Is this breed related?

I have a question to do with a GSD that I often meet at a local park. He's two and a half and a smashing boy, really friendly and desperate to engage other dogs in play.

One problem that a few of us are having is that when a group of us walk around the park, and the dogs play, the GSD seems to feel it's his role to correct other dogs....?

Some examples:

When my dog didn't obey my recall on one occasion, the GSD went after him and actually blocked him from moving further away, and then sort of...I want to use the word 'herded' him back, but realise this is the wrong term!

On another occasion, someone had a dog on a lead and it was barking and making a real racket. I think the GSD picked up on the fact that a few folk were fed up; next thing we knew, the GSD had gone over and seemed to be 'telling off' the vocal dog.

Last week, the GSD pinned a Cocker Spaniel to the floor - he didn't hurt him at all, but the Spaniel had been getting over excited and it did seem a though the GSD was trying to 'correct' him....

Any thoughts? Is this breed related at all - or just a dog that is picking up on the feelings of the people around it and then acting accordingly...?

Sadly, a few people are starting to complain about the GSD, because when he does 'correct' another dog, it's pretty vocal and looks like aggression. I may be wrong of course, but to me it doesn't look like aggression....
Any thoughts very welcome

Hmm interesting. Could it be that the GSD is actually just under-socialised and gets over-excited and/or anxious when other dogs are barking and/or running off and the GSD response is to go in and flatten the other dog?

It is hard to try and evaluate without actually seeing it in action.

Sounds like the play police to me, one of the many characters at the dog park.

Pastoral breeds do like to "manage" everything and everyone, particularly GSD/BC IME

Thanks guys

MOOBLI - you may be right, he's a very lively dog but sadly his owner has health problems so he's not being taken to the park or for walks as often as he needs. I suspect his approach to other dogs may be a bit 'clumsy'; I 've watched him attempt to play with several dogs that Dex plays with and every single dog showed tension and reluctance.

So yes, as you suggest, maybe the GSD is just getting stressed.

I also think that as SMOKEY BEAR says, he's a dog that does like to 'manage' other dogs.

I wonder also if the fact that his owner is unwell has an impact? Maybe the dog is used to being a bit protective....?

He's a fab dog, just such a shame that he's getting into these altercations....

Never ever heard of this bread thing before, sorry... Its some thing new for me...

I dont think its breed related, maybe just dog related.

A friend had a Rotti x Collie (he died a few yrs back) he was very much the behaviour police around other dogs.

He always got in the middle of arguments and would stop it dead, simply by body blocking .

I have a GSP who has appointed himself as guardian of good manners in Norbury Park. The owners of boisterous, out of control dogs give us a wide berth.

Sounds to me like he's a really useful dog to have around! I'd say if the owners of the 'offending' dogs were able to handle their dogs, the GSD wouldn't feel the need to.

But perhaps, if others do see it as a problem, the GSD should be given a 'real' job to do so that he doesn't have to make up his own.

We call dogs like that "the fun police"

The dog in the OP's post sounds just like a border collie I know called Zeberdy. The owner will tell their dog to do something and the collie will give the dog one chance to do as they are being told to do and then if they dont do it he will take it as his place to go over and tell them and make sure they do do it!! He's known as Zeberdy the Police Man.

I know quite a few collies and GSD's with this trait!