What is your view on this reaction? - Page 3

lol my bad MIcky D.  Should I be saying all hail Clifford?

Hi to all;  this has been a really good post, however, I am still unclear how to handle the situation except for more socialization.  I was told by a previous trainer that sometimes when you react to a situation it causes the dog to react also;  they feel  your reaction and react accordingly.  However, you cannot let the above behaviors continue, I correct and move on but I know that they can feel apprehension for future situations.  How do you deal with solving that problem before it becomes a problem?  Because that is how the kid thing became a problem,  I was told to ignore him when he is growling at the kids playing or doing anything which I did.  Now on leash when out and about when kids are around I of course do not let them come up to him to pet him which is merely a safety precaution.  I explain that he is working right now and he has to remember what he was told to do and does not need any distractions.  I have told people that he would bite;  one buy was approaching us at the park and asked while approaching and walking towards us "does the dog bite"  well hell yes I said YES.  And continued to say do  you want to test him out?  Jesus H. C.  How stupid can people be??  OK and I do feel totally responsible for his behaviors in the public, he CANNOT be allowed to misbehave, period.  So far I am extremely careful with him as I know he can react but I also try not to react myself so he won't react.  I have tested that and it works everytime he reacts to my reaction.  Good or bad.  He reacts. 

(PS to a previous question about him having a negative visit at the vet's;  no nothing was negative except they always want to put the thermometer up his butt;  I would probably react also).  I purely muzzle him when we go to the vet.  Without any hesitation I cannot give him an opportunity to bite.  I won't.  thanks to all  Nan

Clifford, you always have something to say in a situation like this, but nothing constructive.  Give us your advice.  I, for one, would love to hear it.

Nans GSD-
I'm not a trainer by any means, but I have a dog that is very tuned in to me and I have had to learn how to be calm so she doesn't react to things.  Definitely correct any growling you don't want.  Also, I always tell kids (even my own) that they have to ask before petting a dog and sometimes it's not going to be okay.  My son's vision teacher has a guide dog, and it's been a good lesson in meeting a working dog that you can't pet.  The teacher has explained that when she takes his harness off and tells him it's okay that he knows it's time to take a break.  Otherwise, he's thinking very hard about what he has to do so we shouldn't bother him.

What I had to do, since Georgia is dog reactive, is if I knew a dog was coming I would give her the "watch me" command and reward her with her ball as soon as she did it.  We kept repeating, from a sitting position, until the dog passed us.  She is so ball focused that she had an easier time ignoring the dog than if I had just put her in a down stay.  We started from a standpoint of her trying to go after other dogs and now she will ignore other dogs unless they are charging us.  That way she was getting rewarded for good focus and had multiple repetitions to help strengthen the behavior.

For me, I had to consciously take a deep breath and relax my body since Georgia was usually reacting to me tensing up before she even saw the other dog.  I had a great trainer that pointed out my specific body language - I wasn't even aware of what I was doing.  Maybe a friend can help you out with that part.

Opal

Well i think your making a problem out of totally normal behavior.
He justed got temperatured he didn`t like it, it was in that room, and then someone else aproached and he reacted.
I think youre dog is very social, i mean you left that room where he had a "bad" experience and he acted normal again.
I got  a dog from a mambo litter to he is a 3 years old male, and very social goes with me to school to bring the childeren, acts totally normal against people he lets them pet him.
He also always acted normal when he was at the vet, until they took his temperature, i had to hold his head he growled like grazy, but so what,  he just lets the vet know he doesn`t like it, he gives a warning!
A dog cannot speak, he doesn`t understand what is going on, something happens he doesn`t like it and he gives a warning.
Be glad he gives a warning before he bites.
It has nothing to do with not being social, but it is a dog not a doll!
I wouldn`t make a problem out of this, you say he acts normal around people and childeren so whats the problem?
I also have to muzzle Kenai when they really examin him, petting he is ok with , but when they really examin him he better weares his muzzle.

Bhaugh,

Agree 100%. GSDguy, I am happy to offer suggestions if you want them. I am of the opinion that you should nip this in the bud and it IS a potential problem brewing. Ignoring it, thinking it is normal, or ok, may end up getting the dog in trouble.

Hodie, based on your posts you know nothing about dogs. Only the absolute beginners would even consider taking advice from you. 

This is not a problem unless you turn it into one. This is normal behavior for a GSD in that situation. 

Scout.....LOL. You know very little about me and I know nothing about you. Probably that is a good thing. No, it is not a normal behavior, nor should it be. Police street dogs can be put in this situation without reacting aggressively.

That`s interesting, the vet i always go to, also does all the policedogs and other working dogs, and they are always muzzled!
Guess the Dutch policedogs are different!
Any dog can react like this at a vet, depends on there experience, some dogs are scared and act out of fear,  some feel insecure and get defensive, others just don`t like being touched and examined that way.
If youre dog only has to be muzzled at the vet, but acts normally to other situations and around people and childeren, why should you make a big problem out of this?
 

pientje I kind of wandered that also in a way.  The previous times that we did go out, from 6 months onwards to different places in town he was like a little kid.   All places were open rooms, with plenty of people, chidlren, etc.  He was totally good with everyone, he would let children hug or pet him with no problem.  Men he was fine with them, let some pet him, some he ignored even then.  He has always been a lot more fond of women and children, and in fact, if my nieces are here and they start to run around the yard he will run right beside them the whole time if they are too far away from the house.  He calms down a ton when he is around children, and they can lay on him, hug him, etc etc.

So, what to do......I will work on this at the vet just going for visits to weigh him and let them give him treats, correcting unwanted behaviors when needed  too, and possibly just to talk for a while..  Unfortunately my work schedule got twisted around completely to where we won't be able to go until next Saturday, but the week after that should allow me to go often....  We usually work nights.....next week I work early in morning until the afternoon every day but Sat.  So we'll go to Tractor Supply, office depot and a few others on Sunday that are open here. They all like my other dogs and met him as a little pup and played with him.  And Hodie, shoot me a pm if you have time, I'm open for hearing any advice.  in ways I can see this as not being very serious.....but at the same time it could eventually be serious if I don't work on it now.  He's young, he's a puppy at heart, and has a good ways to go before maturity, so I'll nip it soon.