I have an 11 mo. old male GSD who likes to nip at clothes of visitors. When a stranger arrives, he woofs a couple of times and then runs up to the visitor wagging his tail. If it is a friend of ours, we introduce him to the dog and everything is fine. However if the arriving guest ignores the dog, he continues circling around them and will take nips at loose clothing or nip them on the butt for attention while they walk. :rolleyes: My question is whether this is a dominance issue or just him being playful and if I should down/stay him when visitors arrive.

Sounds like herding behavior to me. Very often seen in young GSDs. From what you've said, it doesn't seem like your dog has what I'd call a problem temperament.

The dog needs another outlet for this drive, like playing ball or an organized activity of some kind (dog sports, etc.).

In the meantime, you need to show the dog that biting at people will not be allowed. Keep a short leash on him when strangers come to the house and give him a STRONG pop if he circles and/or tries to bite a guest, saying NO! at the same time in a loud (but controlled) voice. If the dog has a hard temperament you may need to use a prong collar for the correction.

In most cases like yours that I've seen, between having an appropriate outlet for the herding instinct and learning that people are not to be bitten--or even "lovingly nipped at"--dogs soon outgrow this phase without further incident.

Pete Felknor

Sounds like herding behavior to me. Very often seen in young GSDs. From what you've said, it doesn't seem like your dog has what I'd call a problem temperament.

I find the idea that a dog has inate herding behaviors laughable. I realize that we hear this all the time, it is a popular means of explaining predatory behavior in what might be called socially acceptable terms. Herding is not a natural behavior of a predator, but inhibited prey and or hunting behaviors applied by man to become herding.

This german Shepherd is either preying on the visitors and or challenging them to combat. many times one drive triggers another. He may feel the need to do combat with a stranger, loading him. Prey drive is proabably more developed in the dog and the threshold is reached for it and that is why you see the clothes grabbing behavior. This can also happen from self-defense behaviors leading to prey.
Do not teach your dog to make prey in these conditions even with a ball or favorite toy.
Since I cannot see the body language the dog is displaying I will avoid training recomendations beyond the above recomendation.

That answer just baffles me. I find the answer that the dog is preying on the visitors or feeling the need to do combat with the stranger pretty funny.

The dog doesn't need an outlet for the drive, it needs to be taught this isn't acceptable. Its not complicated.

The dog doesn't need an outlet for the drive, it needs to be taught this isn't acceptable. Its not complicated.

The original post was looking for why the dog expressed behaviors like this. I don't think there are many who would argue that the behavior isn't acceptable. The question wasn't should the dog be allowed to behave this way or not.

Thanks for the replies. This dog is very well socialized and only does this behavior on our property. What is interesting is that if the visitor makes an effort to pet the dog or give him a treat (with me near), this behaviour discontinues, and he will either be friendly or ignore the person.

If he is challenging people, should I simply keep him in a on leash or in a down stay when guests arrive? He is solid on his obd. work, and since he is a German work/show mix I have no Sch or PPD plans for him.

Chris,

It does sound more like a dominance issue to me. The down stay would help. The dog needs to learn he can't control the behavior of the guests and that you control his behavior. Another thing you could do is crate him for this behavior and let him out after about 20 mins to try again. Don't do this in a punitive manner just matter of factly put him in his crate, no big deal. When you let him out no big deal either. Body position and path control (By path control I mean who move out of who's way.)are important to dogs in dominance heirarchy. Part of what he is doing is attempting to influence the visitors behavior by nipping, and thereby feeling in control over them. If he gets away with it he may extend this behavior to family members. Our Giant used to do this with my wife all the time until we put a stop to it. He would grab her ankles and trip her walking down the hall. The way we broke the habit is by crating him every time he brushed in to us and by making him move rather than us going around him. After a very few days the behavior stopped altogether.

Ed has an article on dominance behaviors, you ought to go read it. Some of the things that seem like no big deal can lead to problems later.

Everything Richard said is right on target with how we work with our dogs. Even at 3 months old our GSD as well as our two other dogs know that when we open a door they do NOT go out first. Once again it is the dominance thing again...you have to let them know what is acceptable and what is not. He is also old enough to not eat when you first put the food down unless you have told him okay. What you described sounds like the kind of behaviour that a dogs does with their owners sometimes...pestering you with a ball until you throw it, demanding to be petted and things like that.

I do agree that a good down/stay is in order...you need to consider the fact you could have a contractor or worker at the house and if the dog did a "playful" nip it could get all blown out of proportion if the individual was the type to take little things to court.

Richard and Jerri,

Thanks for the posts and advice. He is a very well behaved and non dominant dog with family and off the property. I have had him on the "nothing in life is free" program since I got him and he is very respectful with us. He sits at every door before entering/exiting after me, waits 15 seconds or more for his food, must sitz or platz for petting, for toys and sitz before I throw a ball for him or for any kind of play activity. I think I simply need to extend these manners to the respectful treatment of guests. As you mentioned, a contractor, etc. is certainly not expected to pay any attention to him, so he needs to be polite no matter what. Thanks very much!

Chris

I've had the same problem but I don't like to use a crate in conjunction with correction (a personal choice). I had one incredibly nippy dog that was similar to how Richard described his dog - tried to trip people up and would stand in their way. I pfui'd him and put him in a down for a few minutes. It worked well for me and it worked pretty quickly.