a friend of my works for the local sherif and will not train his new dog like this. His other patrol dog was and he say that it makes it had when trying to talk to other people close to the car. When he comes to the car alone, the dog is fine, but if there is someone with him the dog flips out. when alone in the car the dog is always watching for someone and has barked himself horse. It got to be so bad that when called to a seane he would park far away so his dog would not react to the other people on sean. He now has a dog that will stay calm when in the car and go-off only when told to or when someone he does not know trys to take some thing from the car. If they try to take something from the car he gets a bite .

David this is a part of my responce that you missed.

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.

I do this so people won't try to bother them or test them, if I take the precaution to do this. I've treid to spar the public some aggravation.
But people can ride with me if they get in with me. So its not quite as vicious as your friends dog or the dog examples that Richard spoke of.

I seem to have a happy medium.

Don,

If you already know the answer, having never done it or lived with a dog that has been agitated in the car, why ask the question? The simple fact is that most protection breeds will protect their territory at one level or another naturally. If you agitate them in the car the level of response increases exponentially. The result is just what has been described here.

Once the dog is cued to go after people passing by, it is going to key and respond much earlier and harder.

We had a GSD agitated in the car. You could take him out and he was the most friendly dog you have ever seen. People would play with him, then you put him in the car. As soon as the door closed, he went off, slamming his head into the window, putting his feet on the door pannels, and using his feet on the seat to get traction. A 135# dog can do a tremendous amount of damage in a short time. In comparison our Giant has never been agtated in the car. The result is that he is much less aggressive when somone comes close to the car. He stands still and barks. People have to get much closer to the car before he reacts. If you take him out and introduce him to them you can put him back in the car and he will stop barking.

Leaving any dog in a running car is stupid. If the dog happens to hit the door locks and locks the door you are going to be stuck. Now if that dog is agitated for the car who are you going to get to open the door for you? Take most people that don't know dogs and have them stand next to the window with a big dog going off on the other side? Most will tell you to forget it.

Just a bit of info on the Jeep. They come equipped with child proof window and door locks. Which when engaged prevent the doors from being locked or the windows opened or closed except from the driver's side door. (my 1999 does anyway)

I use the window locks, as when the dogs are in the rear and they put their paws on the doors, the window cannot be lowered or raised. One dog had the window all the way down, the other almost choked himself. They may be for kids, but they work well.

I take my two gsd's out with me often. And I too sometimes lock them inside a running car with the A/C running full blast.

Of course I have an extra key on me and one hidden on the back bumper. And although my car is mechanically well, I assume that 5 seconds after I walk away from my car the A/C is going to stop working. Therefore I have 5-10 minutes to get what I need and return to the car.

If I couldn't do that my dogs would have to remain confined to my home. Like all dogs they love to go for rides.

My biggest fear is someone stealing them. I don't give a damn about the car. So again, I'm pretty vigilant and I don't leave them alone for long. And again, the windows are completely closed and the car is locked.

Richard wrote Don,
If you already know the answer, having never done it or lived with a dog that has been agitated in the car, why ask the question? The simple fact is that most protection breeds will protect their territory at one level or another naturally. If you agitate them in the car the level of response increases exponentially. The result is just what has been described here.

Again it sounds like I think I know the answer, But the question was, How do you continue to train this without looking like an paranoid phsyco?

How can you say good boy, after they just scared the s**& out of someone, even after the person was warned.

The Jeep running and them aboard the times are rare but I feel safe and secure with this. It would very hard to knock it out of park.

Like Linda mentioned there are several devices that makes this vehicle fairly safe. I don't have to worry about being locked out because I have a key (inside a magnetic box, probably rusted by now) in a special spot outside this vehicle. This is really for the times that I may lock my keys/cell phone/CB/ and supplies in the vehicle while camping 100 of miles away from anyone.

When you camp/hike or repeal this can kill a outing. So I've learned that long time ago, I also carry a key for my Luxury vehicle in my wallet inside a card size holder. This car of course came with an outside remote and the jeep has had one added.

I'm not paranoid, I call it prepared after seeing this happen to some of my mentors you learn to be.
Its more of a boy scout/camper kinda thing.

I hate that it sounds like I'm not being thankful for the information, wisdom and knowledge that I've recieved, here. I consider myself to be a humble man of modest background and honest intention. I'm only ask for help for my situations, I'm not a Pro trainer/SchH competitor or K9 officer.

I'm a pet owner that has worked his dogs with a group of guys that are ignorant (by their own admission after reading info here) by this boards standards but they are dog trainers (some are Pros if getting paid is the definition of that).

I've worked with my dogs in alot of things, but we have perfected nothing, but I'd like to.

All I know, of what I know, could be placed in the eye of a needle. But I'm glad to have studied with you men/women that threads the needle of good techniques... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Don, I think the point is that you don't have to praise them. The behavior is self-rewarding (which is why for some people, it's a problem. I don't want this behavior from my SAR K9, so I hope to goodness she's never agitated by some numbskull). My apologies if you already got that.

I have been locked out of my car by my dog. I stepped outside the car for just a few minutes and stayed right next to the car, but my dog tripped to door lock mechanism by scratching at the door. The only thing that saved my butt was that I had, by some twist of fate, not closed the trunk all the way. I had to crawl into my trunk and push the back seat forward, then stretch my arm further than I thought anatomically possible to unlock the back driver side door (I had gear in the back seat, and my dog was bouncing around in excitement, so I couldn't get the seat to go down all the way). Had I actually closed the trunk like I had intended, I would have had to call a tow truck or locksmith to come open my car; except that my cell phone and purse were both in the car too. I got pretty lucky that day.

She has also put some nice teeth marks in the upholstery. I have since switched cars with hubby and am driving the station wagon so I can keep her crated in the back. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Lisa you and Vancamp came to the same deduction, that running the person away is reward enough and I don't have to say squat, I think is how Vancamp put it.

Thanks for the answer and I'd like to thank you all that have input. That its may be bad to leave your dogs in the car if you not prepared (with another key) or way to get in. Not all are acrobatic as you L.S. SAR work keeps you fit no doubt, dual benifits?

Thanks Richard for being the devil's advocate, here, its good to know the dark side so you can appreciate the light.

Russle and Robert I don't want my dogs stolen either, but my worry is because of I'd lose my friends. Not because I paid as much for my dogs as I did for my cars, like you guys did
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

How do you praise a dog for protecting your car?

Instead of saying "Good boy!"
you say "it's okay, relax!"

in the same tone as you would say "good boy", dogs don't know english, they know tones and body language.

I walk my dogs alot at night, and I use this technique when someone who's a little sketched out walks near us. They're going to think your dogs don't listen well, cuz they're not relaxing!!! Hey that's even more of an intimidation factor.

Excellent idea, become an illusionist you're saying, "Its ok just relax", but you mean good job bite their a*&.

I like that, reverse psychology for dogs.

And who said that a jocks can't be smart, keep up the good work. You may change our image. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />