What is happening when a well-adjusted puppy turns into a suspicious monster overnight?
I have seen this happen with several dogs - I am thinking of a couple of bitches in particular, one GSD who belongs to someone else, & my own Aussie cross. These dogs go from being friendly to goining nuts over strangers. If handled correctly it seems to balance out after a few months, but in the mean time - aaaahh!I am really hoping my new pup doesn't turn into a little terror in the next couple of months <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> (Although she already seems like a lower-drive dog - which isn't so hot for a working future :rolleyes: )
In the cases of the 2 girls, it seemed to coincide with their 1st seasons. I have always assumed that, since defense drive is said to 'appear' with sexual maturity that the drive is kicking in & they are confused & don't know what to do with it. (The male dogs seem to go through a super-agressive stage a little later, I presume for the same reason)
Am I right? Or do you not have this problem with the German dogs? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Bet,

Assuming that the dogs are well socialised to people, overly defensive pups may be a nerve issue. I had a female too and this pup doesn't show any defense at all only prey all the times even the bark is out of prey. This carried on till 14 month where she suddenly show a hell of a defense in her and became suspicious at strangers.

Well I guess this is what dogs should be after all. Wouldn't want a social butterfly all the way. As long as the defense can be controlled to appear on a right moment is what GSD is all about isn't it?

I agree - I like to see defensivness in my dogs, as long as it is controlable.
Would the hormones affect the dogs nerves temporarily? Some of these dogs have pretty decent nerves barring this period in there lives.

even the bark is out of prey

Dog's no not BARK out of PREY!

Steve Cobb

Dogs often bark in prey. It is the most common bark that is seen.

Dogs do not bark in prey. Alot of times you see them barking out of frustration to get their prey. A dog that is in total prey drive does not bark....have you ever see a wolf chasing a little rabbit and barking while he is chasing?

Steve Cobb

Sorry Steve,

I didn't know we were talking about wolves. I thought we were talking about dogs. Even in frustration that doesn't change the drive the dog is in. If the dog is working in prey, the bark is based on prey drive. If the dog is working in some other drive that will be the drive. If you listen close, and in some cases you have to know the dog, you can hear the difference

We are talking about dogs. Let's talk about National Level SchH III dogs. On their first bite,which is the escape, how many dogs do you know at that level that bark while they are running? And if they do, they never make it to the long bite. The fact is dogs do not bark in prey. Another example, hunting dogs....yes they bark when they sent the prey, but when they see and persue the prey they do not bark....I have been on many hunts and have never seen the dogs barking while chasing/catching prey. Dogs switch drives so fast it is hard for an inexperienced handler and/or helper to see it.

Steve Cobb

That doesn't change the fact that a dog can and will bark in prey, and yes I have seen dogs that bark when they run. Most won't, but that is for much the same reason that you don't yell much when you run. It isn't efficient. Prey behavior isn't limited to the act of running down the prey, it has to do with the attitude of the dog towards the object they are confronting. I have rarely seen a dog that barks when they are running away from a threat, does tha mean that a dog won't bark in defense? I doubt it. Barking is a means of communication that the dog uses that, in part, conveys the attitude the dog has towards what it is barking at. Dogs bark in fight drive, defense/fear, and prey drive (Most play/greeting barks I would consider a prey behavior). OIr are you trying to tell me you can't tell the difference in the bark when the dog is barking at the local cat vs. a person it doesn't know comming up the driveway? Are you telling me you can't tell which dogs in the B/H aren't very serious and those that feel a threat or fighting opportunity from the helper?

Steve, if a dog never barks in prey then what the hell are a good number of those SchH III dogs doing when then come around the blind and start going. . .yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yap yap yap yap yap??

What drive is that, if not prey? It isn't defense, it isn't fight. . .is it give me my prey item because I bark drive?


The drives stimulate the dog to do something. . .run down the rabbit, chase the ball, snap at the fly, or chase the rat to its hole and start barking to get it to do something because I can't reach it and I'm frustrated in high prey drive. Thats the way I look at prey drive.