For the last couple of months there has been a GSD puppy coming onto the field. When I first saw him/her they would have been around 12-14 weeks of age. This GSD must now be around 16-20 weeks old now and growing big fast. What I have noticed since he/she has been coming on the field is it starts running towards my dogs and barking (does it to other dogs too). Now this hasn’t really been a problem until last night. When I got close to going onto the field, this teenager was coming off the field with this GSD (sometimes I see the parents of the teenager walking this dog) without a lead. This GSD saw my two dogs and proceeded to run up to us, really close and started barking like mad. I stopped, put my dogs behind me and the lad enticed the dog with his ball and off they want after about 3 mins of lunging and barking at my dogs. Now my concern is, this dogs behaviour is getting worse in that he/she is now coming closer and closer to my own dogs. I am not happy about this, especially given that one of my dogs is a giant breed, albeit Buster does ignore this dog but I can see if this dog keeps provoking my dogs enough they will eventually react, as it is quite threatening. I am also not happy that the parents of this teenager allow him to walk this dog with this issue. I'm I being harsh saying that? Now I feel like writing a note of some sort (found out last night where said GSD lives) and saying something about the dog should be kept on lead until they have addressed his/her training need. I feel this dog is reacting like this out of fear. What would you do in this situation? Any advice appreciated.
I'd be having words with the adult owners to be honest, play the "concerned about your puppy being hurt/in trouble" card for the most part. I've found people generally more receptive to that than to the "your dog is/has a problem" attitude. You can throw that in there but it isn't the way I'd initially go about it.
Well I would not write a note, I would pop along and have a chat with them in a friendly way saying that you are concerned that this behaviour might upset your dogs. I doubt very much if the dog is behaving like this out of fear if it is making a concerted effort to access your dogs from a distance! It is always best not to start such conversations off with some unsubstantiated view about their dog's temperament. Or advice about training lines etc until and unless asked. Rather "I am a little concerned about my dogs which are on leads reacting to yours when it comes over so I am just wondering what I can do to help prevent any issues........ etc" Then you can gauge what their outlook is. It is then you can drop in comments about the DDA and how draconian it is etc etc as if you are all in it together blah blah and the possibility of fines, imprisonment, disqualification of ownership and possible destruction. You can both have a moan together about the government. How old is the teenager?
I know how you feel with this one! Don't get me wrong my GSD is nervous aggressive and I have been caught out and he has run up to dogs (off lead dogs) before barking. But I don't let my dogs approach other dogs because of their lack of manners, esp dogs that are on lead. But when my large, strong dogs are on lead and controlled and other people let theirs charge up it does make me mad!! We all make mistakes and get caught out etc but some people just don't seem to care. I've had dogs run from field out on to the pavement to have a pop at mine, with kidscoming after them, all running in road etc, while father stands calling from the field!!
To me it very much sounds like fear agression and lack of training, you state it was like this at 12-14 week either it wasnt socialised correctly or it is inherent in the lines and needs resolving before it becomes an adult. I am afriad I would be having words and if they dont take notice I would also be contacting the dog warden, if they are in social housing I would also be contacting their landlord.
I am very concerned about this situation. I want the owner to nip it in the bud before he/she becomes an adult. We have had a previous Adult GSD do the same thing but was much worse, where I had to swing my legs at the dog to stop her from attacking my dogs. I didnt want to hurt this adult dog but I would of if she had kept coming for my boys. She had the same issue, fear aggression. The guy apologised and said she had previously been attacked. I understand not all GSD's are like this. My boys play with a very friendly female GSD. She likes to chase Buster!
Certain English lines are known for being windy, that is why they need socialising and training from a young age. My WG S/L will play with anything his best friends are a westie and a chocolate lab, he is absolutely brilliant with pups, sounds like the one you see needs to learn some manners quickly it is not acceptable behaviour, and is deffinately not the norm for a GSD.
Unfortunatly it is the norm for GSD's round here and the owners think it is perfectly OK for their dogs to charge over and knock other dogs onto their backs because 'it will all be fine once they submit to her and let her know she is the boss' and they just wont listen otherwise so I have just had to ask them to 'help' me with my training of Mia by not letting their dogs charge up because of course the issues are all Mias fault SO tread gently, some people have very strange ideas about how dogs should behaive and what is normal - especially if they feel their dogs can defend themselves OK and not get hurt if their rude behaviour causes a fight
Update I have not had to say anything to the GSD owners. for the last three nights the lad has had the dog on a lead. there has either been an incident, someone has said something or they have realised theres an issue. Im quite happy now and hope this little bundle of joy can overcome his/her issue. Thanks everyone for your input.
