"In a similar vein, do you allow your working dogs to be fussed over by 'strangers', and have you noticed them to be distracted by 'strangers' if you do?"

An interesting point - although Gizmo is still a pup, i am exercising caution with strangers. He is allowed to be made a fuss of - but i approach them and try and not let them approach me. Also it is done to what i dictate - eg i tell Gizmo that is enough and we walk away. On a walk with friends that is different - he can be fussed as that is relaxtion and playtime. I have found that he will tolerate a quick fuss but then come back to me anyway - which is good in my eyes. I want his focus to be on ME and not think he can follow a stranger. However i still have all the tantrum and bad behaviour bits to go as he finds his paws, lol.

Re the Leerburg dvds etc - some of it is very extreme and you do have to pick and choose what you want to believe will/may work for you.

I can see no reason..justification for not letting a dog be a dog first and foremost....no win or ribbon is worth not letting your dog play with other dogs.. or be sociable with strangers...

ok if you have a proper working dog....eg police/armed forces.. whatever..

but for joe soap...its just plain silly...

I would have thought that a well trained working dog (in what ever discipline) will have been trained enough to know when it has its working hat on.... hence doing the job it has been trained for, as well as having its playtime hat on.


My guess a dog who is in constant working mode, never been allowed to take of that hat.... will be a very unhappy dog.

I have had quite a lot of experience with working terriers and gundogs, and they have always been members of the family and mixed and socialised with pets and other people without a problem - as i think they rightly should. Most of the working dogs i have known know when it is work time and are well trained enough to focus on the job in hand (especially if the handler guides them and helps them to focus).

I think as Gizmo is a GSD, you won't have any problems at all with him focusing on you - it is in the breed make up. All my GSDs have enjoyed playing with other dogs and even though will tolerate a quick fuss by other people, they are fairly aloof in that respect and have always preferred a quick pat and a "good boy/girl" rather than lots of cuddles and OTT fuss (even from me).

Regarding Leerburg, I have three of their DVDs and find some of it really useful, but some of it is really not for me and my dogs - ie prong and e-collars.
My ex is a police dog instructor and he allowed his working police dogs to play with other dogs he knew, but not with strange dogs. I have never met more focused dogs in my life.

That says it all for me Dawn. Wish I knew how to give respect points

Well said Shona

I have to say... my dogs are pets but they do their bits of work. I don't compete with them but Takara does tricks and fun obedience and we're soon joining flyball.

Eddy isn't particularly dog friendly so doesn't really socialise anyway but Takara is allowed to approach, play and whatever with other dogs on my say so. Because it's on my terms, she has to look to me to be allowed to play with other dogs and as such she's learned that if there's other dogs around she focuses on me.

She's not overly fussed by other dogs to be honest, she'd rather be with me anyway, but on the occasion it's a dog she does want to play with, I use it as a reward for focussing on me.

Work with your dog as opposed to against, I say!

Sorry if my opinion isn't really valid...

Lottie, don't be daft - everyone's opinion is valid

ours are working dogs , well 2 of them work but we only do it for the fun of it, they love dogs/ other folks too much to ignore anyone .