 Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
#160196 - 10/29/2007 12:52 PM |
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Six months ago a bought a 2 yr old male GSD. He turned to be a very obedient dog who lives to play frisbee and to retrieve balls. The only problem was that in spite of his dog agressiveness and dominance this dog was being way too nice to strange people, bringing whatever he could to strange people for the retrieve game with a wagging tail. I wanted to him to be more protective so after reading all the question and answers and articles I could find here, I decided to take a chance and to buy 5 dvd's including The Building Drive, Focus and Grip with Bernard Flinks. I have been training the dog for 2 and a half weeks now, half hour a day, 6 days a week (which he loves) and i noticed that he actually began barking at people which i am very pleased with. Could it be possible that this kind of training brought out the defensive drive in this early stage? My husband is sceptic and says he learned it from the dogs of the neighbours who moved in some months ago... what do you think?
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: Rosalinda van den Ham ]
#160210 - 10/29/2007 02:34 PM |
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Maria,
There is nothing in the DVD that would make the dog bark at strangers. A 2yr old is just starting to come into his own, so that may account for the sudden reaction.
John
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: John J. Miller ]
#160262 - 10/29/2007 09:47 PM |
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Thank you for the quick reply. I have previously owned 2 male GSDs. The 1st one began barking at 6 months, the 2nd one started around 4 months. The first one was naturally protective (started to growl when strangers approached my kids or me). I conclude from your answer and my past experiences with my GSDs as pets that each dog matures at different ages.
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: Rosalinda van den Ham ]
#160282 - 10/30/2007 09:53 AM |
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It is also possible that you have grown as a handler, and or that this dog is stronger genetically. Quite frankly it is not good that a dog growls or aggressively barks when strangers approach you normally. That is caused by one of two things... 1. Your dog has a rank issue and thinks he's above you in his "pack" and it is his job to protect you, so he warns everything off or 2. He has weak nerves and is afraid of everything. A well bred, properly socialized GSD without rank issues is confident in all surroundings. There is no need to growl at a stranger unless he is threatening, and the dog should follow your lead on how you react. All the posturing, hackles, growling, lunging and so on is a result of fear not strength or toughness. Now, if the dog is in his home/yard and barks when a stranger is around, that is not a problem but he still should not be hackeling or growling unless he is actually threatened.
John
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: John J. Miller ]
#160336 - 10/30/2007 01:21 PM |
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Thank you again. Your answer sounds very credible to me, I really think this dog though conceived by accident in Holland (my native country) is stronger genetically. He never growls (only a little in training with the tug) or hackels, unless he sees another dog, of course. Then he transforms from mr. Jeckell into mr.Hyde...
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: Rosalinda van den Ham ]
#160340 - 10/30/2007 01:42 PM |
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Maria
John is exactly right. I could not have said it any better myself. The other dogs you had in the past may have had thin nerves or it very well may have been a pack structure issue.
However, keep in mind that all of the things John said apply to other dogs as well as people. Your dog is dog agressive for a reason. Either he has weak nerves and is scared of everthing, he has been attacked by a dog before and feels insecure, or there are pack structure issues that require him to feel the need to protect himself. If either of the latter two are the case then it is a handler problem and not a dog issue and can be fixed.
Edited by trevor morris (10/30/2007 01:44 PM)
Edit reason: retarded spelling
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: trevor morris ]
#160395 - 10/30/2007 07:37 PM |
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Trevor,
Thank you for your comment. I know for a fact that the previous owner already had an adult rott when he purchased the GSD. Maybe he has been bitten as a puppy, however, I have read the articles on agression and he does not act like a fear biter. He never seems scared. He always attacks other dogs from the front in a flash with raised hair on his back and a raised tail. It cannot be territorial agression because if I do not correct him verbally and give some tugs on the leash he will atack dogs everywhere. Naturally I have to be on my guard all the time. I am considering buying the dvd on dealing with dominant dogs and prong collar. I really hope that he does not have weak nerves because I want to train this dog in protection. You see, good GSDS are very hard to find here on this island, there is only one breeder here that breeds GSDS from European showlines (I prefer working dogs).
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: Rosalinda van den Ham ]
#160408 - 10/30/2007 09:03 PM |
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I am considering buying the dvd on dealing with dominant dogs.
Yes Yes Yes! Great DVD and important in your situatuion. It has long been one of my favorites!!
Jessica
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at people?
[Re: Rosalinda van den Ham ]
#160412 - 10/30/2007 09:28 PM |
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Maria
In your post you said, "Naturally I have to be on my guard all the time". This may very well be your problem. Every time you tense up, get nervous about an approaching dog, act fearful, or show any concern, your dog takes a cue. When you see another dog approaching and began to prepare for the struggle ahead, you tense up and tighten your grip on the leash. Your dog reads this and feels the need to protect himself.
Someone on this board (can't remember who) has the perfect quote in their signature line. It reads " everything flows down leash". This is very true. All of your emotions flow down leash and your dog reads you better than you read him.
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Re: Did this training learn my dog to bark at peop
[Re: Rosalinda van den Ham ]
#160420 - 10/30/2007 09:40 PM |
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.... The first one was naturally protective (started to growl when strangers approached my kids or me).
Do you know that this can just as easily be resource-guarding as protectiveness? Obviously, I know nothing about that dog; I'm just saying that the growling has more than one possible explanation.
If a dog is guarding you (his "possession") from others, then that has nothing to do with "natural protectiveness."
JMO. I know it wasn't your question, but it jumped out at me last night when I read it.
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