My 11 month old GSD has recently started going through some changes in his behavior. He is a German blood line dog.I have the 8 week to 8 month puppy vidieo as well as the basic obedience video. Both have been very accurate in my training so far. Recently he has taken a slightly more agressive posture with people who approach us while he is on leash. He will allow some people to approach and pet him but with others he takes a position with ears up, very attentive, sometimes remains sitting then lunges foreward and barks briefly as if warning.There is no growling.Another example is when people in my neighborhood walk by, he runs to greet them often wagging his tail without incident. When the person starts to walk away, this triggers his desire to lunge towards them. This dog has lived in our house since he was 8 weeks old. He is the only pet we have.He is very loving and obedient most of the time. He has never displayed any aggresion towards a family member.He will ocassionally try to race you up stairs. He has a tremendous prey drive.ANYTHING moving attracts his immeadiate attention.Another thing that he does sometimes is bite the air towards me if I force him to do something that he really does not want to.When I correct him, he always yields to me. Most of the time he acts well behaved . I wondered about these early signs and what to do if anything. This is my first post on the web sight but I read the Leerburg page all the time.

Thanks,

Tony Dew.

I'd just like to say that i think you have great dog there that needs some handler finesse. I have seen those (if i understood you corectly) 'air snaps' as you call them, and could only wish my dog had intensity like that (not that i don't like my dog, any of them that is!, just can recognise some lack in work dedication with them).

Just sounds like he needs more socialization and training as he nears puberty. He's starting to think it's his job to control meetings, and who's coming and going. And he's also realizing that family is good and maybe everyone else isn't.

Since it's up to me (the Queen of the World) who is 'good' and 'bad', not my dogs, I worked on most of the socializing of my dogs on my own. But around 6 months old, go with my dog to the professionals for finessing the training of ME and my dog.

Have you found any good dog training classes in your area? Great place to give both YOU and your dog the skills and confidence needed to 'be all that you can be'. I know some people don't like group dog classes, but I think (unless they are too large and overwhelming, and your dog is completely out of control) they are ideal because they come with all the setups that I find I lose my dogs focus and attention in, new people and new dogs! (I'm awesome at home in the kitchen with no distractions).

Alot of training is about timing, and mine is usually piss poor until I find out when I was supposed to do it. And a good instructor will either get the chance to show you, or you'll watch them show someone else (um, I wasn't doing that right!) so my skills in training improve.

http://www.doberman.org/articles/puppy.htm is a good site to read up on the mental growth stages our puppies all go thru, and your big 'baby' is indeed, still a puppy.

http://www.flyingdogpress.com/aggressionbasics.html scroll down for the article

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/lib-Puppy.htm#soc

Jenn,
Thanks for your reply. There are a few loactions within an hour of my home that offer some basic training.It would probably do him good just to be around the other dogs as much as anything.I recently noticed that when he is healing beside me he does not act this way because he was given the command to heal.If he is in the sit stay or down stay he does ok also. It appears to happen when he is free to make the decision about a situation himself such as a casual walk.Thanks again.

Tony Dew

Ivan ,
Thanks for replying. He is a good dog overall. I think that I need to step up my training sessions with him and maybe seek a little more help.I plan to watch him closely as he matures and teach him what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

Tony - It appears to happen when he is free to make the decision about a situation himself such as a casual walk.Thanks again.


As a working dog gets older its starts to make decisions on its own, if you don't control this the dog will. As mentioned you need to start showing the dog manners and that you decide what and who is acceptable. Not to take all the decision making process away form him. I mean you can't see whats coming if your back is turned. But that comes in traning.

More Ob training and distraction and reward and back to Ob. It would look something like this as a stranger approaches and you notice his ears or body become erect, you to nip it in the bud, with a a "Leave it or No" and or slight pop of leash , If or when he looks at you distract him with play, or rub him up, say good boy. Then give him the "sit" command when he has it he will let strangers approach or other dogs. He will feed off of you or wait for you to decide if the person/dog is good or bad. He may look up at you or just scene how you are feeling about the approaching situation. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

A dog snapping air, yes I have seen just like the previous post, a few, and they all turned out very nicely, with very high drives. As for him chasing stuff, beware of the “postman syndrome”, where he gets to figure out that if he behaves aggressively he can chase people, dogs , cats, kids and cars away, and if he applies a bite they scream to…ha ha. Well we as handlers teach our dogs “stranger danger” just like we do our children, by telling some one not to come to close, by tightening the lead when some one comes in or by simply turning our bodies, shielding the approach, so yes istead we should be telling any one coming at you when the dog is around or on lead, or at heal, that you will stick out your hand first to greet etc.

Then get him, the friend or stranger to pat and stroke the dog after greeting you –now I don’t believe in this hands off my dog syndrome either, for one I want to take my dog every where I go, just like I would my children and both need to behave socially acceptable, disciplined and well mannered, and most definably friendly – he must not become over protective. I can fend for my self. He only needs to work on command; I believe that the distinction between a working dog, and the no good over aggressive animal stems from this approach.

If you don’t get a switch on him now to turn him on and off, he will go into auto pilot soon and do his own protection gig, if you leave this behavior un checked it is destined to become part and parcel of your dogs personality, the quick bark, the cutting in between people, jumping up snapping at people, pushing friends out of the way kinda stuff etc. unchecked or un-worked they take this behavior up us acceptable behavior, have seen it so many times with old people especially. Just my opinion
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Tony, if I may. Sounds like you have a strong pup. Now, from your post is sounds like this is your first working dog. The behavior you describe is normal. But these people are right, you need to socialize him with people. I personally like dogs that get their ears up and bark at people, its when they get their hair up it becomes a problem. But this behavior will become a problem for you(because your a rookie) if you dont control it. Don and Mr. Geel are right. the dog will soon take charge and do as he pleases, so you have to be firm with your training. sounds to me like you dont want a serious PP dog so dont encourage this behavior.

Tony,Well guess what?You have a working dog..that requires work.Given his age .his hormones are kicking in. At this point you must let him know that you are the alpha..leader.First and foremost..teach him how to sit..Just one command.Do Not let him deviate..and stand .Work from there..Candace

Question on "air snapping"?
Our 11 week old shepherd does the same thing. He has already conquered the sit, down and leave it commands. But when he is told no or is corrected, he will sometimes bark and snap at the air. He comes from great working lines and is otherwise a wonderful dog. Do I correct this behavior or ignore it? I don't want to ruin him or kill his drive.