I had a situation with my 18 mo old male GSD. We regularly go on walks in public places (having no physical contact with other dogs or people) and he does fine ignoring while we are walking.

Last week I brought him to a soccer game in town, we walked the field then sat in a quiet spot. One mom approached us with a toddler from the front, and we were talking. I gave her a piece of cheese to give to my dog (without petting him). He was calm
and happy. Then within 5 mins a boy came up from behing to say "nice dog" and my dog jumped up from a down/stay and barked a mean low growley bark. I corrected him (dog), and the boy apologized and ran off. I got up, did a loop of the field and put him in the car until the game was over.

My question is should I have stayed in the same spot, or was I right in putting him away. I havent brought him back since, not wanting people to think "here comes the kid killer" in my very small town. Should I continue bringing him to games, or am I asking for trouble? (I fully understand I corrected the dog knowing it was the boys fault coming up from behind and suprising us, but it was a instantanious reaction on my part)

This has only happened on one other occasion with a neighborhood kid-not on my property, dog on leash where the stupid kid after me telling him 2 times not to come from behind tried to pet dog on rear no less! He growled and nipped the air (this was at 11 mos.) Now this is a dog raised with 3 children all under 8 boy and girls, kids are not new to him at all.

Well, I would say be more alert with your surroundings and make sure people aren't coming behind your back to scare your dog or you. Dogs know that when a person comes up from the behind with a surprise, they see it as a threat. If a rapist was sneaking behind a person's back, it makes the victim more vulnerable. I believe that dogs generally know that behind is the most vulnerable position. When we see animals such as lions, wolves, or hyenas, they always try to attack each other coming from the behind rather than face to face. The boy was making a mistake, but you did the right thing by correcting his behavior.

I know game is supposed to be fun and somewhere to chill out. I wouldn't put the dog away, but I believe that you did the right hing by correcting him. If you don't feel like to watch people around, put him away. If you want him around, you need to watch people around your dog. I have learned a lesson. I don't know if I would say this incident was my fault or not. From the incident, I've learned that I need to pay attention to my surrounding more often. Keep my eyes open for anyone who is coming near me when I have dogs with me.

I was out jogging with two dogs and then one of my dogs started to limp. I decided to stop and rest for a bit. I was busy paying attention to the dog with limping. I was sitting on the concrete floor and doing a massage on his limpy leg. A man was riding on a bike saw me on the floor with one of my dogs and he decided to stop to ask if I need any help. I am profoundly deaf so I didn't see him coming from the behind and can't hear him either. My other dog was caught by surprised. He turned around and tried to bit the man's foot on his bike. It caught my attention soon as one of my dogs started to get up and barked at him.

I turned around and apologized to the man. I was in shock, but I've learned something.

Regardless of being raised with young kids, your dog clearly has some aggressive issues with kids outside its pack. If there is one thing you can count on with children is that they are unpredictable and you have to be very alert to your surroundings. If you want to continue to take your dog in that type of environment, don’t expect to watch the game. An accident can happen in the blink of an eye and the last thing you’d want is for someone’s child to be bitten by your dog. In fact, if it was me I would invest in a good muzzle and continue to train around lots of kids and correct any aggressive behavior the dog may display. But that’s just my opinion, I’m not the expert 

Good Luck,

** Mod Note **


I'm deleting the suggestion.

Nothing personal, Michael. But I'd like to run it by Ed.





Connie Sutherland

He is excellent around any kids and adults at home. He has very high ball drive but his obedience is well refined to the point that the kids can be playing ball in the yard and he will totally ignore them, knowing kids and balls are off limits.

Peggy, what you said about kids outside of his pack makes sense, and both times were away from home. We have kids in and out of our place all the time, and of course never unsupervised with the dogs. He is trained (and we continue to train) to ignore them and their playing, even when being approached and pet by somebody (again only at home).

Yes kids are unpredictable! And I should be more aware behind us as well! That was MY fault. But still am not sure if I should keep bringing him to games so that he understands that people outside of home are OK and need to be ignored also.

I should add that when I walk him I put on his his "working dog- do not pet" vest and nobody even looks in our direction. This could be why he is not used to people approaching away from home.

Lidsay, excellent point. Obviously he dosen't like people coming from behind. He is our second GSD (DDR lines) and I'd like to believe I know what I am dealing with. He just seems to be getting more protective as he nears 2 yrs. and although I want him to be aloof around strangers, I also want him to know if I am calm, I want him to be!

Thanks, and any more suggestions will be appreciated!

By 18 months your dog should have his nerve issues settled.

Use this as a wake up call.

If it were my dog I would not be taking the dog to public places like this - you ask for trouble. Michael recommended find a child and proofing with a muzzle - BAD IDEA. I have done more muzzle work that I care to re-live. The dog can still break ribs and teeth with a muzzle. Ask any cop that has been doing muzzle for for any period of time.

If you corrected the dog hard enough (and I would have done a level 10) and left then you did the right thing.

Had your obedience been better this would not have happened. In a setting like this the dog should have been in a DOWN STAY and someone coming up from behind should not warrant a potential attack - a gowl maybe but not trying to go after the person.

Ed, I appreciate your reply, and I'm glad you agree that I did right by leaving. He did not snap at the boy, and did not go after him just a mean growl/bark and was in a down stay until turning to bark. I gave what I thought was about a 10 correction for breaking the down/stay (seeing the looks of the people around who probably thought I was abusing Him) he actually yelped.

I will take your advice and keep him away from these types of events. The vest is great in keeping other not so smart people away, and accomplishes what I want. A non eventful walk.

Also, you mentioned nerve issues should be settled by 18 mo. Since this was new place and behavior for him, what suggestions if any about how not to let this happen again (especially if I wont be bringing him to any more public events).

Thanks!



Edited by AdrianaParianos (10/04/2007 11:30 AM)
Edit reason: forgot a point

I understand the potential damage a dog can do even with a muzzle on, however I was thinking of also using a leash and the handler not being surprised. Perhaps I should have been more detailed.

Like I said above, the dog is a very calm and obedient dog, around children and adults. This incident happened away from home, I remained calm before, during and after, and my correction was quick. I have 2 GSD and know the importance of a stable and sound dog, especially since I have kids.

I was hoping to get some ideas on my reaction (I have never had this happen with either dogs) and if I did right by leaving. Also if I should continue bringing him to these types of places. And as Ed stated above I made the right choice

The only unanswered question I have is how can I work with him (other than a muzzle) to make sure it never happens again. I don't want this incident to create a nervy dog. Prior to this we followed all advice from the 5 DVD's we have purchased (here) and much reading I have done on this site, and all the obedience training we have gone to and continue to go to.

Other than this one time behavior, he has been the perfect family dog for us. So you see why it is so important for me to get some feedback from anyone who has dealt with and corrected a similar issue. Proofing with a muzzle and a child is out of the question since my kids are already established as pack leaders in our household and I DONT want him to associate child with needing to wear a muzzle. He IS neutral to muzzle for the purpose of ear cleaning, nail clipping etc.

But any other advice is welcomed! I have done a couple of searches, still learning to navigate this site- with 1 or 2 good results. Sorry to make it so long, but I know of all the great advice that is given here on a daily basis. Just trying to give as much detail as possible. Thanks!!