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Post by lotsapets on Aug 28, 2006 9:40:23 GMT -5
We have a 10 month old 3/4 GS and 1/4 Rottie puppy (nuetered male). He is generally a great dog. He knows my husband and I are the boss and listens to commands. He is fine with visitors and delivery people. We live in a rural neighborhood with 70 houses--this means no leash laws and all the neighborhood dogs are loose outside. He gets lots of socializing with other dogs and plays well with big dogs and minature dogs.
There is one behavior that I need to know how to change or handle. When people walk by the house he barks loudly, gets in front of them, and generally intimidates them. His tail is wagging and he will be friendly if they stop and greet him, but of course his behavior inhibits any friendly response. This occurs with neighbors with whom he has not had any interaction. The closest neighbors that he sees on a regular basis are fine and he greets them. These neighbors have no concerns with him and enjoy playing with him. What do I need to do to prevent or change this behavior? I would like to continue to be able to let him out the door to potty and play as we do now.
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Post by sibemom on Aug 28, 2006 11:27:02 GMT -5
There are two things you can do. The first being to work him on leash with the training collar of your choice and teach him to be composed when meeting new people that are strange to him. Has he ever shown any aggresive behavior to new people? Or is this just a "HEY WHO ARE YOU COME PET ME? If there has been aggresion you want to choose your training collar accordingly and correct him the minute he tenses. The other would be to install an invisable fence, train him to it and that way he is mandated to stay within the area of the fence. That way you could still allow him to go out off leash but then he has to stay on your property and not forge past it to demand attention from passers by. If this is just a OVERLY FRIENDLY BEHAVIOR towards new people even though intimidating you can correct it easily. If this is a territorial aggresion issue that is going to take a bit more time and effort on your part
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Post by lotsapets on Aug 28, 2006 11:49:05 GMT -5
I am pretty sure it is territorial behavior--although hasn't become aggressive (yet ...). The behavior is easily interrupted by friendly behavior on the part of the passerby but continues if they freeze or try to ignore him. I was afraid it may mean that he can not have free run of the neighborhood like all the other dogs...
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Post by sibemom on Aug 28, 2006 13:40:46 GMT -5
Actually that is what it means Your dog is to young to be allowed that type of freedom. In fact NO DOG should be allowed that type of freedom. I am not saying that because you live in a rural area that he should not be allowed to run ON YOUR PROPERTY, but to leave his property and run the neighborhood is a BIG NO NO in my book. When dogs are left to their own devices they get very primal, they are animals and it's natural for them to do that. He needs to stay ON HIS OWN PROPERTY when off leash, that is why I suggested the invisable fence. I grew up on a farm and our dogs were loose all the time but they were only allowed a certain amount of acreage to roam, and believe me they knew if they crossed the boundries they would get corrected and their freedom would be taken away for awhile. See if he is running loose like the rest of the dogs in your neighboorhood, and you are not there to see every interaction you have no idea if he is becoming the ALPHA amoung the dog population, or if he is being a bully, you just do not know. It would not be to redicluous to think that he very well might be the KING amoung the dogs and the whole neighborhood his kingdom which would mean that all creatures in it are his subjects human and dog, and then when strangers get close to his own home territory he treats it like his throne. If they are freindly and not startled by his intimidating behavoirs then he veiws them as OK , but if they freeze he might take that as a weakness or a threat. I am just throwing ideas out here becuase I have not seen your dog and this is just MHO . If left to intimidate passers by this very well could escalate into extreme territorial aggresion that is why it is important for you to get a handle on it now. As he grows and gets closer to maturity at around 3 things could get ugly because I am guessing by his mix he is not a SMALL DOG So the more you do to show him that this behavior will not be tolerated and that freedom is to be earned and not a given and that staying with his OWN PACK is much better than running with the dog pack I think he will start to change his opinon about people passing by YOUR KINGDOM
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Post by kaos on Aug 29, 2006 20:15:36 GMT -5
Sorry but I have to agree that letting him roam the neighbourhood unsupervised is not a good idea. He could still play with the other dogs when you you were there to supervise him of course. In NZ no matter where you live any roaming dog can be picked up by dog control and the owner will be fined. I don't think it is very fair to your neighbours to have to contend with a somewhat intimidating dog blocking their way, and this behaviour could well escalate without your being there to supervise these encounters. If you are in a rural area I would also be concerned that he might be able to access someone else's livestock while he is unsupervised - many a roaming dog has developed a liking for fresh chicken....
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Post by willow on Aug 30, 2006 8:38:12 GMT -5
lotsapets, please be considerate of your neighbors and as Sibemom and Kaos said, keep your dog confined to your property. It is also safest for your dog.
We live on the very edge of a very small town, but we do have neighbors on 3 sides of us and we do have "leash laws". I am able to walk my dogs off leash from my back yard, but my dogs do not leave the yard without me. In fact, they won't even walk with anyone else, but will run back into the yard if I don't go.
We installed underground fence quite a few years ago and I trained my dogs to it. Other neighbors who have dogs keep them tied or have fenced yards.
We have one neighbor who isn't as considerate and has always let his Lab run loose.....Please read the thread, "Poor Coal" in the "Temper Temper" section.
When let to run loose, even the best natured dog will eventually get into trouble, get picked up, or get hit by a car etc., and I'm sure you don't want that to happen to your dog.
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Post by lotsapets on Aug 31, 2006 12:33:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses. We have become more responsible pet owners and are no longer letting him have excess freedom. We will continue to work on training issues.
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Post by willow on Aug 31, 2006 14:23:39 GMT -5
;D ;D
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