Everyone here has already said everything I would say, except that some people have some luck with having their dog wear a vest that says "Dog working. Do not pet." Ed sells various vests on his main site.

It's weird, but some people do respect the authority of the sign over the authority of the owner. If you do use a vest, make sure you don't try to pass your dog off as a police or specialized service dog...that could get you in trouble.

No matter what, you're going to get the occassional dirt ball who doesn't listen to you in which case, IMO, the gloves are off. They've already identified themselves as one of the "entitled" who don't have to worry about other people (those people make me NUTS on lots of levels). Be rude if you have to.

And be patient with your pup! A group of people coming over and making high-pitched cooing sounds to him is certainly a high level of distraction...for the dog AND you!

Make your dog your first priority in these situations...have him sit calmly by your side THEN tell the people to pound sand, and then reward him for his good behavior.

Funny thing: I have Carbon trained to bark with a subtle little pinky wag. It's essentially just an unusual hand command for "speak." He won't do this unless he's in a formal heel, so if I see people coming, I put him in the formal heel. While he's doing this and we come to a stop, he's already focusing on me and paying attention. So if I tell people to ignore my dog, and they don't, I give that little pinky wag that no one notices except Carbon who then stands at my side and starts barking. Freaks them RIGHT OUT!

I trained him to do this because while he's only a 6 month old pup right now, I still wanted to use him to ward off the occassional creep I come in contact with. This is not formal guard training or anything, but the people don't know that. His bark is impressive, only someone really skilled with dogs would know it's not the real deal, and they're generally the ones who wouldn't have bothered me in the first place!

Just as a note: Carbon is developing into a very protective dog. He used to get his hackles up and bark and lunge at people or other dogs on walks. By teaching him that signal and the resulting CONTROLLED barking...and especially...to wait for it, I believe I have given him the clear message that I decide what his actions should be, not him. I will say, though, that there are some people that Carbon doesn't like. For those people, him staring at them with his hackles up, even though he's sitting at my side, is enough to get them to avoid a protracted conversation with us. I would NEVER give the signal in this circumstance...he's already too amped up and the signal is soley for neutral, non-aggressive barking and I don't want to confuse the issue with him.

Just realized I rambled here at the end of the post...sorry! Lack of good sleep last night! Anyway, best of luck to you.

Our pup is only (5) months old and acts the same way. He will actually "cry" to meet the strangers. When we are out and someone is nearing us, I make him sit. While I am making him sit, most people will just smile and walk by. I'd wager 95% do not stop to pet him. Then there are a few that will stop to talk and pet, but if he doesn't remain sitting, they don't get to pet him. I found previously while we're walking, that he would (will) run right up to them or at least attempt to, and then almost everyone stopped to pet him. So for now I will continue to make him sit, of course I think treating him with food will continue to help this.

What I found most interesting is the one man with what I would wager is a dog aggressive dog insisting on his dog meeting mine. My pup was still in my vehicle as he was walking by and I delayed taking my pup out while he was walking by. But as soon as I took my pup out of my vehicle he turned around and made a beeline for us. He asked if the dogs could meet and I should have said "NO", but I said "OKAY" instead. But the minute his dog started barking and lunging I made sure that I was between his dog and mine. So they never really did meet. :-) If he knows his dog behaves this way, why would he do this?!?!?

Anyway, My pup and I are both learning and I love the STRING CHEESE Idea. Easy to take with you. We'll get there!

Good Luck to you too!

Amber, that's a great idea! I think I'll have to attempt to teach Mojo that one
He is starting to bark at people when we are near the house or yard. It started with just a few people here and there. Now he barks at most everyone, and lunges at a few when we are near the house. If I take him out somewhere sofar he just looks at people walking by.

Edward, not saying you misunderstood me, but I would like to make it clear to everyone that I dealt with Carbon's aggression on leash *seperate* from the "speak" signal. That was done pretty easily with a prong collar. Once that was under control, I added in the hand signal for speak that we had been working on in a calm, controlled environment.

I would NOT recommend doing the two together. The dog could misinterpret that as a cue for aggression.

I certainly don't want to make it sound like that command cured his aggression alone...I just think it reinforced what I had already been teaching him which is: Wait for me to give you something to do, even if that something is nothing.

Also, that command asks for "neutral" barking, NOT aggressive, guarding barking...which is why I never give it when he already clearly wants to go on the offensive.

Just wanted to clarify that. Aggression isn't going to be fixed with a "speak" command! Guarding and protection work is a whole 'nother ball game! It would be a bad idea for people unskilled in protection work (like myself) to train a dog to act aggressively on command. Too many potentially dangerous problems involved.

As for the house/yard barking, I let Carbon do that...up until I give him the command to stop. If I'm not here, he doesn't stop, and that's just how I like it!

I want Carbon to be protective, and to alert me to a stranger on the property...but I want him to always look to me about what to do about it beyond alerting me.

Sorry to get off track, Jennifer, I just wanted to clarify what I had said earlier so there weren't any misunderstandings!

Thanks Amber, I was clear on it though. He just started this barking at strangers thing a week ago. I've been telling him to sit and he does an OK job of it. I just need to take treats with me 24/7

the one i have trouble with isn't "can i pet your dog?" i always just say "no" and smile and keep walking.

the one i have trouble with is "is your dog friendly?" i have found that when i say "no" to that question it can get me in trouble. i live in a small town, and going around telling people that your 160 lb. EM isn't friendly isn't a smart thing to do. i've had people run away frightened and when i've asked why, they said they "heard your dog is mean."

ben does get reactive when people are fearful around him, and i like to keep situations calm, so i've been working on a new response.

my most recent is, "he's aloof." or "he's not interested in strangers." or even, "he's shy."

then they'll say with relief, "well, as long as he isn't mean!"

i think the right answer has to take into account how the public might perceive your dog as a result.

 Quote: louanne manter

What I found most interesting is the one man with what I would wager is a dog aggressive dog insisting on his dog meeting mine. My pup was still in my vehicle as he was walking by and I delayed taking my pup out while he was walking by. But as soon as I took my pup out of my vehicle he turned around and made a beeline for us. He asked if the dogs could meet and I should have said "NO", but I said "OKAY" instead. But the minute his dog started barking and lunging I made sure that I was between his dog and mine. So they never really did meet. :-) If he knows his dog behaves this way, why would he do this?!?!?

I guess this guy would fall under the category 'clueless maroon'. I bet he didn't even try to correct his dog either when his dog went all goofy.

That has become another pet peeve of mine as well. The people at group OB class that insist that their dogs get to get social with my dog. That really irks me, I thought we were there for dog training not a doggy social? Especially when I have a dog dominant sharp Malinois bitch, that situation can and will explode into a negative reaction even more so than someone who just wants to pet my dog. Some people just don't get it, I guess ignorance is bliss.

Jennifer, until about a year ago when I read Ed's article about who pets my dog, I had never heard of not letting anyone. I always thought he should calmly accept peoples hands on him. Maybe because the majority of my experience was at confirmation shows and not any kind of protection or schutzhund. (Although I have been able to pet a couple of schutzhund dogs.)I'm pretty judgemental so I do come across people that I will tell that he's freindly but were working on his manners. Alice gave good advice about choosing your words carefully. We have a dangerous dog law where I live that can have me turned in for frightening people so I don't want anyone to think my dog is a threat just by being in public. Male Rotts usually have at least a certain amount of indifference to people when they mature, and "leave it" has gotten my dog through crowds of people and lines with kids and all different people.

 Quote: Geoff Empey

That has become another pet peeve of mine as well. The people at group OB class that insist that their dogs get to get social with my dog.

Yes, there are some trainers or behaviorists out there that will tell owners of dog-aggressive dogs to have them encounter as many strange dogs as they can and then they act clueless when the dog gets worse.

 Quote: Amber Morgan

Yes, there are some trainers or behaviorists out there that will tell owners of dog-aggressive dogs to have them encounter as many strange dogs as they can and then they act clueless when the dog gets worse.

Exactly if someone doesn't have an idea how to control their dog aggressive dog they just throw more gasoline on to that dog aggressive fire doing that. No wonder so many dogs get euthanized these days, trainers and behaviourist who give out blanket statements like that, don't explain what exactly it means or put together a game plan set the handler/dog up for that scenario. Then they are stuck with those misconceptions and wonder why it keeps happening.

A dog aggresive dog needs control through proper training and the right equipment. I really don't think that you can break a dog aggro dog 100% it is and would always be a work in progress.