my gsd walks around me in circles - Page 1

Hi, I am fairly new to purebred gsds, having mostly experience with gsd mixes and rotts or rott mixes. My Nenz walks around me in circles when we are out for walks, not so bad off leash but annoying when on leash as I don't like the leash wrapping around me. He also circles madly when excited to go out and slowly when tied outside especially if there's alot of people and he gets nervous. The vet says it's a herding thing and all herding breeds do it. Just wondering if that's true?

LOL And mine keeps cutting me off, so I end up walking in circles! ~Deb

It is the herding instinct. There are simple ways to gently deter this behaviour, such as walking in a circle against the dog, i.e. opposite direction when the dog begins to do this. They eventually get the idea. Perhaps an obedience class is in order for the dog and his new owner? It is also a great way to socialize the dog. Bob-O

slowly when tied outside especially if there's alot of people and he gets nervous ilovemygsdnenz: Bad idea to tie your dog out for ANY length of time. jmo, but this practice creates more problems than it can solve.

Königtum, I agree on the issue of tying the dog outside. That is never a good thing to do. Bob-O

Mine is 10 mos old and still does this with much enthusiasm when excited. Circle, circle, circle. It doesn't bother me that much but Bob-O's suggestion seems to be a good one.

Definitely time to teach the "Foose" command before he is so big that he is taking YOU for walks.

hummmmmmm I never allow this even from a pup it is stopped (gently) and discourged. As for tieing off I do this as part of their training but of course I am with them but it never makes them nervous. But any bad habit left un-checked can be harder to break. I don't like nervous dogs no offense but some dogs have anxiety if left alone.. Is it the tieing off or the people that make him nervous? Since I have trained trailing dogs they have to be confident and take the lead not hanging around my legs.

If the weather sucks and I don't feel like walking him i.e. we had a blizzard last month, I tie him out while he does his business. God forbid I let him out loose even though he sticks around.....I had him on a sit, off lead, 3 feet from my door and a neighbor complained to management even though we were minding our own business. The company owns the whole block so even though the guy lives 3 houses down I got a letter saying it was lease violation having him off lead. Anyway, it's people makes him nervous. Alot of them. If it's just one he does his woof, woof, and the mailman won't even try to deliver the mail if he is out. In the house he stays in his crate, door open, most of the day and I think it's more interesting being outside for a change sometimes if the weather's nice. He used to be a showdog in Germany, wondering if that's why he likes the crate so much? If he can't find something to lay under at friends' houses he paces, paces, paces. He already knows foose as he was already four years old when I adopted him. He walks pretty good on lead unless he gets real excited. That hip dysplasia slows him down. I can stop him from circling if I have the leash short on walks but as soon as we get home I give him slack and there he goes-wrap.

Two things..Likely at the kennel he either lived or spent alot of time in a crate. Next is that he finds security being in a covered secure area which is natural to dogs to a certain degree. He is somewhat shy and nervous and being in his "cave" gives him the security feeling he needs. Just keep being with him and he may get over some of his hangups but even if he does not sounds like he has a great home with you! You can't rush/push a dog with weak nerves but if you take your time you can help him improve. Have to keep a gentle hand/voice with him... Good luck