Sarah Said: Quote" I wouldn't bet on that. I'd then have to carry a "cheat sheet" just to remember what's what! "EndQuote
Oh Sarah, that is so true. It might be confusing.
The best preventative is just what worked for you. Dog not alone and unattended outside, same as child not alone and unattended outside.
Unfortunately most dogs are suckers for "here puppy, smooch smooch..."

What about Sandy's suggestion? Set the dog up and correct it for listening to someone else? Can a dog make the cognitive leap that you're correcting it for listening to a stranger? Do you risk breaking down its training? There are few situations where I'd want my dog it respond to commands from a stranger, but I can see a lot of potential problems with Sandy's idea. But I mean, if it works, I'd want to do it. I wouldn't hesitate. If it works.

Have you done it, Sandy? Is it effective?

I see what you're saying, David. Maybe aiming for aloof and disinterested is the better way to go?

Sure, it can be done. But to a dog who genetically is hard-wired to like people and whose handler is nowhere to be found, I'd say it would be iffy. My APBT is ok if I'm with her, but I know she'll suck up to any woman or child if I'm not looking. Men-not so much, but women and kids are all ok in her eyes.

I'm lucky to have a dog who is uninterested in people, and will actually look to me for permission to approach someone or take food from them. The only people he will automatically take food from are my mother and my grandmother.

Yeah, I think for a Lab or a Golden Retriever you'll have a heck of a time convincing them not to love everyone. But how can we encourage this aloofness in our GSDs? I guess this is turning into a seperate thread, maybe I should just write my own. You know, for future reference.

Well, David, if I had my way, there would be no GSDs who act like Labs and Goldens! Every time someone asks me "why is he like that?" I say "read the breed standard for temperament".

Haha. True enough. I guess I'm just looking for ways to enhance that. I think a big part of it is Ed's socialization, specifically his "who pets my puppy" article. Did you follow that with any of your guys?

David, I've only tried my suggestion once, literally once when a neighbor gave my dog the command to sit when we were on the sidewalk talking. My first reaction was to say "Lear, NO". Sometime after that happened I read it somewhere, maybe here on the forum. I haven't had to repeat it or see if it "took", but it sounds reasonable. I don't think it would confuse the dog as it regards you giving commands. That's my opinion, however.

My last GSD took commands from no one but me and my son but since I got her when she was 9, I don't know how that was taught exactly. Wish I had thought to ask. But she was taught not to go to anyone who called her, much less do other things they told her, nor to eat from anyone's hand, ever. In fact, she was so well taught not to eat from anyone's hand that even after having her for 2 years, she still hesitated to take a treat from ME. That was at the end of 2 years. When I first got her it took months to get her to take a treat from my hand, although she always hesitated.

As far as encouraging aloofness in a GSD, being aloof with strangers is part of their nature. They grow into it. This is a generalized statement of course, there are exceptions to every "rule". My GSD Lear went from wanting to jump on everyone he saw as a puppy, to being super alert to people he didn't know, eyeing them with great suspicion, to being a little friendly with some people and aloof toward others. Right now that's the stage he's at, ignoring some people completely who approach him, yet kissing the hand of a couple of others he just met a few days ago. He's 14 months.

Edited to add: When Lear was looking at people like he wanted to attack them, I thought I would let someone pet him and did. Then I thought better of it...

 Quote: david eagle

Haha. True enough. I guess I'm just looking for ways to enhance that. I think a big part of it is Ed's socialization, specifically his "who pets my puppy" article. Did you follow that with any of your guys?

No, I didn't know this site existed when I was raising mine. I'm just a mean bitch who doesn't like anyone touching my dogs. I really think it's half genetic and half training, though.

Sandy:

I love the new Lear picture. He's gorgeous. Interesting to hear about his progression. How did your neighbor react to your dog handling? People tend to do a doubletake when they ask if they can pet Noah and I say "Thank you for asking, no."