ok so today the mailman comes to the door rings the door bell my shepherd goes insane barking like all dogs do i open the door anne (my shepherd) flies to go sniff person and come back like normal dogs only the mailman i guess is scared of dogs so he puts the box in between him and anne and yells at me to come get my crazy dog i tell him its ok that anne just wants to sniff him but i call anne back all the same when annes inside he yells at me and says that its not ok and that when a dog barks like that it wants to attack and this dog i've raised since 8 weeks old i think i know her a little better then he does this dog also has a cdx in akc ob.
was i in the wrong to want to slug him.

Hmmmm, oftentimes I get to knock on strangers doors at work and feel, yes you are wrong for wanting to slug the mailman. Let me explain:

If I understand this correctly the mailman knocks, your dog barks, you open the door and the dog gets out and runs up to the mailman (correct me if I'm wrong). This person may have been attacked by dogs before, or come close to it. You stated,
this dog i've raised since 8 weeks old i think i know her a little better then he does this dog also has a cdx in akc ob. This mailman has no way of knowing this about your dog and especially if he is afraid of dogs is going to get upset when a strange dog runs up to him. This is the first time he has met your dog and he hears it barking, then sees it running up to him. Just try to imagine it from his perspective. I would have probably yelled for you to get your dog as well.

An officer at my department knocked on someones door responding to a call by the homeowner that wanted to make a report (in other words, homeowner was well aware PD was coming over). Homeowner answered the door and a dog came flying out and latched onto the officer's gun hand. The homeowner was able to get the dog however, the officer had severe nerve damage and had to get a surgery to correct this. The officer also sued the homeowner and the homeowner's insurance paid out $16k.

I am not saying your dog is like this, just keep in mind the mailman has probably had similar experiences and/or knows co-workers who have.

It sounds like you have a good dog but it is probably best to put your dog in a down stay when answering your door for the mailman (or UPS, police, other people just doing their jobs).

ok i can understand that i guess i just assume that everyone knows that dogs bark to portect their land i apologize for offending u

it's not even about the dog will attack or not. Some people just don't like dogs. We, dog lovers, ought to respect others by not forcing our passion onto others. I guess your area must be more dog friendly. In the neighbour I just moved in, many people just try to stay away from a dog as far as possilbe. I got yelled at when I was letting my dog doing retrieve exercise offleash, while they were 200 feet away. I was really upset. When I clam down think about it, some ppl r really afraid of dogs. And there are many untrained dogs would bolt away from their owner bark at ppl. The barking itself can be very very scary for some ppl. Even my brother has this kind of phobia. I guess that's why they put leash-law down, right?!

ok i can understand that i guess i just assume that everyone knows that dogs bark to portect their land i apologize for offending u


That's exactly it, everyone does know that dogs bark to protect their land. And when they're barking you stay away from them because they can also bite to protect their land.

And if they charge after you while barking to protect their land it is even more likely that they'll bite to protect their land.


You're the one who posted the question in the Schutzhund thread saying something to the effect of 'what do we have to do to prove we can train in Schutzhund'.


Well, prove that you're a self aware dog person and prove that you understand canine behavior and people's perceptions of canine behavior.

If your dog is barking at a stranger coming to the home, that is territorial behavior and rushing up to investigate isn't likely being friendly. The dog's nerves are turned on, and that's how people get bit. You're dog might not have what it takes to actually bite someone, but the Mailman was 100% correct to give you a tongue lashing.

I would never be so rude as to allow my GSD to run out the house barking at someone. I don't care if he wants to sniff the person or take their head off. The person on the receiving end has no idea what the intention of the dog is. You're lucky your dog didn't get a face full of pepper spray.

As a USPS employee with 2 gsd's, I feel a little qualified to respond. If the letter carrier feels threatened in anyway he does not have to deliver your mail. Many letter carriers have scars from dogs that never bit anyone before. I introduced Maggie and Max to my letter carrier with the help of a pack of chicken hot dogs.

Why? Letting strangers feed your dog is the last thing you want to do. Allowing them to become friendly with strangers not allowed in your house unless invited, is the 2nd worse thing you can do.

Howard

Think we'll all agree that our dogs bark when people come to the door. It's how they act AFTER we go to the door that is the issue. When I tell my dogs to stop barking as I answer the door, my dogs need to stop barking. And when I am talking in a friendly manner to my mailman, this is NOT the time for my dog to decide to continue to press the issue and charge up to the mailman barking.

Emily is lucky because she has alot of training on her dog. Think all she needs is to reinforce a sit/stay when people come to the house in the future. That is obvious to anyone as a dog that is under control. And that the owner handler does know and train their dogs. Must be very reassuring to all visitors.

And I'm also with the giving the treats if that's needed to help stop the barking and distrust. Since I hand out the treats to the person. And since I am telling my dog it is ok. And since I am in control of the situation (telling my dog it's ok), I do not feel that it would be at all interfering with my dog's abilities to deal with the burglar who breaks in the window in the middle of the night.

Hello Howard,

My letter carrier is not stranger, and you are right. I give permission before they can get a treat.