Oversocialization? Dog too friendly. - Page 1

We adopted the idea when bringing home our nine week old  'German Shepherd' puppy that, "there is no such thing as too much socialization." Now he is twelve months old 'intact male' who still does not cock his leg and is super friendly towards strangers. He doesn't even bark when a stranger stops by and knocks. Will he begin to be more aloof and not be so outgoing with strangers? Or did we ruin that side of him.  He really loves all dogs and people.  We really hoped though since having two small girls that he would be a little more selective and serious about who approaches us and our property. 

don't worry, the moment something is really happening the most social dogs will be ready to defend their home/owners (if they have all natural drives)
social behaviour is the start of a stable selfconfident dog he's only 12months old, be happy you don(t have a nervous/scared wreck who launches himself at everything that moves
if the natural "guarding" drives are in the dog you can't destroy them at home, only wrong defence trainning can do that
biggest sud male's in mali's history were supersocial unless called forg gvitou, bibber,elgos,pacha,nelon,stoned ec... all were social dogs nelton was a policedog who one night cleaned up a barfight got trown true he window and jus got up and went back inside to get the guy who true him true the glass at home he' was supersocial but nobody risked trying him at home, he would have killed you if you did

The majority of my GSD have been social and friendly. There's a lot that don't know a stranger. I've only had one that was truly aloof, and it was a big responsibility! I'd be happy that he's not looking at every stranger as a threat. If you're really worried, you could try to get with a trainer and set up a scenario to see how he'd react, but I wouldn't worry about him being outgoing with strangers that are not posing any threats.

At a year old, he's still very young and has some maturing to do physically and mentally. I'm sure he'll start raising his leg in his own time, but it's nothing to worry about.

Each dog is different. I personally do not like a "social" dog.  I would not put any stock that he would protect anything unless it was trained and proved. In my opinion you should get some training help.

Paul

I'm with Paul on the protection part. The dog may mature slower. My 2 year old showline didn't bark until she was a little over a year, now she will alert at strangers, a little more standoffish than she was. But she's extremely social with people. My working line is totally different. From 8 weeks she alerted to strangers at the door, or coming up to the car. She's still social, but not to the degree of my showline. But I've always put emphasis on my working line from an early age about strangers, and started building bitework with her for sport and personal protection. I didn't do this with my showline. She's all talk, but my working line will actually act. Have you done any kind of work or training with him? 

What you need from your dog is for them to be SOCIAL, as opposed to SOCIABLE. I do not encourage my pups towards anyone. Last thing you need is your dog jumping at strangers. They totally ignore everyone when out, but if something strange happens, like people approaching out of woods etc, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time, they will stand their ground, and watch for any out of place movement.
 When approached in this situation, they will automatically turn to me. 2 of mine will place themselves in between me and the approaching person. They have never needed to go any further!
  Socializing, to my mind, is a very misunderstood concept. Your dog does not need to meet everything it sees, but to see it , and see how you feel a bout it. If you are unsure, and do not approach, the dog shouldn't either!! If you are relaxed, and tell the dog so, it should relax and carry on, without mugging every person/dog/child it meets.

I think a lot of that has to do with the dog themselves. Their genetic makeup so to speak. I will tell you from experience that you really don't want a dog that is suspect with your kids' friends because what happens is that the dog will consider them a threat and a bite may occur. I find that the majority of the time its the size, breed and how you act that will deter someone. No matter how friendly a dog can be, it can always bite someone so I do not allow anyone to pet my dogs and get annoyed when someone approaches and trys to start petting. It could be that one person who the dog doesn't care for and snaps at them.

Your dog could just be really social and it could be that your dog finds you to be an adequate leader so doesn't need to take that role. To me that's a very good thing. When cornered will a dog "flight or fight" I have not found too many over the years that do the latter.

Barb

M first GSD never met a stranger until he was 7 years old when he tried to take down a knife wielding stranger threatening me in a national forest. 

12 months is way too young...i have 18 month that is also friendly and social, he has not met one stranger he does not like, he will lick you to death and will bump you with his butt as his way of asking for a butt scratch....but i know by the time he is 3-4 he will change, just like my previous 2 changed, something clicks and than everyone is carefully observed and some instantly not liked (my girl scarred the cr@p out of me one day when she saw a stranger approaching (same trail we been on a hundred times) and went into a barking frenzy, she made me jump, i thought maybe it was just that one guy....but nope it was a beginning of "strangers" alert) it will come on instantly almost overnight..so...give him time...right now he is being exposed to everything and everyone which is great, he is observing, soaking it in, learning, soon he will start evaluating and making decisions.. :)