1. You must contact your local animal control unit and file a FOUND AN ANIMAL report for any dog or cat you find. If your dog or cat is unregistered, you will have to register your pet before you can take it home. This is an interesting question and a subject worth touching on here. Training your dog to maximize their natural defense drive is not for amateurs. He was “too friendly.”. The least people he will see the more aggressive he will become towards strangers. So don’t start with guard dog training and then get discouraged when you get uneven and unsatisfactory results. Today, Gavel has a new job that is a much better fit for his personality and skillset. Let’s find out more about that now. You can watch the story in this short video. This is because the GSD has been developed for different human goals: for show and for work. The secret to having a German Shepherd who is safe around non-threatening strangers is teach him or her what friendly people look like. He welcomes visitors to the governor’s mansion in Queensland, Australia. This means that there is potential for your German Shepherd to be shy, wary, and even fearful of certain situations. So dont worry and be happy with your dog the way he is. ... German Shepherds can … As every dog lover knows, Labrador Retrievers are typically famously friendly. My German Shepherd only barks at strangers, it doesn’t move close to them it stays far from them and bark and then, it easily becomes friend with the stranger whereby it allows the stranger to touch and pet him, what can I do? It can feel like these dogs have never met a stranger. Required fields are marked *. Back in the 18th century when the German Shepherd dog breed was first being developed, there was only one genetic line from which all GSDs were descended. To make him aggressive keep him away from people. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama. Schutzhund is most often taught as a competitive sport for dogs rather than as a form of protection. This type of training taps into the German Shepherd’s defense drive rather than the prey drive. To this point, as this article explains, people are often willing to pay seriously top dollar for a properly trained GSD guard and protection dog. Do not try to train him to be stranger-aggressive. To reclaim your lost dog, cat or other pet from the animal shelter you must pay a release fee. In fact, every living being has some level of defense drive, which is the natural instinct to self-protect in the face of danger. Properly trained, however, the GSD’s defense drive will manifest in a particular way based on what the dog trainer has taught your dog to do in the presence of a legitimate, verifiable threat. If you have rescued an adult German Shepherd, he can … If you find a German Shepherd Dog or any other pet and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can: Another reason why you may not have seen your dog’s defense drive in action is that when the defense drive is left untrained, it may manifest in two ways: submission or aggression. 2. German Shepherds are just the opposite. Here, you will need to literally tell your German Shepherd (by the command you issue) that there is a threat. It should be enough that he's a large, intimidating-looking breed. About German Shepherds In Brief. There are two show lines, the American GSD and the German GSD. 3. he is probably being friendly because theres no reason not to be. It depends on the dog.. usually about 6 months - 3 years.. but all dogs are different. As a pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. An adult German Shepherd will be naturally aloof and guarded around people and animals not known to them, as Vetstreet points out. Answer by Franky I had one German Shepherd that I let people come around and he was just naturally aggressive after he turned two years old., that dog couldn't go near anybody without biting. Don’t think they’ll make fast-friends with everyone. Here, one of the main reasons why you may assume your GSD is “too friendly” is simply because you have never been in the presence of a true threat! mine has just started to became aware of strangers. Training a German Shepherd to bark at strangers is actually much easier than many owners realize. Anonymous I've met in instructor and he said that if I want my dog to be agressive and to know the "bite" command, it will be necessary to beat it. 2. German Shepherd dogs naturally possess a defense drive, as this expert dog trainer explains. Perhaps your GSD is so friendly they have a default towards assuming everyone is friendly. Training Your GSD to Guard Doesn’t Start with Guard Dog Training, The German Shepherd in Protection Mode: Prey Drive Versus Defense Drive. My German Shepherd only barks at strangers, it doesn’t move close to them it stays far from them and bark and then, it easily becomes friend with the stranger whereby it allows the stranger to touch and pet him, what can I do? 3. believe me they have better senses than us! If your German Shepherd Dog or any other pet has gone missing and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can: The exception is if they feel that someone is a threat or attacking their humans, which at point they turn from a sweet and happy dog into a hellhound. One of the most important tools you have at your disposal to increase the defense drive response in your GSD is, once again, training for behaviors linked to specific commands. Without proper socialization, a German Shepherd Dog Can Develop Very serious behavior problems like aggressiveness and unfriendly behavior with strangers and other pets. Can a German Shepherd Dog Be “Too Friendly?” Watch This Video to Find Out. Even if your German Shepherd is friendly, it will still act as a deterrent. You then need to capitalize on that by introducing verbal cues and reinforcing the behavior with tasty treats. They do not become friends with other dogs if they see them as a threat. But does this mean Gavel would not protect himself or his owners in the face of a legitimate threat? The most important fact to remember when selecting a dog breed to protect and guard your family is this: guard dog training doesn’t come first. no separation anxiety, no acting out) in your company and as a member of your family, then and only then is it time to introduce protection training. She is protective of those she loves and territorial when it comes to her home, yard. 1. Let it socialize with other dogs The first thing to try to do is to allow it to be around other friendly dogs as often as possible in a controlled environment. German shepherds typically make exceptional guards due to their bravery and confidence, so timidness is way out of character. Your email address will not be published. It is hard to train a German Shepherd if you do it in the wrong way. A Gsd with a correct temperament should always be bold and friendly to people it knows unless it has good cause to be otherwise. Most German Shepherds are fine with other dogs if they are introduced when they are young. It is important to work with a professional dog trainer to get the results you are seeking. Sometimes, they can be unsure or aggressive towards other dogs, but proper training can avoid any of these problems you may find in a German Shepherd. Working with a qualified professional protection dog trainer can help you maximize your German Shepherd’s natural love for you as a protection tool. 1. In general, the German Shepherd breed is considered to be confident, courageous, kid-friendly, and has a potential for playfulness. Early socialization is the key. 5. However, owners need to ensure that the individual dogs have complementary temperaments, ages, and genders. Lots of people wonder whether German shepherds are family-friendly, kind to strangers and agile. 3. German Shepherds are the very last breed that you should consider as a family dog. Their reason? Gavel went through several months of police dog training before trainers realized he just wouldn’t ever be police dog material. All this to say, there may be times when all the expert training in the world may not be enough to turn a friendly, sociable, cuddly German Shepherd dog into an aloof, intimidating guard dog. So, you want to make sure there is nothing to worry about with your German Shepherd, as they are sometimes known to be extremely protective. The working GSD lines have retained more of the original breed’s aloofness and talent for tracking, herding, guarding, and protecting. Will Some GSDs Always Be Too Friendly to Provide Protection? 5. In my experience, German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes are not naturally aggressive with strangers or guests if they are well trained and socialized. The German Shepherd is a breed of dog that is very careful with strange dogs and people that are not from their closest environment and for being highly perceptive of their surroundings. You really should not try to do it yourself at home because it can be dangerous! Trainers working with Gavel, a German Shepherd police dog trainee, had to let him go from the year and a half-long police training program. 4. Once your GSD has learned the basic commands and is comfortable and confident (i.e. This means that if you have not yet chosen your GSD puppy, and your number one goal is to select excellent protection and guard dog for your family, be sure to seek out a breeder that specializes in breeding working GSDs rather than a pet or show GSDs. In Britain and even some European countries, it is also referred to as Alsatian.. One of the most famous German Shepherds is called Rin Tin Tin.This dog was rescued by Corporal Lee Duncan from a French breeding kennel during World War I. 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