I have a 2 yr old spayed female GSD (German schutzhund lines), have had her since Aug last year. I've been taking her camping/traveling w/ me. I'm a single female and like to have a dog w/ me when I go out of town. I attend large horse events w/ lots of people camping and sometimes loose dogs (altho they are supposed to be on leash). My dog stays tied to my truck or near my horse trailer. She has learned this is her "territory" and will bark at males that come too close or at dogs. We had one episode where a neighbor's dog came towards her acting agressively and my dog went off - barking and teeth showing. Luckily the other dog backed off. This past weekend 2 ladies walked over to my truck w/ me and my dog started to lunge at them. Normally she is shy around people but will bark at male and sometimes female strangers on my farm property.

Last time while camping I put her in her crate while I was away from my truck. But I'm thinking I would like to muzzle her so she can stay on a leash and perhaps walk around camp w/ me and I don't worry about people's safety or other people's dogs every second. Usually there are no aggressive dogs there. But I still have some concern would be someone else's dog attacking her while she is muzzled and tied unattended. So perhaps crating while I'm not there is ideal.

So, I'm looking at buying a Leerburg wire muzzle. But what do you tell people - why your dog is muzzled? Alot of people want to "pet" her but I tell them she's a one person dog and she can't be petted.

PS. She has also shown aggression to my dobie (and actually bit her several times) but it was over a rawhide and i had been letting them play/fight too much. Now no toys are allowed around and they are scolded for playing together and no more incidents have happened and it is much more peaceful. She had some schutzhund training before I bought her but I only do basic obedience w/ her and use her as a watch dog on my farm.

thanks,
Donna

1) Your dog, your decision. If people want to know why your dog is muzzled, you can simply say you are working through some issues with the dog, that you purchased her as an adult, and leave it at that.

2) I wouldn't leave any dog tied out and unattended in a strange place. That's akin to using your dog as bait. Especially muzzled, but even if not muzzled.

3) If the dog is uncomfortable in public to the extent that it snaps/lunges at people, is that really the situation you want to put the dog into?

4) All a muzzle does is mask behavior. It doesn't fix underlying problems. A muzzle would be a fantastic interim tool to use, but it isn't a solution. I would begin reading as much as I could about desensitizing this dog to strange people/dogs.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

... I wouldn't leave any dog tied out and unattended in a strange place. That's akin to using your dog as bait. Especially muzzled, but even if not muzzled.

Never!

And strange dogs are not all I would worry about.

To the O.P., with regard to Alyssa's comments, I'm not clear either on why you want to have the dog in a situation like that? What kind of work (training) are you doing with the dog at home?

I've always taken dogs camping w/ me or on long trips to camp sites where dogs are allowed. Of course, I'm inexperienced w/ GSD and didn't know she would become potentially aggressive to other dogs/people. So this is new to me. I knew she might be a little dog aggressive, but not people aggressive? Not sure she is... This dog doesn't have the best nerves I would say and I underestimated her lack of socialization.

I think the lunging (she just jumped one jump and then retreated, was she just startled?) was because she felt trapped/tied? I've never seen her do it before. Normally she retreats from people she doesn't know and will sit on my command and watch from a distance. I don't force her to accept strangers. She does accept my house-mate.

As for it being a "strange" place. She is becoming comfortable with camping and being near the truck. She eats and drinks and relaxes. She likes being there and watches me come and go. The last time, when the camping neighbor's dog was loose just before we left, the neighbors had even commented on such a "well behaved dog." that was before their dog came over w/ its hackles raised towards my dog.

However, I realize now it's not good to leave her unattended. The camping places I'm going are endurance ride and usually the same people are there time after time. No one is supposed to be walking up to your truck/trailer or horse. But obviously it's not a good idea to bring an aggressive or fearful dog as "bait" like you say.

The first time I took her I just told the next person over that she would not be friendly. But wouldn't do anything otherwise. Now I'm not so sure. Hence the muzzle.

At home she is kept inside a large 2 acre yard w/ invisible fence. She follows me on farm chores which I do 2 to 3 times a day. And sleeps inside at night. Usually kenneled during the day when I'm at work.

When I take her places, she will walk on lead and will sit/lay down. I use the command "leave it" if other dogs approach and she does listen to me. Usually use a prong collar. She is learning commands from a distance - such as leave it, if she sees horses running in pasture. I have a correction collar I used for that training. Admittedly I don't do alot of training at home because I'm not there alot. Another reason I like to take her with me, to spend time w/ her.

I've heard conflicting things about GSD/watch dogs/PP dogs. Such as you shouldn't allow them to be petted by other people... yet some people tell me they knew so and so who had Schutzhund dog that was as friendly as could be and was able to distinguish between a threat and a normal person.

 Quote: Donna J. DeYoung

... I've heard conflicting things about GSD/watch dogs/PP dogs..... Such as you shouldn't allow them to be petted by other people... yet some people tell me they knew so and so who had Schutzhund dog that was as friendly as could be and was able to distinguish between a threat and a normal person. ...

You have SchH or PP plans? I'm getting confused.

P.S. Sorry ... I missed that part in the first post.




Edited by Connie Sutherland (04/13/2009 03:51 PM)
Edit reason: p.s.

When I say strange place, I mean a place where you cannot control the environment.

In otherwords, the dog could be staked out, and attacked by other dogs, with no manner of escape, tied there and vulnerable.
That is my #1 concern when folks talk of tethering/staking a dog out: You'd better be there to protect your dog, because it's defenseless when it cannot move away from a threat.

Whether or not you let people pet/approach your dog is dependant on two factors.

1) Do you want your dog to be friendly to strangers?
2) Does your dog enjoy meeting strangers?

If the answer to either of those questions is NO, then you don't let strangers pet your dog.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

When I say strange place, I mean a place where you cannot control the environment. ... In otherwords, the dog could be staked out, and attacked by other dogs, with no manner of escape, tied there and vulnerable.
That is my #1 concern when folks talk of tethering/staking a dog out: You'd better be there to protect your dog, because it's defenseless when it cannot move away from a threat.

Including theft, etc.

 Quote: Donna J. DeYoung

.... I'm inexperienced w/ GSD and didn't know she would become potentially aggressive to other dogs/people. ....

Just wanted to clarify that the challenges you describe are not breed-specific.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

.... All a muzzle does is mask behavior. It doesn't fix underlying problems. A muzzle would be a fantastic interim tool to use, but it isn't a solution. I would begin reading as much as I could about desensitizing this dog to strange people/dogs.

In a nutshell!

Can you give us more specifics about this: I only do basic obedience w/ her .... I ask in order to get a feel for your experience, and how you would begin the process at home before taking the dog on the road (that is, before placing the dog in a situation where there are many people and strange dogs).