when is it ok for a gsd puppy to be friendly? - Page 1

Hi, I have an awesome gsd girl pup I call Spunky, aka Zippy vom Haus Miller. She is not quite four months and already taking upon herself the task of guard dog. She alerts readily at night to people up to a block away approaching when we are taking rests while out on our midnight walks down at the lakewalk. I have her off-leash down there since it is fenced in and usually very few people. If she sees someone she barks and runs at them with her hair up, then when they talk to her nice (she is sooooo cute) she licks them and bugs them for petting (which she usually gets). Should I let her run up to people like that or should I leash her so she doesn't get too friendly as an adult? Not that I want  a vicious dog trying to attack people, I just don't want her to love other people instead of being focused on me, as she is currently in training as my psychiatric service dog. She seems to understand that when she is on leash she is supposed to focus on me. Off-leash is break time, time to go sniff and just be a dog. Is there an age when her running at people just isn't cute anymore and I should stop her?

Not every person is a dog lover. Many people are terrified of dogs. A dog who has their hackles up, barking and charging someone, can pose a dangerous situation for the human and dog as well.

   I believe you should keep your pup leashed now.

Im certain you will get much more respone if you post this in the GSD forum.

Decoy I was going to say the same thing, LOL.  GSD forum would be a great place to post this at.  I have all GSD's and I just came on here to see if a friend who breeds pits has posted anything lately.  Check out the GSD forum and you will get lots of advice.