I have a 15 month old Black Sable German Shepherd - quite large, around 89 lbs already. I know his background and his past handling. I got him last September. He is just a very large puppy still so I attribute some of this to that. He is highly intellegent and willing to please and is very much in love with me. However, my huge, loveable, and very frightening looking dog, turns into a chicken when another human comes along. He is very animal (literally all animals) friendly and playful. No one has EVER laid a hand on this dog. He was raised in a kennel with others, however, she did spend a lot of time with each dog. He was played with, brushed, etc. and I spend a lot of quality and quanity time with him. He is not a fear biter, when we make him let someone touch him, he just shuts his eyes (literally) and allows it. My son was in on leave (Marine), he sat in the floor and drug Gunner into his lap. Soon Gunner relaxed and seemed to enjoy him. The dog didn't run from him when he entered the room after that. But I can't expect everyone to do that. What is wrong with this dog? Help please.

Is your dog related to mine? My dog can also be a chicken.

I consider it my job to keep him out of situations that throw him over his threshold. New people are instructed to ignore him. He is fine with everyone he met as a puppy, new people can be a challenge. My nephew came to live with me 4.5 months ago and Vigo still is not 100% comfortable with him. I NEVER force him to do something that makes him nervous.

Which is why this quote really bothers me:

 Quote: Marilyn Clark

Iwhen we make him let someone touch him, he just shuts his eyes (literally) and allows it. My son was in on leave (Marine), he sat in the floor and drug Gunner into his lap. Soon Gunner relaxed and seemed to enjoy him. The dog didn't run from him when he entered the room after that. But I can't expect everyone to do that. What is wrong with this dog? Help please.

Here is what I have done for my pup:

Worked on basic obedience skills to strengthen my bond and his trust in me

Went to places that make him nervous (i.e. the pet store...started out by just opening the hatch on my van where he is in a crate and letting him observe, slowly progressed to going into the store)

Went to public places, kept him removed from the public, instructed no one to pet him...we have worked our way up to walking in crowds from just observing people

Went to a basic obedience class, again keeping him under threshold, even if it meant sitting out during moments when he was getting worked up. Best thing learned in class was being around other dogs and their handlers and just laying/relaxing next to me.

It is very easy for me to determine if he is nervous...he won't take a treat. When that happens, I know I have gone to far and backtrack.

The more positive experiences he has had, the better he gets. His fear/nervousness is partially my fault as I got very sick right after getting him. I was off my feet for awhile and that is when it all started.

Bottom line is good experiences, don't push beyond comfort level.

I am no expert, but I am fostering a dog that sounds much the same as yours...basically same background, raised in a boarding kennel and roughly the same age. He's only been around a couple of strangers, but he does best if ignored completely. I make sure he can get away to "his room" if he wants. With one guest, he slowly came up to her and sniffed, and eventually warmed up. With the other, he went to his room and did not come out until they left.

You'll get lots of advice I'm sure, but in my opinion, I wouldn't force him to interact with anyone. In fact, I'd ask people not to look directly at him or talk to him. He may feel less threatened this way and feel more comfortable approaching.

What is his reaction to people specifically? Does he move away?...hide? Does he have a crate?

 Quote: Janet Dudley

You'll get lots of advice I'm sure, but in my opinion, I wouldn't force him to interact with anyone. In fact, I'd ask people not to look directly at him or talk to him. He may feel less threatened this way and feel more comfortable approaching.

I agree.

Yeah, I know about the forcing thing. Quite by accident I discovered that once someone had patted him and talked with him, he was not afraid of them any more, even if he did not see them for some time. Normally I would not do this, however, with him it seems to work. I just don't want to have to have everyone that I come into contact with force themselves on him. I hope he will grow out of it. I take him everywhere with me. Mostly we do ignore him, but that seems to make him worse - go figure. So I have a wierd dog.

mod note:

Moved to new thread at
http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=334038&page=0#Post334038



Edited by Connie Sutherland (05/23/2011 03:12 PM)
Edit reason: separate threads

If my dog is comfortable with me and all in my household, I don't mind much whether he lets other people love up on him or not. So it's no big deal for him to keep his distance from everyone else. The only concern I have is his stress level. If he's afraid, I make sure he can get away to his crate. Another concern I would have is the dog feeling cornered and feeling like it has to defend itself. Then you have real problem. He needs you to protect him from uncomfortable situations so he doesn't feel like he has to protect himself.

My dog, (not the foster I spoke of previously), has been hand shy since I got him. He is loveable and happy...loves my kids and seems for all the world to be as stable as can be. But, when, (for example), the Direct TV guy came, he was crated in another room...because I can never be sure when the wrong person will come over his head to pet him. It scares him, and in the past he has given a warning, so we just don't go there.

Again, not an expert. Just my experience with my fellas.

 Quote: Marilyn Clark

Mostly we do ignore him, but that seems to make him worse - go figure. So I have a wierd dog.

Marilyn, I'm not understanding what you mean by this. You should instruct strangers to ignore him, if he is afraid of them.

What is his reaction to strangers that makes you think he is afraid?