Slowride posted:

"OK, I have a question --
You have virtually described my GSD's (I now have 3 adults) to the Detail. They are reasonably well trained, very social (taken almost everywhere with me) and greedy for affection....

but there is one exception. When my dogs get out, I am told they terrorise the neighbors. Such as, charge up to them in there yards or when they are going to get the mail. Now, my take on it is the dogs are playing, curious, maybe even wanting to be freindly, but when the neighbor sees (oh god, SHEPHERDS - like godzilla or somethin) them and panics, the dogs have gone into prey mode. I think, cause I have only hear say to go on.

I've never seen this behavior, only been told about it. So I dont know how much is exageration. What I've done is electrify the fence and train my 6 year old never to open the front door when the dogs are in. This plan obviously fails every so often :-)

Any ideas on this? (dont worry, I'm already trying to find a place further away from town)
thanks in advance
Bobbie"

Slowride,

You have answered your own question.

"They are reasonably well trained,..."

The first thing is to get the obedience better. The other thing that you need to do is teach the dogs to "wait" at the door. They shouldn't go out side without permission.

There is a good chance they are just over exuberant when they go to greet people when they get out, and obedience will correct that. Proper introductions to the neighbors will also help both the dogs and the neighbors. Many people are afraid of certain breeds. At one point our boxer got out when I wasn't home and since we were living at a new place couldn't find his way home. He went to the only house he could find and sat on the porch to be let in. The owner of the house called animal control and told them a "pit bull was trying to break in the house". When the animal control officer got there he just called the dog and he came right over. So there is a problem with perception of the person that is dealing with the dog.

Another thing that is important is that dogs will function differently alone or packed. In the group they may be much more aggressive than they would be alone. So as a group there may be a real problem with them being agressive when they get out.

Another thing that is important is that dogs will function differently alone or packed.

Good point.

I think you need to do a little research about Sabine Davidson, your situation sounds VERY similar to hers except her 3 were rots, but they were still ruling the neighborhood as a pack.
You are playing with a loaded gun waiting to go off.

I kinda figgered this might stir up a kettle of fish (but ya cant learn if ya dont ask)

As it is, I've always had a thing about 'doors', like when it comes to a door, my dogs look at me (mom can I go past?) first before going through. So the first 3 things dogs learn at our house are "inside" "outside" and "BACK" which is pretty self explanatory. Escapes only occur when a house guest or my kid fail to follow "door protocol".

What's needed is fencing around the front of the house :-) that's a landlord issue. I'll glady install it (as we did the back fence, and the roof and the kitchen floor, and 1/2 the wiring....) but the last time I asked he said "But it's gonna looks like an armed camp".... maybe now that I've gone to electric and it's not so obvious he'll consider the notion. Maybe I'll just run the wires and wait till he runs into one of 'em .... oops not.

Thanks for the Input :-)
Bobbie