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by BM1 on 06 November 2012 - 02:11
My dog is acting wierd the past the past month. Babies he is fine, kids about 10 and older fine. Adults fine but kids around 3-9 get him hyped up. He nipped a couple kids at the dog park. This is about the age that the kids are running around screaming in high pictched voices. He is fine around my cousins that age though. I do not know. It is only when he is on the leash that he gets really crazy. People come over of all ages he is fine. The dog park he is fine unless a bunch of young kids running. Anyone else ever see this? Never bit me or anyone he lives with. Most people would say he is just a puppy just relax. My boy is almost 70lbs though. That's as much as these kids weigh.
by melba on 06 November 2012 - 04:11
It sounds like prey drive kicking in... he may be in sensory overload.
If you are not already working with a trainer, find one ASAP. Nipping children is never acceptable, regardless
of whether they are a puppy or not. Ours are taught very young that adults can be fun chew toys, kiddos are
off limits. Period.
What a trainer will probably suggest is to nix the dog parks until you get your dog under control. Many of us don't
reccomend them anyways. I like to use them as a distraction for proofing our training (not actually inside the dog
park). Second would to start desensitizing to screaming kids by working your obedience at a distance, just at the
point where your dog is not distracted by them. Work at that point until your dog is doing everything perfectly, then
you start to close the gap very very slowly. You will have to gauge this by the reaction of your dog.
Melissa
If you are not already working with a trainer, find one ASAP. Nipping children is never acceptable, regardless
of whether they are a puppy or not. Ours are taught very young that adults can be fun chew toys, kiddos are
off limits. Period.
What a trainer will probably suggest is to nix the dog parks until you get your dog under control. Many of us don't
reccomend them anyways. I like to use them as a distraction for proofing our training (not actually inside the dog
park). Second would to start desensitizing to screaming kids by working your obedience at a distance, just at the
point where your dog is not distracted by them. Work at that point until your dog is doing everything perfectly, then
you start to close the gap very very slowly. You will have to gauge this by the reaction of your dog.
Melissa
by Nans gsd on 06 November 2012 - 16:11
Great advise Melissa; can I ask why THE KIDS are running in the dog park? You definitely want to nip this in the butt right now, he does not get to act like that ever and a trainer is definitely needed right away.
My big boy acted like that starting maybe a little bit earlier maybe 7-9 months; my trainer at the time said to ignore him and take him to a school (outside school fencing) and let him watch the kids run around, scream and play. Well he NEVER got over it and at almost 8 years old still HATED kids. Not a good scenario for your GSD, that is why I recommend getting help right now.
Good luck with him, Nan
My big boy acted like that starting maybe a little bit earlier maybe 7-9 months; my trainer at the time said to ignore him and take him to a school (outside school fencing) and let him watch the kids run around, scream and play. Well he NEVER got over it and at almost 8 years old still HATED kids. Not a good scenario for your GSD, that is why I recommend getting help right now.
Good luck with him, Nan
by Judy P on 07 November 2012 - 00:11
I agree with prey drive kicking in, small kids, running, screaming equal prey. I also agree with a well qualified EXPERIENCED trainer. Not just experienced training dogs but experienced with high drive working dogs. Again nix the dog park, personally I would never take my Malinois to a dog park - to me that is an accident waiting to happen.
by Eldee on 07 November 2012 - 11:11
Untrained dogs should never be around kids. Just like untrained kids should never be around dogs. Period.
by malinak on 09 November 2012 - 22:11
I would not call it aggressive, but it is not acceptable and he needs to learn that.
You can desensitize and socialize forever and a malinois can still kick it up to crazy level in an instant. You need to have a solid recall. First and foremost. Then a command like heel with attention or down can be added. But recall is the most important command you can teach a malinois or any dog for that matter. If they are coming to you or are with you they are not chasing kids. If the dogs starts obsessing about something, like a running child, you need to be able to break that obsession with a command and be ready to correct once he knows what you want and is not complying. My malinois is food and toy oriented- you need to figure out when its best to use a food reward, when to use a toy, and when to start phasing out rewards. There is lots of information on training a recall and proofing for distractions. It is never too early to start this. You will probably need to figure out a corrections system at some point. Is the dog in training for any dog sports or work of some kind?
Many dogs will chase running and screaming children unless they are shown this is not acceptable. I wouldn't chalk it up just to being a malinois. But, I will say that malinos tend to do everything 100% and you need to stop this behavior now because a malinois making their own rules is a problem.
For me, dog parks wouldn't work real well. Malinois tend to be dominant dogs and it wouldn't be fair to expect her to socialize with a whole bunch of dogs at once. I do expect her to be able to be around other dogs on the trails but I am working on neutrality and not sociability. If that makes sense. She could play with certain dogs that match her style, and is fine with small dogs or puppies, but I do not want other dogs to be something exciting and certainly not something more exciting than me.
You can desensitize and socialize forever and a malinois can still kick it up to crazy level in an instant. You need to have a solid recall. First and foremost. Then a command like heel with attention or down can be added. But recall is the most important command you can teach a malinois or any dog for that matter. If they are coming to you or are with you they are not chasing kids. If the dogs starts obsessing about something, like a running child, you need to be able to break that obsession with a command and be ready to correct once he knows what you want and is not complying. My malinois is food and toy oriented- you need to figure out when its best to use a food reward, when to use a toy, and when to start phasing out rewards. There is lots of information on training a recall and proofing for distractions. It is never too early to start this. You will probably need to figure out a corrections system at some point. Is the dog in training for any dog sports or work of some kind?
Many dogs will chase running and screaming children unless they are shown this is not acceptable. I wouldn't chalk it up just to being a malinois. But, I will say that malinos tend to do everything 100% and you need to stop this behavior now because a malinois making their own rules is a problem.
For me, dog parks wouldn't work real well. Malinois tend to be dominant dogs and it wouldn't be fair to expect her to socialize with a whole bunch of dogs at once. I do expect her to be able to be around other dogs on the trails but I am working on neutrality and not sociability. If that makes sense. She could play with certain dogs that match her style, and is fine with small dogs or puppies, but I do not want other dogs to be something exciting and certainly not something more exciting than me.
by Chaz Reinhold on 10 November 2012 - 03:11
Just curious why you chose a malinois. Sounds like a golden is more your style. Lots of kids and parks.
by reedman222 on 16 November 2012 - 13:11
Your malinois is being a malinois. He is herding the children! Malinois are WORKING DOGS! They were bred to herd cattle over in europe. Get a trainer who is experienced in working with working dogs. i.e. schutzhund trainer, service dog trainer, agility trainer! You must exercise your Malinois, give him a job to do! NIX THE DOG PARK....... PERIOD!!!!!!
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