How do you train protect the car without looking like an vicious dog owner, off the trainig field when it counts?

We been training protect the car but its hard to say "good boy" or "good girl" with a terrified person or associate standing by. I mean if you do they give you that look like "What in the hell are you training or doing with these vicious dogs!" So I usually will give the "enough" command and whisper "good dog/girl". You miss the well timed praise thats done during training. That lets the dogs know they've done well.

Usually this happens when I stop to pick up feed or suppiles, I'll tell "The guy wait a minute let me open the door I have the dogs inside".

Or a assoicate wants to put something inside my vehicle. Or a bummed out high school assoicate may try to force a ride. Even with this warning they, say "Oh I have dogs I know how to handle them". They usually jump away from the door and say, "Damn what did I do wrong?" Then either they let me open the door or don't want to ride or to help me. If I open the door and let the friend in there is no fuss, after a sniff.

Why do I train this? Because we camp and hike a lot usually valuable items to the trip like food, equipment, and suppiles are in the vehicle. Along with it makes car burgulars pick another car. I know its a libiltity but you keep your stuff. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

No need for a car alarm when you have a German Shepherd!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

With a dog that has even ONE protective bone in his body barking in the car is rewarding enough in most cases because of people's reactions to the dog.

You teach this when away from prying eyes. Have someone your dogs don't know walk up and bang on the car. . .the second the dogs light up your bad guy runs away.

YOU don't do squat, after a few doses of that training the dogs will bark on their own and people's reactions will usually reward them.

That is IF you want this kind of behavior. And as a side note, should you really be leaving your dog in the car while you are off hiking or something like that? I don't want to leave my dog in the car for more than a minute or two.

I'd rather someone take my stuff. . .or the car. . .than risking leaving the dog in the car.

In addition, a dog that has been agitated in the car will tear the car up. Seats, dashboard, and door panels are going to be trashed. And if the dog happens to break a window....

I don't want to leave my dog in the car for more than a minute or two.
I'd rather someone take my stuff...or the car...than risking leaving the dog in the car

Amen, Mr VanCamp.
Some times you have to but I worry when I do. The right person might handle the dog well enough to steal him. The wrong person might be dumb enough to stick a hand through the crack of the window. Plus it makes the root beer stand a hassle! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Vancamp, Richard and Matt
The times when this is a practicle thing is when you going to and from the campsite you stop to get suppiles (bait shop or ice) so their only in the vehicle for a short time. Or when you leave the car running for a short time to get supplies.
I wouldn't dare leave them in the car when I'm hiking, they have to help me find the Jeep and campsite sometimes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Don't tell me none of you guys have never been lost in woods.

Another time when this is useful is when you are scouting out the campsite area sometimes, I will leave them is the car to protect. I don't want to setup to close to families with dogs or kids or people period. In the past while scouting, I've come back and equipment was stolen, not any more. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I have suffered window slobber, and the starnge looks but I keep my stuff. And yes, there are some people that are capable or defeating any alarm system.

People stupid enough to stick their arm in a vehicle with two barking dogs deserve what they get. My dog vehicle's (the Jeep) window is too high for a walking tottler to stick his hands in , its probably a strcenht for a 5-6 yrs.

Thanks for the warning and the tips.

Vancamp why get mad about the obvious, thanks for your concern. I'll follow suit. I thought I left room for others opinions.

Leaving a dog in a running car, with the only set of keys you have with you, for any reason is dumb. If the dog has been agitated for the car, or is doing it naturalyy, the liklyhood that the dog will lock you out is HIGH. No matter how short a period of time the dog is left in the car, if there is anyone around the dog will start barking and hitting at the windows. Even cut short, a dogs nails can do a large amount of damage.

Richard

Maybe so, but I do it. My dogs really don't blast off unless you open the door or put your hands on the window to look in. They will not come out (in training if you open the door unless you take something), I know how it might not happen like that in a real situations. But a person shouldn't open my door anyway.

As for locking the doors of a Jeep, a dog would have to be pretty accurate to hit that small buttons on a Jeep and it doesn't work anyway. There are five doors on most jeeps, the cargo area has to be key locked. The Jeep is not the most advanced vehcile on the market, thats why I like it.

I see this also, what you call being car agitated is obviously different, then what I'm getting. Its not a maniac like tornado attack that seems uncontrollable spinning and jump at everybody and everything. They just charge the door or area being tampered with and barks or bite according to where the assailant stops.

People walk and stand around my vehicle all the time and don't even know they are in the (dark tinted windows) cargo area lying down until you rock the vehicle then they will bark.

I try to park as far out as possible (trips to friends house, firing range, grocery store or walmart), sometimes people are standing right next to the Jeep and don't even know my dogs are there. There are occassions that I have to unload the dogs to put the purchase item in. I get Damn "I didn't even know they where there".
Dogs are in a sit/stay waiting to be placed in the back seat.

Why do I do this? Because we are buddies. They enjoy riding, being with me and the trips. Everytime the jeeps fires up they want to be there. Most of the times they are.

They don't seem to mind the 15-30 minutes wait. I'm not paranoid like I've said I'm endowed with natural and trained skills from numerous backgrounds, and (this CCW country) my buddies human and dogs just happen to be also.

I keep the windows, lowered or the a/c on depending on how warm it is outside.

My father-in-law has a Sibe. husky that he had just taken to the vet. for a check up. He decided to stop in at the gas station to get gas and left the window cracked while he went in to pay. While he was inside paying, the clerk looked out the window and said "oh my!". When my dad looked out he saw that Kody, had a guy by his arm (the idiot stuck his arm in the window) and feathers were everywhere (from the guys coat). My dad went out to see what was happening and the guy (who recovered his arm by this time) was screaming at my dad about "his vicious dog attacking him". My dad asked him why he would stick his arm in the truck with a "scarey looking dog" anyway...
Well, the police were called and the guy wanted my dad to pay for damages done to his expensive coat (thankfully it was thick enough that Kody missed flesh). When the police arrived they dismissed the charges and told the guy that they could easily charge him with attempted car theft and left the decision up to the guy... Needless to say my dad walked away from that situation.. I wonder what might've happened with a less "cool" policeman, since my dad knew him (small town).
What really gets me, is that later my dad was telling me the story, and made the comment that Kody was part "timber wolf", and so the guy was lucky he didn't bite his arm off. :rolleyes: (you know how dumb In-laws can be)...

Good job Kody!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I think regardless of the cops view, the guy stuck his arm in your car, its reasonbly to think his intention were not honorable.

I don't think he had a prayer, unless he was a very sincer actor and tried to play the I was just trying to pet the cute mean looking "Growling teeth showing dog!" I think thats a no fly zone, strike three. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />