German Shepherd dogs are often very protective of their owners, and their family members. And when they feel threatened or unsafe, they will show signs of aggression. In some cases, German Shepherds can exhibit aggressive behavior towards one’s spouse. This change of behavior can be sudden and very unpredictable.
The main reason for a German Shepherd suddenly being aggressive towards your husband is resource guarding. Your dog might think you are being threatened. Or a GSD may believe that your husband is being too close to be able to hurt you. The more you bond with your dog, the more it may feel the need to protect you.
If your German Shepherd has suddenly become aggressive towards your husband, you are not alone. In this article, we will discuss what signs of aggression mean. We will also talk about how to identify when your German Shepherd is becoming aggressive, as well as how to cope with aggression in a German Shepherd.
What do I do when my German Shepherd growls at my husband?
The common reasons for a dog to growl at someone could include attention-seeking, food aggression, resource guarding, fear, or being dominating.
When your German Shepherd growls at your husband, it could be his way of protecting you. Or he may think your husband is getting too close to you. (It’s absurd to say it, I know) But on the other hand, it also means your GSD loves you so much and is doing his job to protect you.
Be sure to tell the dog “no” in a sharp, precise tone in order to let the dog know that its behavior is unacceptable. Give your husband a clicker and a stash of high-value treats, so he can mark and reward the dog for good behavior.
Why does my German Shepherd bark at me when my husband touches me?
If your German Shepherd barks at you when your husband touches you, then your dog is exhibiting resource guarding behavior.
The dog sees you as the resource and your husband as a threat to the resource. German Shepherds are a loyal breed, to the point where they can become overly protective and possessive of their owners.
Why does my German Shepherd bark at my husband when he kisses me?
It can be very off-putting if your German Shepherd barks at your husband when you are kissing, but it is not uncommon canine behavior. Your dog may be acting out of insecurity or anxiety – he may believe that your husband is hurting you when he is actually kissing you.
Is my German Shepherd just being protective of me by showing aggression towards my husband?
Oftentimes, a German Shepherd will act aggressively towards your husband simply to protect you. However, over-protectiveness can lead to more serious aggression issues down the road that may put your spouse in danger of serious physical harm.
There are many complex underlying reasons that a German Shepherd may act aggressively, and protective nature is just one possible cause. If your dog only shows aggression to your husband when he is in close proximity to you or being physical with you, then that is a tell-tale sign that your dog is acting in order to protect you.
Why are German Shepherds so protective of their owners?
German Shepherds are widely known to be one of the most protective dog breeds. If they are consistently treated with lots of care, love, and affection from their owners then they are likely to be fiercely loyal to their families.
German Shepherds are working dogs that are eager to please their owners. They were originally bred to help shepherds in herding sheep. They are also commonly used today as military and police dogs.
Traits like endurance, loyalty, and protectiveness were key characteristics originally bred into these dogs for working purposes.
Are male German Shepherds more protective of female owners and vice versa?
There is no solid evidence that suggests male German Shepherds are more protective of female owners or vice versa.
The level of loyalty your dog exhibits towards you is a combination of its nature and upbringing, not necessarily its sex. Male dogs tend to be more dominant in nature, so they may have a greater tendency towards protective behaviors than their female counterparts.
Female German Shepherds may make better family dogs, because they may be open to being loyal to more than one person while males often show loyalty to their primary caregiver.
Do German Shepherds protect their owners without training?
Because protectiveness is often part of a German Shepherd’s nature, this characteristic may just develop on its own without training. If you are interested in making your dog more or less protective of you, there are ways to encourage or discourage the behavior in the dog.
Oftentimes, German Shepherds will become naturally protective as they bond with you.
Do German Shepherds get jealous of spouses?
As part of their loyal and protective nature, a German Shepherd may get jealous of your spouse.
The best thing to do to minimize jealous behavior is to allow your spouse to spend time bonding with your German Shepherd. Give your spouse the task of feeding your dog when they are around.
This will help your dog gain more trust and confidence in them. With time and training, your dog may begin to see your spouse as part of the family and start acting loyally instead of aggressively towards them.
Why is my German Shepherd being jealous of my husband?
Your German Shepherd may be jealous of your husband because it sees you as their resource. When your husband is receiving your love and affection, your German Shepherd may feel threatened by him, and ignored by you. Jealousy is a normal feeling for a German Shepherd to experience – especially when your attention is diverted.
How do I stop my German Shepherd from being jealous of my husband?
To help alleviate your German Shepherd’s feelings of jealousy, there are a few things you can try. Spending quality time with both your husband and your dog together is a great first step. Go out for a nice hike together on a local trail, and show your dog that your husband’s presence equals fun activities!
Is my German Shepherd just being possessive of me?
If your dog is acting jealous or aggressive towards your husband, then it may just be very possessive of you. Possessive feelings may be displayed by your dog growling, snarling, or biting a person who is close to you.
Possessive dogs are usually insecure and lack confidence. In your dog’s mind, you are a valuable and limited resource and your love and affection shouldn’t be allocated towards other people or animals. If possessive behavior isn’t addressed, it can turn into aggression down the road. There are many ways to correct your dog’s possessive tendencies.
Why are German Shepherds so possessive of their owners?
German Shepherds are possessive of their owners because they are very loyal by nature. These dogs see their owners as family, and will sometimes go to extreme measures to ensure that their family is safe from harm. Unfamiliar or unexpected people and animals may be perceived as threats by your German Shepherd.
How do I stop my German Shepherd from being possessive of me?
There are many ways to help correct possessive behaviors that your dog displays. Allow friends and family members to come to your home, and provide them with treats to give your German Shepherd. If your dog has positive experiences around other people, they will act less possessively.
5 Ways to stop my German Shepherd from being aggressive towards my husband
#1 Make sure that your husband always has dog treats on hand. When your dog is acting friendly or neutrally, he can provide treats as positive reinforcement.
#2 Correct any aggressive displays with a firm “no” and a lack of attention. Doing this will teach your German Shepherd that aggression gets you nothing, while affection gets you treats!
#3 Use clicker training for your German Shepherd. Clicker training, or mark and reward, is a form of positive reinforcement dog training and can mark neutral or affectionate behaviors.
#4 Spend quality time with your German Shepherd and husband together – for example, go on a long hike together. This will help your dog bond with your husband.
#5 Have your husband feed your German Shepherd meals. If your husband provides food for your dog, then your dog will view him as a resource instead of a threat.
Conclusion
German Shepherds are one of the most devoted and loyal dog breeds out there. They are great companion animals and family dogs. However, sometimes German Shepherds can act aggressively to people outside of their family group because they feel possessive of you. With time, patience and training tips mentioned above, you can begin to modify your German Shepherd’s behavior to welcome others!
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO FINDING A PUREBRED GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPY
A comprehensive and resourceful guide for any first-time GSD owner.
Do you want to know how to find a purebred German Shepherd puppy? What are the pros and cons of purebred dogs? How to identify a responsible/reputable breeder? What questions should you ask a breeder before you buy a puppy? How to make sure your puppy is purebred? What’s included in the puppy sales contract?
You will find answers to all these questions in this 38-page guide.
