I have a 12mo male GSD that does great at obedience and loves to play tug and bite on a sleeve (only done as play, not with a club), but he sometimes shows a bit of timidness with some people and other dogs. He definitely knows how to assert himself when he sees/hears something that he doesn't "like", but I would like him to have that swagger all the time.

Any suggestions on what to work on to build his confidence?

Thanks

" He definitely knows how to assert himself when he sees/hears something that he doesn't "like",

John, that could very well be stress showing. Hard to say without actually seeing the dog in action.
The best thing you can do is lots of positive exposure with everything and anything. Things that really bother him must be started from a distance that doesn't effect the dog and slowly get closer while playing tug. When the dog shows concern then you've advanced to quickly.
This will all help but true "swagger" under all conditions is more about genetics.

"Things that really bother him must be started from a distance that doesn't effect the dog and slowly get closer while playing tug."

Or doing upbeat ob work, or focus on you, or anything positive that puts the "concern" into the background.

As Bob says, "When the dog shows concern then you've advanced to quickly."


If you look around here for desensitizing threads, they will address what you want. If you want me to dig some up later, let me know.

Thanks for the reply Bob.

I guess I should have been a bit more specific in my original post. He has no issues with animals of any kind or people. He goes into every new contact thinking that things are just fine. When I see the timidness it is always surprising, because he is so confident in general(I can't think of anything that really bothers him).

This past weekend a friend brought over his little "Mouse" dog - can't weigh more than 6 lbs, and when it snarled, Jaegar would get timid and jumped back. He loves to play with other dogs, so this behavior surprised me and I thought he would stand his ground and just look at the little guy.

With some new people he does show signs of stress, putting up his hackles, but if I say it is OK he is just fine. I don't know why sometimes he gets this way, since he has never had a bad experience with a person. And in contrast, at other times he really lets them know not to mess with his family - a solicitor came up our driveway and started to harass my wife, he wasn't liking what he was seeing from the window, and when I walked out on the porch with him to tell the guy to get lost, Jaegar was barking (with me holding onto his collar) in a very confident manner. It didn't appear to be out of fear, but more out of protection for his mom. The guy got the message and left. I just wish he was always confident and would like to build that if I can.

As for genetics, he has German Import Grandfathers (SchH1 and SchH3) and many SchH2 & 3 sires and dams in his bloodlines (all German dogs).

Thanks Connie, I will do a search (you posted while I was typing my long winded reply).

John, JMO, but I think you might be seeing something other what you think.

How long have you had the dog?

Protectiveness is often a rose-colored misconstruction on resource guarding (which is a category I also lump territorial behavior in).


QUOTE: And in contrast, at other times he really lets them know not to mess with his family - a solicitor came up our driveway and started to harass my wife, he wasn't liking what he was seeing from the window, and when I walked out on the porch with him to tell the guy to get lost, Jaegar was barking (with me holding onto his collar) in a very confident manner. It didn't appear to be out of fear, but more out of protection for his mom. The guy got the message and left. I just wish he was always confident and would like to build that if I can.

I'm just saying that this may be more something to watch carefully than to encourage and reward and look for.

This is JMO, and I'd like to hear others' takes.

And that's nothing negative about this dog. Or any dog.

Again, JMO.

 Quote: john ralston

Thanks Connie, I will do a search (you posted while I was typing my long winded reply).

It's not long-winded. Besides the snarling mouse dog, what else would cause him to seem timid or stressed? You say some people, but what is the common factor?

"With some new people he does show signs of stress, putting up his hackles"

We have had him since 12 weeks. I work with him daily on OB since I work from home and can do it on breaks.

I didn't encourage or discourage the behavior with the solicitor - I just let him do his thing and then took him in the house when it was over. I don't encourage any aggressive behavior, as I don't want a mishap with the neighborhood kids.

I am really just after the confidence to be able to sit/stand/down without any reaction when another ankle biter or stranger tries to assert themselves a bit.

"I am really just after the confidence to be able to sit/stand/down without any reaction when another ankle biter or stranger tries to assert themselves a bit."

Gotcha.

So it's mainly yappy dogs, and what kind of people? (Have you been able to see a common factor in people who cause him to "show a bit of timidness with some people" ?)

I have not been able to determine any commonality with the people. I don't let strangers just walk up and pet him anyway, but the instances of trepidation are very few and far between. He will bark on occasion when he sees someone out in the street or hears something out of the norm, but I just assume this is some type of territorial behavior.

I would love to join a SchH Club, but it is too far away and I have enough commitments with kids, my business, etc.