Our 5 1/5 mo. old GSD had an incident at the kennel and I would like some opinions on what you think the problem is.

Our puppy is being trained in obedience and knows the basic commands, although she still needs more work of course. we are also participating in dog obedience classes each week. She is crate trained also.

Anyway, she has always shy of people but after sniffing she will allow most poeple to pet her face. She has never bitten anyone. She barks when poeple come to the door, or when a strange or odd looking person approaches her. Once we talk to her, she stops. From what I thought, since she's so young she should be doing this out of fear and not agression. But i don't think that's the case. She barks when she hears noises outside our house, and I know she is not scared of noises. ANyway, that's that.

So, now the problem. we left her at the kennel and she barked when left in the cage. She seemed friendly with all of the staff when i was there so i left. The next morning when the staff came in, the dog would not stop barking at the staff, and they said they were too scared of her to do anything. They said she was barking and lunging at the door so they were afraid to walk her. Apparently they tried to talk to her, to no avail. So, my friend was called and she gave the dog some food and gave her a few commands and the dog calmed down and left with her.

So, are we destined to not kennel our dog? should we do something about this? is there training we can do? is the dog just not strong? Any ideas? Thanks!
Lisa

At 5 1/2 months I have to question the competency of the kennel staff...

Ditto that Deanna!!

Also, what was the size of the kennel that she was in? I remember back in the days when I used to groom dogs for a living that some would become kennel shy and I would always leave the leash hanging out of the cage to make sure that the dog didn't take my hand off when it was time to get it out!! I realize that this may have nothing to do w/ your dogs situation....but, then again,...maybe the dog felt trapped???

If your dog was scared, which was most likely the case, the kennel should have been prepared for that and dealt w/ her confidently and in a reassuring manner, not calling for outside help!!!

Switch kennels or take the dog w/ you next time!

Fear or Aggression?

I vote fear, sorry.

Ok, well, that is what I wanted to hear, but i wans't sure. I know the kennel behaviour what probably fear. she was away from us, and the people did not do anything to calm her down. I told them to give her commands, etc. they didn't really listen to me, they just said "oh, she'll be fine" Maybe that should have been my first clue. I will find a new kennel, for that reason and others. (namely, they lied to me and threw away a whole bag of her raw dog food i prepared, including vitamins, treats, etc.)

the kennel was about 2-3 feet wide and 6 feet long. chain link fence. there were two other dogs there, both barking of course. but she loves other doggs, just not other people.

Lisa

Originally posted by VanCamp:
Fear or Aggression?

I vote fear, sorry. It's not an either/or. It's fear aggression. The pup is only 5 1/2 mos.

A2-3fx6ft kennel is way to small for a dog to spend a week in. Between that and the incompetent kennel help, you need to find a new kennel.

well, they supposedly take the dogs out for at least two walks a day. she would not have been in there the whole time. i have not had any other kennel experiences. My friend who recommended this kennel has a great dane, so i figured it would be ok for big dogs. but they enver got a chance to take my dog out... she wouldn't calm down enuf to get close to, they said.

 Quote:

Originally posted by DesertThunderK9:

 Quote:

Originally posted by VanCamp:
Fear or Aggression?

I vote fear, sorry.

It's not an either/or. It's fear aggression. The pup is only 5 1/2 mos.

Joy I understand what you are saying. However if I may be so bold as to speak for Vancamp, I think he was thinking along the lines of a 5 month old puppy not being capable of aggression in the sense that it's not "aggression" like we think of in a dominant or perhaps territorial manner. Or the type of aggression in a working dog. That's how I thought so I would say fear also. But your right...it's fear aggression.

I also agree with Deanna about the staff.

Yes, I suspect that was exactly what Van Camp meant, but it's fun to tweak him sometimes :rolleyes:

You are right, a 5 1/2 mo pup hasn't developed that level of territorial nor dominance aggression. I'll bet she was hackling as well.