about these ten ways, especially if you notice any aggressive behavior in your German shepherd. These solutions can help your german shepherd calm down and bring a change in its aggressive behavior. They are mentioned and explained with the help of the points given below:

1.   Showing affection

You must shower your dog with love and affection. A german shepherd can do anything to make the owner happy. Most of the action a german shepherd performs is basically in accordance with what the owner likes. However, this can change if you don’t show some affection back to your dog. To show affection, start spending an hour near your dog. Moreover, cuddling with the dog is enough. However, if your dog suffers from something like separation anxiety, then you will need to invest more time in it.

2.   Providing correct training

Your dog needs the correct training. Everything from potty training to walking is needed for the dog to learn. The training starts when the dog is a puppy, as that is the best learning phase. Your german shepherd will behave in odd ways and will probably not even listen to you if you don’t give him or her the required training.

3.   Familiarity and socialization

The dog must be familiar with its environment. It means that it should be comfortable with the people you interact with and even the other animals around. A german shepherd must keep calm during social interactions such as daily morning or evening walks. You have to teach him how to identify if something is dangerous and also teach him gestures that indicate him or her to calm down as everything is fine. Remember that German shepherds are guard dogs and very protective, so you need to handle socialization training at a very early stage.

4.   Play-time for exercise

A German shepherd is a very active dog. Owing to this nature, it is renowned in army services. Because of their hyperactive nature, you can get instant help in cases of threat and protection.

You should give your german shepherd playtime for exercise daily as it will boost their energy and keep them busy. Playtime will also make them happy, decreasing the chances of aggressive behavior.

If you don’t make time or laze around and ignore this exercise time, then it is not only risky for aggression but will also make your dog lazy as well. Research has shown that a German shepherd becomes like its owner over time.

5.   Fix a routine

Make a proper daily routine for your dog. From the time one wakes up to the time one goes to bed at night. Creating a routine will ensure that the German shepherd has something to look forward to, eventually decreasing aggression. However, keep the routine somewhat versatile and flexible so that the German shepherd is comfortable with unexpected changes as well.

6.   Use the power of food

Food can work wonders and persuade anyone. The same formula goes for dogs as well, including the German shepherd breed. As per source, even the smell of the food can work for a German shepherd and make him calm down. Food works excellently in diverting a dog. However, don’t use the food too much for persuasion or else two things may happen :

• This dog will completely lose his or her interest in the food.
• The German shepherd will demand food excessively and become aggressive if the demand is not fulfilled.

7.   Treats and rewards

Instead of adapting a punishing approach, you should rather try the reinforcement or rewarding approach. Rather than scolding or punishing the German shepherd every time he or she exhibits an undesired behavior, try rewarding the dog when he or she behaves according to what is desirable. It will encourage your dog to behave in that manner again and again for receiving the treats for or any other forms of reward. This reward can also be petting and showing affection.

8.   Bring them their favorite toy

Keeping a dog busy is very easy, especially when you have given the dog its favorite toy. It will definitely make your dog more energetic and happy and therefore decrease the level of aggression.

9.   Don’t do everything they want

It is indeed vital for you not to spoil your German shepherd by fulfilling all of its desires. Doing everything a dog wants can develop a dominating nature and the dog. The dog may not understand the meaning of no and become aggressive if you’re not able to do or bring something they want. It is important for you to make a balance and make the dog realize it cannot do anything it wants. Put the dog in situations wherein it fulfills a command before offering it what it wants. In this way, the dog will realize that he or she needs to follow the owner’s instructions.

10. Teach them Tricks

Teaching tricks is not only fun but can also help in calming german shepherds. This process is somewhat long and can be tough when you are not able to make the dog understand what you want. However, continuous efforts will bring out the desired outcomes. Offer your dog rewards once he or she learns the trick successfully. It will initiate the repetition of this behavior. In this way, your German shepherd will not only be happy and calm, but you will also have something to show off to your friends and other acquaintances.

The Final Words

German shepherds are adorable and can be your best friend. They are extremely protective of their owners. With proper training and following all the steps mentioned above, German shepherds can turn out to be the greatest and happiest fluffy balls ever. Thus, ensure that you consider the precautions mentioned above, along with following the essential steps that you must do for having a well behaved German shepherd.

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