Turns out I have a very friendly GSD. I got him at 9 weeks and I know he was raised around youngsters. He just loves kids. You can see his friendly posture wherever we see them.

But he is too big (64lbs) and I would never allow him to get too close. For sure he would knock them down.

He is very friendly towards people and dogs.

However, I have to "remind" him to walk with me as we pass these distractions.

He has much prey drive( no aggression though) birds, kids, bikes, etc. He listens pretty well most of the time. But I would like some,more suggestions to stop his
energetic response to this simuli.

HV food doesn't always work.

I have no access to friends with calm dogs etc.. So I work around whatever safe distractions I can find.

Hoping to make him neutral or at least calm.

Edited by Carol Blumlein (06/26/2012 06:59 PM)
Edit reason: sp

Have you taught "loose leash"?

Do you move along pretty briskly (allowing for his age,of course) or do you stroll?

What exactly does he do? Pull toward distractions?

Yes,he pulls towards distraction.

And yes when he is not doing that, we are walking on loose leash.

I like to move quickly, and am trying to keep the sniff stops to a minimum. Otherwise, he would be sniffing too often for it to be exercise! I just tell him "let's go" and keep walking. Most of the time he hears those words he understands. But sometimes he becomes "deaf"- LOL!

Good morning Ms. Blumlein,

A beautiful day in CNY has dawned. As I type, the four mutts are arrayed around me in various poses of sleep. Some of their preferred positions are just plain funny.

Anyway, it sounds like your 6 month old dog is 6 months old, and doing what an inquisitive 6 month old dog does.

I have one that is now 17 months old, and still he likes his sniffs along the way, and I am reminded each time that the occasional sniff is appropriate, and the occasional pause on a walk is a learning experience - for both of us.

There is that fine balance we have to strike between training to our vision of a well trained and mannered dog, and nurturing the personality of the dog to bring out the finer points of its nature.

I split the difference with a young dog, in that I walk as briskly as I can, and for those times when a young dog takes a more resistant approach to smelling some thing, I stop and let it explore. Mostly we just go along at a respectable speed, and the stops become less frequent as the dog ages. But my experience is that even a mature dog wants to stop and smell some times, I'm glad to note.

Moving distractions are a different kettle of fish, in that I try to train a dog early on to focus on my voice. And the softly uttered 'no' works for me. I use 'no' for 'no' and 'enough' for other stuff. I don't want a dog chasing other animals or birds because I live in an area where the dog might launch into the street in pursuit, to a bad outcome. That is not to say there is not interest.

I do not discourage children, supervised by a parent or guardian, from getting close to any of my dogs but I use it as an opportunity to try to convey to the child and adult the right ways to be around a dog, and especially a strange one. In that regard, both the dog and child is taught. And it enables me to work on a cast iron sit or down. No contact, though, if the dog is not ready to meet and greet.

It is important for a growing dog to be given a bit of freedom on a walk, I think. I find myself talking to the dogs, rather than commanding, on a walk. We're walking together and learning each others 'tells,' as they say in poker.

A squirrel runs and I keep walking and utter 'no.' A mailbox looms on our horizon and I occasionally waffle, and stop for the sniff, depending on how urgently the dog signals its need to investigate. If a kid asks to pet the dog or dogs, I decline unless their parent is around and can participate. Every walk I share with a dog is a learning experience for the both of us, and an opportunity to train and or reinforce some training.

At the end of the day I want to have a lively, engaging, enthusiastic, well mannered and socialized dog.

Sounds like you have one.

"I ..... the occasional pause on a walk is a learning experience - for both of us."


I always give plenty of releases. The dog can sniff, pee, and basically have the length of the leash.

The word for us is "OK!" (as opposed to "Let's go!") and it's accompanied by me standing stock-still. The difference between Let's Go and OK is even clearer when I am not moving.

Moving distractions, as Mike says, are a different kettle of fish.

I dont know what other people do but I just keep walking, and maybe say "leave it" but not in a gruff way. Eventually the dog learns that we just dont go over to people/animals while the "pack" is out.

Sometimes they get pretty nosey LOL You could structure the walk of course....then add short play sessions that are all about attention that you do away from distractions at first...then gradually incorporate it.

My dog gets nosey sometimes, I just say lets go (speed up) and I jog past them or if he keeps trying to sniff, instead of correcting I just speed up like that.

There's also Behavioral Adjustment Training...you could look into that too. It should work very well for your circumstance...he would fall into the "frustrated greeter category". Might be hard to to without a friend to help, its a thought.

Thanks to all. I will continue and wait as he grows older. He is actually a very mellow, lovable, sweetheart......AND JUST A BIG PUPPY!!!!

 Quote: Mike Arnold

Good morning Ms. Blumlein,

A beautiful day in CNY has dawned. As I type, the four mutts are arrayed around me in various poses of sleep. Some of their preferred positions are just plain funny.

Anyway, it sounds like your 6 month old dog is 6 months old, and doing what an inquisitive 6 month old dog does.

I have one that is now 17 months old, and still he likes his sniffs along the way, and I am reminded each time that the occasional sniff is appropriate, and the occasional pause on a walk is a learning experience - for both of us.

There is that fine balance we have to strike between training to our vision of a well trained and mannered dog, and nurturing the personality of the dog to bring out the finer points of its nature.

I split the difference with a young dog, in that I walk as briskly as I can, and for those times when a young dog takes a more resistant approach to smelling some thing, I stop and let it explore. Mostly we just go along at a respectable speed, and the stops become less frequent as the dog ages. But my experience is that even a mature dog wants to stop and smell some times, I'm glad to note.

Moving distractions are a different kettle of fish, in that I try to train a dog early on to focus on my voice. And the softly uttered 'no' works for me. I use 'no' for 'no' and 'enough' for other stuff. I don't want a dog chasing other animals or birds because I live in an area where the dog might launch into the street in pursuit, to a bad outcome. That is not to say there is not interest.

I do not discourage children, supervised by a parent or guardian, from getting close to any of my dogs but I use it as an opportunity to try to convey to the child and adult the right ways to be around a dog, and especially a strange one. In that regard, both the dog and child is taught. And it enables me to work on a cast iron sit or down. No contact, though, if the dog is not ready to meet and greet.

It is important for a growing dog to be given a bit of freedom on a walk, I think. I find myself talking to the dogs, rather than commanding, on a walk. We're walking together and learning each others 'tells,' as they say in poker.

A squirrel runs and I keep walking and utter 'no.' A mailbox looms on our horizon and I occasionally waffle, and stop for the sniff, depending on how urgently the dog signals its need to investigate. If a kid asks to pet the dog or dogs, I decline unless their parent is around and can participate. Every walk I share with a dog is a learning experience for the both of us, and an opportunity to train and or reinforce some training.

At the end of the day I want to have a lively, engaging, enthusiastic, well mannered and socialized dog.

Sounds like you have one.

Hi Mike~

I was re-reading my old post because Ramsey can be transfixed on the ground smells to the point of practically every yard or so. I do allow some exploration, but he is very stubborn about moving forward.

I think our walks might never get very far if I allowed all of his sniffing.

Any thoughts?