How can I train my puppy to be less social towards humans?

I'm glad she is friendly towards humans, but I would prefer her to be more stand-offish. She'll run up to anyone at anytime - tail wagging like like crazy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

She's a 6 month old female ACD.

T.P

Troy - feel luck that your pup has good temperament and good nerves.

I would suggest you spend more time learning about nevres, drives and training.

A puppy thats sharp grows up to be a nervous sharp adult and or a fear biter.

I appreciate your response. My ACD dosn't bark, snarl, growl or bite anyone. It seems she has been born seeing people as pet machines. I'm going to accept responsibility for this and tell you that I have listened to your podcast on the subject of petting, and I need to step up and be more consistant with the no petting policy. My own personal fear of confrontation with people (saying NO and wondering what they will think of me) is obviously creating a lot of grey areas for my puppy.

Thank you for your help. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I know what needs to be done.

T.P.

 Quote:

.....I need to step up and be more consistant with the no petting policy. My own personal fear of confrontation with people (saying NO and wondering what they will think of me) is obviously creating a lot of grey areas for my puppy......

Sometimes I just say (in a nice way), "My dog is in training right now and not to be touched by anyone but me." Sometimes that stops the big discussions and affronted would-be petters. It's just easier for me.

Troy, is your dog going to be a working dog of some type? I curious to why you don't want a social dog <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />,

AL

When a puppy is cute and friendly people love it. I literally have to fight people off my dog. I live downtown Toronto, and there are no ACD's here. Her beautiful coat is driving the urbanites crazy. People are picking her up and petting her without my permission. It's a real problem. These people just assume that we all want our dogs to be given attention.

When she jumps all over them and goes berserk they love it, cuz she's a puppy, but when she grows up they are not going to want that, and they are going to hold me responsible for her actions. People (dog owners too) just don't get it. They are encouraging behavior they won't appreciate when she is 50lbs and 22 inches high, and they are wearing their Sunday best.

I want her to be comfortable around humans and other animals. I just don't want her to look at humans as pet machines. I am very good with her at home. But when I get out on the street, I'm inconsistant, cuz some people I'm afraid to offend. No matter how nice I am, people get offended, and are even rude to me when I tell them they can't pet my dog. They look at it as if something is mentally wrong with me. When I go through the park and they are all there with their dogs off-leash (sign says $225.00 fine for taking dog off-leash) and I just ignore them they look at me like I'm comitting some sort of crime.

I never knew buying a dog would give me automatic membership into the dog club, where people (who previously wouldn't talk to me) now have expectations of me and my dog.

Does't a dog owner have the right to say no, and have people respect it?

T.P

Troy, Take Connies' advise, & just say (very nicely) sorry, my dog is in training & then just keep moving. Don't worry about those who get offended, they are not worth the energy, if you responded politely in the first place. You are right, it is more important to be consistant with your dog than to worry about people being offended just because you won't let them play with the pup. I also feel your frustration about those who have their dogs off leash when they are not supposed to be. It's one of my big gripes, too! Just yesterday morning at dawn I was laying a track (in what I thought was my secret spot), when some yahoo's dog came running all over eating my bait. You know what that person said to me? He said "don't worry, my dog is friendly". There was no point in me even responding because some people just don't get it. A while back, I posted basically the same question as yours, & one poster had a great response to the "Is your dog friendly" He said just smile & say "sometimes"!!!! Also, you can order a lightweight, inexpensive vest from this website with a couple of patches. I got the patches that say "do not pet" & "in training". In the meantime, I really sympathize with you, buddy!

I used to want an antisocial dog, a dog who didn't like people n didn't want people petting my dog. I have since changed my mind about the whole concept. I let my dogs socialize with everyone, especially my puppy who was very shy of people at 10.5 weeks old and now at 16 weeks old is alot more social with people (albeit doesn't jump into everyones lap who she doesn't know), my GSD was the opposite, he loved everyone. Now my GSD is 2 years old (as of Tuesday next week) n he ignores people who ignore him n won't go to people who call him unless they talk in a stupid squeeky voice.

I've worked with alotta dogs who have all been socialized alot (by socialize I mean pet by alotta people and just allowed to behave like a pet) n I must say it hasn't hindered their working abilities one bit. When a dog grows up and hits maturity that's when you find out the dogs true temprement, a social happy puppy is a good puppy, an aggressive or stand offish pup at 6 months old means trouble ahead. Some dogs will enter maturity and decide "OK I'm not gonna be social anymore" even though they were social pups. I've worked with quite a few experienced trainers and breeders lately who all tell me the same thing... "I will not own another dog who hates everyone, its a pain in the ass".

I know you're just looking for a little stand-offishness... but your pup is 6 months old, stand offishness in a 6 month old is either gonna be nervousness/shyness or it's gonna be fear aggression, n these things spell trouble for the future. When the dog hits maturity your friendly pup may very well be less like a goofy puppy, n still accept strangers, just not run up to everyone like they do at 6 months. Wait it out and be happy you have a stable pup.

I think you are right, but while I think most working breeds do show discretion (sp wrong?) when they mature, a lot of other breeds will continue to display that fawning all over kind of behavior even into adulthood, if they don't learn not to at a young age. I'm not talking about wanting a pet to be mean, just not acting submissive or carrying on as if they just met long lost best friend & licking everyone they meet!

Oops, this IS a working dog site & an ACD will most likely mature into a non fawning over everyone type dog anyway, so forget my last post. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />