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Originally Posted by gemy  I feel for you and the situation you encountered. I also endorse the hind legs lift.
On a further note, with working dogs and especially those bred to guard and protect; training needs to be constant. Not saying in your case that it isn't, but if not for sure you better start doing daily training.
She is only 18mths old, and for larger breeds that is the dreaded teenage years. She is just now starting to come into her own as an "adult".
If you do have a trainer, then go back to them now. You will need to build up trust again with her. Being bit by your dog, is no cup of tea, and really can shake you to your core.
This maybe folklore, (sorry I am not a GSD owner) however I have heard that Shepherds will turn on their owners at least once, and you better be prepared to deal with it.
I am how-ever a large working breed owner and breeder of Black Russians. They will not show their true adult character until about 3yrs old. Before then, I always advise to build a very stable and good working rapport with your dog. So when you "need" the absolute obedience it will be there.
I have always used and trained into my dogs, the STOP command. It is the emergency command, and is never, ever to be disobeyed. I start when they are eight week old pups.
I do believe that bite, was a result of her being in the "fight" mode, adrenaline coursing through her body, and she responded from this mindset. |
I agree the bite was self-defense & not personal. Look at it like this - if your GSD rushed at you & you thought she was attacking, you would knock her to the side or hit out at her, defending yourself from this "attack", which you don't understand. She wouldn't take your self-defense personally. From the dog's point of view, when she's in survival mode & you try to stop her from defending her life, you are "attacking" in her mind. She doesn't understand that you are trying to stop the fight. So don't take it personally, thinking she doesn't still love you or anything. She's just acting out of instinct as you would.