Lunging and growling at strangers - 4 Month Old puppy! - Page 1

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by HolesInMyBoots on 28 July 2016 - 21:07

Hello all, I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section of the forums, I am new here, because I have a major question concerning my German Shepherd puppy.

Recently our shepherd puppy just hit the 4 month old mark, so now we've decided to walk him around the lake rather than the neighborhood, problem is we noticed he's starting to lunge and growl at people. Today, when we were walking him at the lake, he was very calm, but as soon as a person comes to walk right next to us to pass us, he runs towards them and lunges, growling and barking so I have to yank him back. He did this with multiple people, when he never use to do this. For the sake of everyone's safety around me, I would quickly put him in a sit position and wait till the person walks by to get him under control, because I do not want him biting anyone. A lady looked like she was gonna have a heart attack because she walked by us, and he lunged towards her, and she jumped back and gasped loudly, making a scene, covering her heart. Even though he didn't bite her. 

I would like to mention my puppy is a mellow puppy, but clearly has very weak nerves, we signed him up for obedience classes two weeks ago but unfortunately the class starts next week. But, trainer met him. After chatting with the trainer we found out the breeder we got him from is known for having skittish dogs... I instantly was aware of this months before, because I can tell his behaviour was not right for a puppy. Even when we got him on pick up day, he was hiding from us, but loved my friend who came with us, so he approached her. Even after all of that we still took him home rather than waiting for the next litter. He was the last puppy of the litter, the breeder allows buyers to pick, rather than her picking who's suitable. The thing is, he fits our personality, and lifestyle lovely... So, we aren't upset with the whole picking thing, but would've preferred her picking. Honestly though, it was always so hard for us to introduce him to people, because he would avoid people, our friends included, we would never force interaction with him. He'd always avoid them, in public places, when I use to socialize him, by sitting at a distance at a store and letting him sit with me, watching people come in and out, whenever someone wanted to pet him, he would avoid, so I would have to tell them not to interact with him, but they can look at him for a bit. He's gotten better, as we can now actually bring him into public places without him being terrified, even before at Pet Smart, walking in with him, he would put his head down and not want to enter, but now he does, and loves it.

At around 12 weeks old, or, I believe 14 weeks old, we had introduced him to our friend's German Shepherd mix, the dog is a well behaved dog, he tried to say hello to our puppy, sniffing at the back, but our pup would tail tuck, and fur stand, and try to snap at our friend's dogs face. So, we would keep the meetings short, 5 - 10 minute meetings, every 2 weeks. He's met our friend's Shepherd mix multiple time and has gotten better, but still fur stands, barks at him, but is less afraid. When his dog chases after a stick, he attempts to chase after that dog, and barks like crazy, and or bite him, he's stopped that now, but we never allowed it. We've noticed he's okay and better with small dogs, he met a friend of mine's daschund mix, and was ok with her, but didn't know how to play with her, but he did follow her a bit. With any other dog though, he's constantly growling, fur standing, nose going into a scrunch, teeth baring, and sometimes tail tucking and or tries to bite their face if the dog gets to close. If we walk into Pet Smart and he sees another dog, he lunges, and barks like crazy, and purposely deepens his bark, fur standing. The other day a lady approached us with her wonderful husky mix as she was waiting to pickup her food, so were we, her dog sat nicely, and didn't care for our puppy, but, our puppy tried to bite her dogs face, fur standing, and growling.


We're leaning on obedience school since the trainer has dealt with the same type of dogs from this breeder before, and knows different techniques, for fearful / skittish dogs.

He does have an amazing temperament, as he will allow anyone to handle his paws, tail, etc without any reaction. But, honestly, these are our two major issues with him.

How can I fix this guys? Or, should I just wait until obedience school. I don't want to re-home him, I am not ever going to re-home him (so please don't recommend that), I do not want him biting someone one day to where he has to be put down. So I am willingly ready to work my butt off just to fix this.

Thanks

Edit: He also loves to chase anything that moves, so, if a leaf is moving through the wind he instantly wants to chase it, or if kids are playing with a ball he wants it. So he's got some good drive there. Other than that, he's insanely mellow, and relaxed.


Shawnicus

by Shawnicus on 28 July 2016 - 21:07

Make a video

by HolesInMyBoots on 28 July 2016 - 22:07

Sure, once I get the chance.

by HolesInMyBoots on 28 July 2016 - 22:07

Oh, and I like to mention, if he's scared of somebody, and or growling and barking at a stranger, the moment I tell someone to give him a piece of food, and or the treat I have with me, and tell them to stay at a distance and let him approach them with food in the palm of their hand, he'll take it, and than he'll no longer be barking at them, or any of that, so the 'fear' is gone.

Reliya

by Reliya on 29 July 2016 - 23:07

It may be better if he doesn't see you give the treat to the person because he then knows "okay, I'll settle down since the person is going to give me food." Instead, you should keep the treat and only give it to him if he approaches the stranger quietly himself. If he barks at them, no treat. Maybe start doing this with people he knows first so he can begin associating 'no aggression to people' with treats, then progressively move on to controlled situations with stranger and stranger people.

 

Edit: I forgot to say to put this to a cue like "say hello," then treat him maybe if his nose touches the person's hand (or whatever you want). And let people know if they're approaching him to hold their hand out and then tell him to "say hello."


Reliya

by Reliya on 29 July 2016 - 23:07

If he starts growling at somebody, you could give him a soft kick in the bum so he's disoriented for a moment, then quickly reward the silence.

By kick in the bum, I mean if he begins lunging at somebody or growling, take the foot on the opposite side of where he is (your foot), bring it behind you, and gently tap him with your foot.

He'll be startled and he might yelp because of it, but this will turn his focus elsewhere.


Baerenfangs Erbe

by Baerenfangs Erbe on 30 July 2016 - 04:07

Please go to a professional that can evaluate your puppy on sight instead of waiting for a long distance evaluation without ever having seen the puppy.

Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 30 July 2016 - 05:07

I'm sure Reliya means well, but can I support Baerenfangs Erbe on this one ? None of us has actually met you or your puppy and before giving advice on training or behavioural problems one really should see the how dog and owner interact and what the dog is actually doing first hand. So find yourself a Trainer or Training Class.

I will give you a couple of tips, sight unseen, though: one is that "yanking him back", or a (gentle) "kick up the bum" are likely to be counter-productive with a pup like you describe, as any 'violence' towards him will not sit well with his nerves. Don't allow him the full length of his lead (or to tow you along behind) in the first place; and when he tries to lunge at someone or something, haul him in steadily, calmly, gently (without getting tense in yourself). From there, you seem to be doing the right thing in having him sit until the 'threat' is passed, although in some situations it might help simply to walk him away in a different direction. Making that sort of call is why it helps to be there.

The second tip: this really isn't very unusual behaviour for a GSD puppy of this age, and stage of learning. Shawnicus wants you to post a video, next thing is a poster called Mithuna will ask about his pedigree. Beware, as you can read on other current threds here, both have their own 'agenda' ! The important thing is how you handle the pup's behaviour.

Baerenfangs Erbe

by Baerenfangs Erbe on 30 July 2016 - 13:07

Personally, what I would do, and this is sight unseen, I'd rather work on engagement. Exposure and Socialization doesn't mean they have to walk up and meet a stranger. What it means is that they can pass by a stranger. There is absolutely no need to meet every dog and person on your walk. Most of the time that's actually detrimental in itself because they start expecting it and if they can't meet them anymore, that's when excitement goes into frustration, frustration turns into reactivity and maybe even aggression. 

Look up "Ruff Love", "It's yer choice" and "Crate Games" from Susan Garrett and "Engagement" from Micke Forrester. You want your dog to engage with you rather than look at others. You want your dog to look at you. So what I would do, I would start handfeeding the puppy every single of his meals and whenever I see a stranger or another dog, I'd turn the pup around towards me and feed feed feed feed feed. Eventually, walking by another dog or person shouldn't be an issue anymore because you are building value in yourself, rather than other people.

Your own value is by far more important than the value of other people.

And that's just general advise I give all my puppy owner clients. :)

Ruff Love, It's yer Choice, Crate Games and Engagement will give you a very well trained and rounded puppy. :)


by Noitsyou on 30 July 2016 - 15:07

This doesn't sound that bad. How does he behave towards strangers when he isn't on a leash?





 


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