Overly protective

How do you stop a dog from being overly-protective?

Jess has started getting like it with other dogs whilst we are in the park. I wouldn't mind so much if she did it whilst she was within a meter from me as I would be able to correct her and stop her doing it, BUT she has started running off to other dogs and being like it with them.

She doesn't bite, but she will whack them down with her paws and make lots of noise, which is just unacceptable. (Or if she doesn't bat them, she will just make lots of noise).

It reminds me of when we first got her when she had no dog-dog manners, but it is like she has never been taught how to behave nicely.

Am I going to have to go back to keeping her on a tracking line?

i would.

you say you have resolved her lack of doggy manners before?
what did you do then and can you do it again?

PS - do you have a distance down?

am I right in saying you recently got a pup?

has this sort of started from the pup coming?

No idea about getting her to stop doing this, but I would definitely keep her restrained in the mean time. I wouldn't be particularly happy if a dog charged over to us and did what you described.

I think its a matter of making her realise that her 'role' doesn't include deciding what is/isn't a danger.

I had some advice off a behaviourist (who btw has done a lot of work with GSDs) because after Hoki had been with us a few weeks she started running at other dogs (and people) and barking at them.

He told me the same - that I had to get her to understand that it wasn't her role, that I was the one who decided what was a threat and I would deal with anything I thought was a threat. Sounds easy, but takes a bit of working out how to achieve it. His advise for Hoki was simple - I just had to greet the other people/dogs (verbally) before she did.

Must admit, I felt a bit of a twit shouting hello or good morning to people (and dogs) I didn't know from a bit of a distance, but it did do the trick.

It didn't work so well with Stumpy though - I think because whereas Hoki was happy to trust in my decisions, Stumpy was more doubting...I think she still sometimes thinks she knows best!

Hi Hali

i would go along with those sentiments too, especially with GSD's, as i have a lot of experience with them.

however, i am wondering how we can just conclude that is the problem in the first place?
as the OP has signalled previous lack of doggy social skills, my instinct tells me that this is possibly the issue instead?

although i will reserve judgement until we get more info

She doesn't have any doggy manners towards other dogs at the moment, it is most surprising when we meet a dog that she knows, gets on with and has walked with MANY times, and she goes to pin her down. I know these two dogs get on, so something has clicked in her which isn't good.

Back when I got her, she wasn't the friendliest of dogs towards other dogs. She would never bite, but she was over-dominant and would try to pin the other dog. I kept her on a tracking line, and only let her meet other dogs after I had spoken to the owner and explained what she is like, and then and only then if the other owner agreed, I would walk her round to the rear of the other dog and praise her whenever she did right, and put her in a down when she did wrong and said "no". It is something I can do again.

Yes and yes. This is what I think part of the problem is. I also think part (well a lot) of the problem is that I'm pregnant. I'm just really hoping that we can solve the issue before the sprog arrives (September) as I don't want her to live a life on lead.

Neither would I. She has "only" done it to two dogs, as I was slow in reacting and didn't stop her quick enough, but that still isn't acceptable as it should be no dogs.

Thank you. I will definately try this.

A bit of background on Jess for you. Jess is a rescue that we got when she was 20 months old. She had not really been walked, wasn't fed properly (was 18kg when we got her?!), not socialised, and was kept behind a six foot fence in a small garden for that time.

She has never been agressive with other dogs, just over-dominant (i.e. she has never used her teeth, she has just pinned them and then stood there, but didn't let them move until she moved first) and used to bark constantly at the other dogs whether she was on or off lead (she had no recall when we first got her, so was on a tracking line for the first year until she was dog savvy and had proper recall).

She still barks at other dogs whilst on lead, but had got to the point where she would go up to another dog if offlead, sniff it, then come straight back, sometimes even having a play, with no noise other than when playing. I can cope with the barking on lead, although it isn't ideal as she is on lead, so I can just correct and carry on walking. She usually shuts up once off lead.

She got worse when she was attacked by a Collie back in December, but had seemed to get over it. We got the pup in early December (only 6 days after her attack, but that wasn't planned to be that soon, but he started bonding with his foster parents, so it was better he came out before bonding too much), and then mid January I found out I am pregnant. Her pack has changed a lot which is the main contributer I think to this, but I don't like her being anti-social. I like the friendly Jess that I had made her into.

Good point.
I must admit I would've thought if JJ has dealt with lack of manners before she would have recognised this as the same thing, but it does highlight the potential dangers of trying to be helpful on a forum.

Glad you at least see its a problem - see my thread
Unfort it seems to common in GSD's and people dont see an issue with it as most dogs put up with it

You say she isnt agressive, but to the other dog this IS agressive and you will find one that will take it as such and fight back - what will happen then??

I would deff go back to long line walking, and try and have a routine for greeting other dogs
She sounds smart and got the rules from you last time
How about when you see another dog teach her to get behind you, reward lots, you greet the other dog then send her to say hello, praise for good manners and then call her away for a fun game

When you say protective is this her stopping dogs getting close to you, stopping other dogs running and playing, stopping them playing with the pup or is this just how she greets dogs??

If its a problem with moving dogs or dogs playing with the pup then I would think about a training exercise where you reward her lots every time she sees dogs running, or playing with the pup or whatever, then she learns that these stressfull things are nice, and to defer to you when these things are happening

GSD's and collies seem to have problems with each other the most! Guess unless they are used to the other breed collies herdy running and GSD's bark charging upseat the other breed

Would you then say its a case of lack of early sociaiation, meaning she hasnt become dog aggro, but just dog ignorant?
ie, no social skills, awful body language?
so its her way of saying:
"im here, im loud, and im coming your way"
"and if you can handle my directness, we will be best mates"?

im training a GSD just like this at the moment, its can be a GSD thing, this big bad bolshieness.

a course of Ttouch and ground work exercises utitlising a head collar and harness together may be beneficial.