Hi all, I got a new 10 week old pup on Friday. He is responding very well to marker training, after 3 days he had the basic versions of - look at me, sit, down, touch the hand. Still whines like an ambulance in the crate but is getting more settled down. Everyone comments he has bonded to me already.

I am wondering about his behavior around strangers. It's clear he's no fan of them. When they squat and stretch out their hand, he would go up cautiously and sniff their outstretched hand and then turn around and go back to chew on his bully stick. If he's out on a walk, after sniffing the hand he will back up 2 feet away from them and continue looking at the stranger. Sometimes he will drag his toys away from the stranger as if he thinks they'll take it. Some times I have put myself between the pup and the stranger to protect him and he still goes around me to look at the stranger, so maybe he's not afraid? He does not like strangers petting on the head , never bites but just moves his head away or walks away. He loves cuddles from me though.

I ask him to look at me and sit/down when strangers are around to get him to focus on me and he obeys. I've actually noticed he started to come sit in front of me expecting a treat when he sees a stranger. When he is in a down and chewing/eating or playing something he doesn't mind people scratching his butt/belly, but I think it's more of a tolerating it, than enjoying it like a lab puppy would.

Other times he has walked away from the stranger only to then jump around and do the play bow with 1 bark at the stranger, as if he wants to play with them.

Is this normal behavior? Is he just "aloof" or is he a one of those problem dogs that will bite ? Is he afraid of strangers or just healthily suspicious or strangers? What should I make sure to do to prevent future problems? Is it bad that I have him sit/down and let people pet his back? He doesn't seem to care as long as he get the yummies in my hand

btw this is all happening in my workplace where i take the pup everyday.

IMHO, this is typical GSD "aloof" behavior. Remember, this is no lab.

Actually, a lot of us would rather have a dog that is tolerant, but just ok, with strangers.

Also, he is only 10 wks old. You have two years of changing behavior ahead of you, but it sounds like you already have a good start, as far as observing and addressing behavior. At this point, don't overthink or get too alarmed by anything.

IMHO, you're off to a pretty decent start.

If you needs call for a dog being friendly with strangers then let the dog decide. Putting him on a sit, etc in order for others to pet him is a no go for a pup or any dog for that matter. You could actually be creating a situation where the dog can feel forced to allow people he may not care for to pet him.

 Quote: Bob Scott

If you needs call for a dog being friendly with strangers then let the dog decide. Putting him on a sit, etc in order for others to pet him is a no go for a pup or any dog for that matter. You could actually be creating a situation where the dog can feel forced to allow people he may not care for to pet him.

+1

"He does not like strangers petting on the head ,"


MANY dogs do not want their faces, heads, touched.


"When he is in a down and chewing/eating or playing something he doesn't mind people scratching his butt/belly, but I think it's more of a tolerating it, than enjoying it ......"

I'd leave him alone when he's chewing/eating.

I'd also let him decide in general, exactly as Bob said.

He sounds completely normal.

JMO!

 Quote: Duane Hull

IMHO, this is typical GSD "aloof" behavior. Remember, this is no lab.

Actually, a lot of us would rather have a dog that is tolerant, but just ok, with strangers.

Also, he is only 10 wks old. You have two years of changing behavior ahead of you, but it sounds like you already have a good start, as far as observing and addressing behavior. At this point, don't overthink or get too alarmed by anything.

IMHO, you're off to a pretty decent start.

Me too. I know you wanted criticism and suggestions, so you got 'em.

My dog thinks strangers are absolute candy. Raw meat, even. He wants to drag me to them so he can say hello and jump on them. He can be distracted during training because he likes to watch them and see what they're doing.

Aloof and disinterested is good!

Do not encourage strangers to come up to your dog please - I had an idiot try to bring his 3 year old daughter up to my dog at Petsmart AFTER I had warned him that he was too high energy to be around kids he didn't know. "It's ok, we have 4 shepherds at home" Sure buddy, whatever. I won't be involved in scarring your kid for life. I also had to warn a woman at the vet's office when he was about 4 months old that he BITES. The look on her face was priceless. Your dog is a discrete being, not a stuffed toy to be played with by whomever thinks he looks cuddly.

Thank you everyone for your replies, it's reassuring to know it's normal behavior. Everyone keeps expecting puppies to be all like labs and they keep telling me he's abnormal.

I don't encourage people to come pet the dog but they really want to, you know how it is; they just walk up and do it before you can say anything. Or, I'm addressing one stranger and then someone will come behind me and touch him without me seeing it! The other day someone was holding out their hand for him to sniff and then suddenly he just tried to grab the snout!! why would you do that??? geez some people!!! Arghhh! Seriously, dealing with people is the absolute hardest part of dog training!

It's inevitable people will touch the dog without my permission and I want him to be okay with that. I don't want him to get startled when it happens and bite someone. My biggest fear is that someone will touch him out of the blue and then he bites them, then I have to put him down.

I don't take him to petsmart or dog parks, this is all happening in my office , with co-workers i can't be mean to.

It's really a top priority not to allow this accosting of your dog. This is counterproductive to having a dog who accepts and tolerates (or welcomes) people.

It's not inevitable.

Forcing him to accept random touching isn't going to prevent what you fear. It's going to make him anxious and uneasy around strangers. And no, no one walks up and touches my dogs before I can say anything. Snout-grabbing? Wow! What did you say?

Is there a crate at your office? And a leash?

I'm a bit of a mouthy broad and I've been told I look mean, which probably helps consider getting him a bandana that says 'Do not Pet"?