Guys I'm a little embarrassed because I got caught flat footed with Hank last night.

Background: We have been doing more exercising these last 2 weeks (I bought a bike) and I can now get his tongue to hang out on an outing, yeah! We are going to an Agility class once a week (he's doing great, but that's a different post) and I'm still working with him, though I have backed off some just to give me a break. But he and I have been busy.

He has never been dog/people aggressive, heck everyone who ever comes over talks about how neat a dog he is, gentle with kids and adults both in the house and with the neighbor kids in the front yard (always supervised by me). He's 19 months now, and he's gotten his big boy voice. He barked at a cat/squirrel Friday night out the window and I literally jumped out of my seat some, and he did it again and I jumped again! (so embarrassing to be 'startled' by your own dog)

Anyhow I've had couple of instances that make me think that I might need to do a better job of management when I'm out with him or something else.

1. He does not like the vet 'touching' his head especially if I'm not paying attention, when he growled at her I corrected (verbally) and had him focus on me. And he was ok after this. I've let him know it is never acceptable behavior.

2. He growled at a neighbor who stopped to talk to us, Hank was siting on my feet and said neighbor crowded in on us (Hank and I) to pet him. Hank had never met him and the guy tried to pet him. I just gave the uh-uh for Hank but he didn't try to pet Hank again. Hank is enjoys the attention from the guy's wife and 5yrold daughter so I didn't think twice about saying it was ok.

3. Last night I took him with me to pick up my girls from Church and I opened the back of the yukon to let him see/smell while I went inside to get the girls. One of the teen girls (sweet kid) came out of the building and squealed with delight and asked to pet him, I said sure let him smell you first and she did and I turned around to go inside (not 10ft from the door of the building. When I come back out the girl is gone and Hank's body language had changed (this should have been a sign to me I know). He wasn't acting injured or anything, only 'scared' kind of like when I about to trim his nails.
But one of the moms I know came over carrying her 3 year old son who wanted to pet him, I said sure without thinking and as this boy was petting the top of hanks muzzle (I know) he growled at him. She pulled him back and laughed (thank goodness) and I corrected hank and had him sit and 'look' at me. I was kind of shaken up so I closed the back and headed home. (Hank had just spent half the day friday at home trying to get a 4yr old he'd only seen once before to give him a belly rub! I'm really confused.)

This is so strange for him, when we are home, or even in the front yard he acts like a lab with the little ones even strange little ones, he'll back up the first time but once he has a good 'wiff', he's totally goofy and loveable.

4. Last night we (my wife and I) were in the living room and she called Hank to "come", he was in the other room. He blew her off, I had her go to him so it wouldn't be a 'ignored' command. He was in the bedroom sleeping, not wanting to get up. I put him in the crate for a while and checked on him 30 minutes later(he had gone back to sleep).

What am I dealing with here? Am I going through another round of butthead teenager? Or have I been working him to hard and he's still growing and just tired? It's like having two different dogs.

Thoughts?

Dogs in cars are always prone to bite strangers, I would stop letting folks reach into the car.

" I might need to do a better job of management when I'm out with him"

I agree.

"I didn't think twice about saying it was ok"

"I said sure" (and then walked away!)

"He wasn't acting injured or anything, only 'scared' ... But one of the moms I know came over carrying her 3 year old son who wanted to pet him, I said sure without thinking"

Not a single one of these situations would have OK'd by me for my dogs, and my dogs are laid-back adults, long with me. These are all strangers getting too close when he was not comfortable, or worse.

It's not my job to please folks who want to touch my dog.

You're letting way too many people be way too touchy-feely with a dog who is not comfortable with it.

And Betty is absolutely right about letting people reach into the car, into his crate, into your yard over a fence ..... these are just not smart moves, with many dogs. These are threatening moves to many dogs.


"Last night we (my wife and I) were in the living room and she called Hank to "come", he was in the other room. He blew her off, I had her go to him so it wouldn't be a 'ignored' command. He was in the bedroom sleeping, not wanting to get up. I put him in the crate for a while and checked on him 30 minutes later(he had gone back to sleep). "

If the dog was asleep when he was called, how do you know he heard?

PS

BTW, these are good questions. I just read back and realized I sound like a B-word. I didn't mean to.

Another PS....

If I stand at the door and call the dogs and one of them doesn't show up, I go look. He is invariably asleep and I wake him up and then call again. From a room or more away, I don't think it's unusual for a sleeping dog, even a young one, not to hear a "come."

Is the recall otherwise reliable? If not, I'd work on my upbeat recall sessions. My goal would be: If I have to go wake up the dog to call him, he wakes up thrilled because I am there and want him to come to me.

Yeah it's pretty reliable for a teenage hound, he has to 'think about it' most times but I ALWAYS reward a come, I won't worry about this then. He was pretty drowsy when we found him.
Don't worry about the huffy'ness. I'm a big boy, if I couldn't take the suggestions I wouldn't have asked.

Betty, thanks, I will keep all arms, legs and appendages out of the car when the vehicle is stopped from now on.

He's so sweet when with us and around our family in friends (I have a really big extended family), I think I forget that he is not my old lab (with the big square head), he's a working dog who is not that excited about strangers.

How do I tell my neighbors (adult and kids) that Hank doesn't know, not to touch Hank? I don't want to say he bites, or be rude, and start any 'neighbor issues'.

Yeah it's pretty reliable for a teenage hound, he has to 'think about it' most times but I ALWAYS reward a come, I won't worry about this then. He was pretty drowsy when we found him.

Pretty reliable would probably prompt me to add some extra fun recall sessions. Remember, the recall is used for every fun thing! And don't forget never to call the dog outdoors if you have any doubt and you have no backup (like a long line).


How do I tell my neighbors (adult and kids) that Hank doesn't know, not to touch Hank? I don't want to say he bites, or be rude, and start any 'neighbor issues'.


"Please, no eye contact and no touch. We are working on a few things, and part of it is no one besides his household members touching him at this stage." (smile; change subject ... not up for discussion or debate)

To reinforce this, I will even stand between the dog and the person. These are friends and neighbors, and a smile goes a long way, but not debate or discussion.

IMO, these people seem to have a lot of up-close access with a dog who is uncomfortable with some people touching him. In a party-ish gathering or crowded yard/house, I put the dog up or I have the dog on leash beside me.

Never in a million years would I say "sure, go ahead and pat him" and walk away.

With strangers, it's even shorter: "I'm sorry, he's in training .... no touch. Thank you, though!" and move away.

Thanks Connie, I'm getting adjusted to having a working dog. I will assess my access levels with Hank for everyone.

We homeschool our kiddo's and we have a 'co-op' group (4-5) of families that we share the insanity with. They come over from time to time for play dates and such (just kids no dogs), Hank is well socialized with 4-10 yr olds, he just got the 'privileges' to go play with the kids here a few months ago, after about a hour keeping up with the kids my wife says he comes in and crashes at her feet. (Wow it was nice to put up the ex-pen, kind of like putting up the booster seats at the kitchen table!)

"Hank is well socialized with 4-10 yr olds, he just got the 'privileges' to go play with the kids here a few months ago, "



Are you 100% solid with this? Is there always always always one of you two owners right there?

This is the age of children that is so likely to do something like hug a dog with the child's face in the dog's face, or play chase in a herd with a dog .....

Putting the dog into this situation is not even on the list of possibilities for me.

I'd be so careful with a pack of kids, and a dog who at the moment seems "on the muscle".