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by RLHAR on 24 September 2010 - 02:09
Question for the company assembled.
We read a lot -and of course it's part of the standard- that the GSD is supposed to be fairly aloof in terms of temperment with strangers.
I've always had to bemoan the fact that my girl didn't fit this bit of standard because as far as she's concerned a 'stranger' is just a friend you haven't met yet. However yesterday I noticed a very subtle difference in her during a public outing.
I had her and the Lab to a wine festival here at the beach, both on leash with me and I would be at the different tents, tasting the wines and talking with the vendors and other tasters. Hanni, more often than not, would settle into a platz at my feet and wait patiently, while the Lab sniffed around to find any stray crumbs on the ground.
As a rule, people were very taken with the pair of them and asked about petting. I said 'oh sure!' because ... well, no reason not to but I noticed that unlike how she's been in the past, Hanni was more aloof this time.
In the past if a person looked at her and I gave the 'okay' she would be a whole body squiggle up to them, looking for her pets and licking a hand and otherwise all "PET ME PET ME LOVE ME!!!" and I never chastised her enthusiasm for folks, never corrected her (unless she forgot herself and went to crawl in someone's lap) and she's never had a negative experience with this.
Yesterday, while the Lab (who is ten!) was making a "PET ME PET ME LOVE ME!" idiot out of herself, I noticed that Hanni would stand politely, acknowledge praise or friendly words and touches with a gentle wag of her tail but otherwise was not overly friendly like she has been in the past.
Now, she's 3 and will be 4 in February 2011. There has been no change in how we interact with strangers as a handler/dog team, nothing like that so I got to wondering if perhaps as she matures, she's lost her puppy enthusiasm and is settling into the 'aloof' standard.
Has anyone else experienced this? Where your dog's behavior has fallen more into the 'aloof' standard as they aged?
We read a lot -and of course it's part of the standard- that the GSD is supposed to be fairly aloof in terms of temperment with strangers.
I've always had to bemoan the fact that my girl didn't fit this bit of standard because as far as she's concerned a 'stranger' is just a friend you haven't met yet. However yesterday I noticed a very subtle difference in her during a public outing.
I had her and the Lab to a wine festival here at the beach, both on leash with me and I would be at the different tents, tasting the wines and talking with the vendors and other tasters. Hanni, more often than not, would settle into a platz at my feet and wait patiently, while the Lab sniffed around to find any stray crumbs on the ground.
As a rule, people were very taken with the pair of them and asked about petting. I said 'oh sure!' because ... well, no reason not to but I noticed that unlike how she's been in the past, Hanni was more aloof this time.
In the past if a person looked at her and I gave the 'okay' she would be a whole body squiggle up to them, looking for her pets and licking a hand and otherwise all "PET ME PET ME LOVE ME!!!" and I never chastised her enthusiasm for folks, never corrected her (unless she forgot herself and went to crawl in someone's lap) and she's never had a negative experience with this.
Yesterday, while the Lab (who is ten!) was making a "PET ME PET ME LOVE ME!" idiot out of herself, I noticed that Hanni would stand politely, acknowledge praise or friendly words and touches with a gentle wag of her tail but otherwise was not overly friendly like she has been in the past.
Now, she's 3 and will be 4 in February 2011. There has been no change in how we interact with strangers as a handler/dog team, nothing like that so I got to wondering if perhaps as she matures, she's lost her puppy enthusiasm and is settling into the 'aloof' standard.
Has anyone else experienced this? Where your dog's behavior has fallen more into the 'aloof' standard as they aged?
by Two Moons on 24 September 2010 - 04:09
I believe as they mature they are more settled and confident in what they see as their world. They become less dependant and find their own self esteem.
by Abby Normal on 24 September 2010 - 08:09
Yes, indeed I have had this happen consistently with mine, and it would happen at around 3 yrs old, when maturity settles in. I sometimes find it a little embarrassing when someone asks to pet my girl, who is perfectly happy to be petted, but doesn't really much acknowledge the fuss they are receiving from anyone who is not in their 'circle'.
I don't know if it is just me, but I have found it to be more pronounced with bitches.
I don't know if it is just me, but I have found it to be more pronounced with bitches.
by RLHAR on 24 September 2010 - 14:09
Abby,
That's exactly how I felt as well, a little embaressed that she stood there, actually looking off at something else and not even acknowledging that she was getting petted except where her tail slowly wagged back and forth.
That's exactly how I felt as well, a little embaressed that she stood there, actually looking off at something else and not even acknowledging that she was getting petted except where her tail slowly wagged back and forth.
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