I have a 4 yr old male GSD which came with a 24/7 retrieving obsession when I bought him 2 yrs ago. Despite this I wanted to to put its loyalty to its owner to the test. I read a story once on this board about a female GSD which stayed with its owner after suicide and even chased the wild birds away so I wanted to see what reaction my dog would have if I would fall down.

So I my husband, my daughter and I parked in a unhabited area and let the dog out (and the female Chi of my daughter). I began to walk a mile or so, while my husband and my daughter stayed by the car. Both dogs followed. When I "fell down" the GSD layed down, but after a minute went to my husband and brought a plastic bottle to him to throw. The Chi stayed behind. I was very disapointed, I concluded than that all the drive building(Bernard Flinks)while increasing my dog's prey drive had done nothing to strenghten the bond between dog and handler/owner.
Do not get my wrong, I do not have unrealistic expectations like the GSD protecting me, but I do expect a level of loyalty, after all that is why I got a GSD (not another breed) to accompany me on walks and not a pig or a siamese cat. I guess this GSD (while having separation anxiety) is the exception in a breed known for its loyalty.

So these are my questions:

1. Would it be possible to diminish this retrieving obsession whithout diminishing the dog's drive?

2. If yes how?

3. What else can be done to increase my dog's loyalty to me instead to potential retrieving objects?

Is it possible the dog didn't buy the set-up, since your family was totally unconcerned and simply decided to go back to the sane members of the family who were standing upright? LOL.

I don't think this is at all a fair "test" for the dog. Why should he be more loyal to you than your husband and daughter? Is it clear that he is YOUR dog and not to be loyal to the others? I really think there are too many holes in this "test" and its logic to conclude anything at all other than the dog felt like playing fetch while you lay on the ground for no good reason that he could see.

You let him walk a mile back to the car by himself?

Well, I am a bad at converting kilometers to miles, you see I kind of think in dutch measures, but it was like like 20 meters or so within plain sight, oops , so the car was not very far from where I was.

But I have raised mixed breeds from childhood and I have had ones that were a lot more loyal than this dog.
And I expect the dog to be more loyal to me because I train the dog, walk the dog, bring him to the vet, feed him.
But I am now sure that if the dog had to choose between staying by me side or playing fetch with a total stranger, he would choose the retrieving game

Is your dog a pitbull? If so,don't they have a predisposition to be aggresive?

 Quote: Rosalinda van den Ham

Is your dog a pitbull? If so,don't they have a predisposition to be aggresive?

Are you being serious right now? Yes, Simon, one of my 7 dogs, is a Pit Bull. And he would tell you that he is not nearly as aggressive as his highly over-protective mom who despises nothing more than widespread generalizations about breeds, especially from people who have to ask what they are before stereotyping.

Lucky for you, I'm working today and don't have time to enlighten you.

So glad I responded to your post.

 Quote: Rosalinda van den Ham

Is your dog a pitbull? If so,don't they have a predisposition to be aggresive?

What the ?? What kind of comment is that? Wow.

If your attitude towards your dog is they way I am perceiving it through your posts, I can't say I blame your dog.

Seriously, you EXPECT loyalty? what have done to deserve it from a dog's point of view?

I'm asking a serious question here. Obviously your dog gets more reinforcement from playing than he does from you. That's not the dog's fault, because its' obviously fulfilled his needs sufficiently for the last 4 years.

Sorry, I was just asking a question. Sometimes I use the wrong words or expressions, English is not my native language. I did not mean anything bad by it. I have read some articles written by Ed about pitbull attacks (and Chow mixes etc), that is why I asked the question. I did not imply that all pitbulls are agressive. I myself have played with one female puppy owned by a relative which was locked up alle the time. She was a darling.

Sorry, my intentions are good. I should not asked that question. Thank you for your answer, though. My sincere apologies.

Explaining all the problems contributed to by perpetuating a breed stereotype is probably beyond the scope of this thread.


So let's go with the o.p.

I have to say that I too found the "test" to be no test of anything.

Apology accepted. Life is short.