How friendly should your dog be............ - Page 1

OK I know how I feel about this but wanted other opinions. How friendly should your working dog be to a stranger? Should the guy try to have your do commands? Should he try to feed him? Is it ok for the dog to not want to go to him? And should that be held agaisnt the dog? Opinions please..

Should the guy try to have your dog do commands Sorry

I would not let anyone give my dog's commands except for my parents and me. Who ever takes care of them when your out of town or what have you. That's what I do. You want a well rounded dog, so my big male is very friendly to strangers and everyone for that matter, but he also knows a threat when he senses or see's it and he will react to that as well. If your not comfortable with this person then I wouldn't let him do anything with your dog, because if your not comfortable then your dog can sense that and react, and that can get you and your dog in a iffy situation. My female was very protective and when a neighbor came over, one that I don't like she reacted and grabbed his sweat shirt. I had to call her off 4 times and then she kept circling him and stood between me and him.

How friendly? Tolerate the stranger when I am around and I tolerate him/her. When I (or someone from my family) am not around: 0 tolerance. Taking commands from a stranger? No way. One should earn the privilege to command. Stranger feeding my dogs? Nobody outside my family is allowed to feed my dogs. They wouldn't take the food anyway. Dog not wanting to go to stranger? Dogs most of the time know better than we do. If they do not want to "say hallo" then you shold leave it at that. Do not force the dog, just watch him in case of sudden reaction. Shold it be held against the dog? NO.

Q: How friendly should your working dog be to a stranger? A: If a complete stranger comes up to me while I'm walking my dogs.. I do not want my dogs to become overly friendly.. to the point that their licking the strangers face. I want my dogs to be on full alert. Q: Should the guy try to have your dog do commands? A: Absolutely not. I do not want a complete stranger gaining control of my dogs. I only let those who I trust give my dogs commands. Q: Should he try to feed him? A: Nope.. Q: Is it ok for the dog to not want to go to him? A: That is absolutely ok for a dog to NOT want to go with a complete stranger... I mean.. would you go inside a car with somebody that you don't know of? I would allow my dogs to bite the stranger if he even attempts to grab the lead without permission. He would have blue balls as well. Q: And should that be held against the dog? A: Nein! Anybody that says other... have no idea what their talking about :) This question reminds of me of a complaint from a buyer who came here complaining about a particular breeder who sold a dog to the complainant and told everybody how his “vet” diagnose the dog to have bad temperament issues AT the VETS office.

The standard calls for a dog that is aloof but not unfriendly. I, personally, take my cues from that.

The dog should be aloof as the standard states but not aggressive nor shy of a stranger but calm and neutal. No dog even if a Sch3 will start doing commands for a stranger that is earned with a bond no matter what the level of training on the dog. I have never had someone try and feed my adult dogs that is unusal a request. When you take puppies to the club for social time the members will give them treats this is common as you do not want a shy dog with strangers. It is more than okay if the dog shows no interest in going to him or leaving with him and a disappointment if the dog does. No!

Excuse me, how many of us have dogs that would even take a command from a stranger?????? Mine would have selective hearing, look at the stranger like they are speeking a foreign language, If they tried to force the issue, they would get a little lip and a low rumble for their trouble. They also would not take food from a stranger, no matter if it was the best liver. It would sit on the floor until I tired of it and threw it out. As far as being petted by a stranger, my rottie has never met a stranger, My GSD will decided if she is comfortable with you, If not she leaves or places herself out of reach. She sometimes will come in for a quick pet then again goes out of reach.

A puppy should be friendly. A dog should be aloof and confident but aware and responding based on your body language. My GSD knows immediately based on my body language, etc. They can smell the chemicals your body emits and they just know. IMO, Noone commands the dog but you or responsible and mature family members that have permission at that given moment (depends on the commands...Ex: I'm not going to teach my 3 yr old to tell my GSD "Packen" to his little sister because she took his toy car LOL). I have often wondered what would happen if those bad guys about to be bitten on "COPS" would just yell out "AUS!"....LOL

Perfectly friendly, right up until the person approaching truly presents a real threat. SS