The other thread on protection is very good and interesting to me! Here is another question I have about protection.
How much do you expect out of the dog? Should a GSD be protective of it's house when you are not home? How do you expect them to react to a stranger or person they know when you are not home? What if you left for the weekend and you ask someone to care for your dogs while you are gone, and the dogs act aggressive toward them (of course it's someone they know)? Is this unaccaptble? This question came up because I left for the Christmas weekend and had my In Laws care for my dogs while I was gone. I know the dogs are good with them while in my presence, but I was a little worried how my older dog would react. He has a tendancy to like to test people before he listens to them when I am not there. He did end up doing great and showed no aggression toward my MIL after she announced who she was. Both dogs went from alert mode to big saps.
Anyway, should a dog only protect the person/themselves or should they also protect property?

To give you an example, I have vishnu and duchess in the house. They've known my mother for years. If she comes into the house from the "normal" door she usually does, they're fine. One time she made the mistake of coming around to the back of the house, they wouldn't let her in. Seems like they know people are ok if they come thru the garage versus anywhere else.

Using your mother-in-law to see if your dog will be aggressive if your not around. Interesting training concept. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

NOOO!!!!


That's a really GREAT training concept.


I'm gonna do that!!!!


<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Originally posted by Robert VanCamp:
That's a really GREAT training concept.
I'm gonna do that!!!!

VanCamp.... When your wife makes you give away your dogs because they ate her mother can I have them? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

NO, it's not a training concept! It's a fact that when we are not around, she's going to be taking care of the dogs! She comes over all the time when we are home and spoils the dogs. They are fine when I'm around and I have had her walk them on a leash exc with me around. Dogs seem to react much differently when their owners are not there, and I was worried about how my older dog might react and what kind of reactions everyone sees from their dogs if they leave them home for another person to care for while they are away. I now know they are fine with her, but this is the first time she has taken care of them for us.

 Quote:

Originally posted by Ptlm. Matthew Grubb:

 Quote:

Originally posted by Robert VanCamp:
That's a really GREAT training concept.
I'm gonna do that!!!!

VanCamp.... When your wife makes you give away your dogs because they ate her mother can I have them? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

You can't have Grenz, he comes back to me!

Sorry, I didn't get the joke right away! I actually LIKE my MIL! She gets along with me better than her own son and has told me that if we get divorced the kids, dogs and I can stay with her and he will be out on his you know what lol!

Wow. The initial questions on this inquiry are many indeed. When we got our pup we wanted a dog that would bark at strangers, look intimidating, and protect if need be. Frankly, if someone comes unannounced to our home the dog (now 19 mos.) had better not be out of his kennel. He became "protective" without training at 9 mos. We are lucky in that he will bark first. Then, if folks don't heed the message he moves towards them barking even more. If someone still comes towards the house the dog will run up and he will bite. He has natural bite inhibition (we didn't train this into him). He will do a hard, open mouthed bump to get someones attention and then step back a few feet and bark. If the person moves forward again he will grab (usually at hip level) and entire mouthful, bite down and let go quickly. We don't know what would happen beyond this behavior as we've never allowed it to occur. The other two times he grabbed folks we were inside the house and he was in the yard. He has never drawn blood or bruised.

Once this occured we realized he was going to protect on his terms. We then began HEAVY training so that we controlled who he thinks is o.k. and not him! That is critical. If you can't trust your dog (with or without training) he belongs in a kennel when folks are around. If you don't or can't control a high drive dog it will bite and you will end up putting it to sleep. You owe the dog the necessary training to make it a safe pet!

We took our pup to a behaviorialist at WSU and they tested him to see how he behaved when someone approached my husband and then when they approached me seperately. The dog growled but remained seated when men or women approached my husband. When men approached me he moved in front of me and growled, then barked and then bumped. The behaviorialist noted that it was me that he was protective of--not uncommon for male shepherds to do this. When my husband was by my side he would look to my husband and then to the stranger to see how he should react. All this without training. The fellow we took our dog to couldn't believe he hadn't been trained. He asked if we were willing to let the dog go to a nearby state for training as a police dog. We said NO WAY! We couldn't live without him!

If you want a dog that barks alone to warn off strangers be careful of the pup you purchase. A lab might work for you just as well. We purchased a pup crossed b/n working and show lines. He turned out to be a great dog, but we have to train him 24-7.

Do a lot of research! Most shepherds will bark to protect house and land. This is all most of us will ever need. If you want a dog that is hard and driven you will spend a lot of your life for 2-4 years training it to listen to you, take commands appropriately, and probably take a few nips in the process.

Good luck on your purchase!

A lot of dogs like to play tug and can do it convincely but here is the test where I found out what my Male GSD was made of (not saying he could be a Police patrol dog or Shch 3 dog) but a dog that knows he has a job to do.

In part of the traning test we do a surprise attack while walking with the wind behind us. So its hard for the dog to smell the attacker hiding.

In one scenario the helper comes out staggering and swaying but not aggressive. In our test growling a bark maybe and a look ignore but stay watchful passes.


In the same test in a different spot hid, the handler jumps out screaming and hands failing running toward you 10 yrds away (its important that he knows where the marked safe spot is).

Some young dogs lean away spining, look back at their handler and bark, some step back a couple steps and bark, some run to the side of the handler, some just run.

My dog jumped up and snapped at his face, no barking until he was walking on two feet and then chasing him on four as the helper ran away. Now he was supposed to have stayed there and give the dog a bite, if he got that far. But as he said "That damn dog scared the "Shi% out if Me. He ain't no punk, thats a real GS. He means business." I told him I thought all GSD were like that. These guys lean more toward the larger bull breds or Rotties.

I didn't know what he was made of because he is always nice to me, we'll most the times. We have had our run ins but thats part of two dominate beings trying to get co-exist in MY home.

What I see Protect Trained dogs have is an on and off swicht, or control. Its not just the dog will become aggressive he learns when you want him to control a situation and when you want him stay cool/be watchful.