Tell us about yourself: I used top be terrified of dogs as a kid. But I met a German Shepherd named Sheba and have been into dogs since I was 12, now I'm 32 and have successfully handled many of all sizes, breeds and temperaments. I titled my first dog Sport, a mixed breed, in agility and then got into schutzhund. I got to work with working bred GSDs and loved them. After Sport died I was offered a young Dutch Shepherd named Allie (short for alligator!). I adopted her and fell in love with the breed. I rescued several Dutchies after that and then Allie was killed tragically by irresponsible veterinary staff. About 4 months later I rescued a pathetic emaciated 1 yr old Dutchie named "Phantom". With just some food, water and love he sprang from his listless phantom self and I named him Logan. Now he is my 8 yr old hardcore PITA!!!! :D
I JUST noticed something TODAY about my Dutch. All the years I have had him, he has lagged behind every time I cross a street. I always have to ask him to hurry up. ALL this time I thought he was reluctant to cross, like he was nervous or being careful...but it never occurred to me to actually look at what he was doing!!!
He POSTURES and challenges the people in the cars at intersections!!! He stops, raises his head and tail and stares into their eyes. All these years I've had him, I had NO idea he was doing this!!!! WTF but why? I can't believe I never noticed before!!!
Something happened unaware to you that caused the reaction or something you inadvertently did or do? IDK. He feels it necessary to warn people off you or feels threatened himself. Chicken or the egg? Since you just today noticed it, are you planning to work with him on how you approach crossing streets?
How your post reads is that you could walk him through a parking lot, with cars coming and going, you stopping and going, and he's okay. True or false.
Though I can only hope to become the person who my animals believe I am, the things that they have taught me have made me a better human being. ~~~Sharon~~~
Tell us about yourself: I used top be terrified of dogs as a kid. But I met a German Shepherd named Sheba and have been into dogs since I was 12, now I'm 32 and have successfully handled many of all sizes, breeds and temperaments. I titled my first dog Sport, a mixed breed, in agility and then got into schutzhund. I got to work with working bred GSDs and loved them. After Sport died I was offered a young Dutch Shepherd named Allie (short for alligator!). I adopted her and fell in love with the breed. I rescued several Dutchies after that and then Allie was killed tragically by irresponsible veterinary staff. About 4 months later I rescued a pathetic emaciated 1 yr old Dutchie named "Phantom". With just some food, water and love he sprang from his listless phantom self and I named him Logan. Now he is my 8 yr old hardcore PITA!!!! :D
Anytime there are cars, he does it no matter what...he's definitely staring at the people in the cars, not the car itself.
Related issues:
When walking him down the sidewalk past people if I don't remind him that I'm in charge...he will walk still at my side but stands way tall, head way up, ears back and tail half raised in defense. (There's a history to this, I'll explain). He will stare directly into their eyes ready to lunge. Just for the record, I do NOT allow this, but I'm telling you what he would do if I didn't remind him I'm the boss. He is not protection trained, he's just...Logan.
Ok, here's the history to that:
When I first got Logan, he was very reactive to people and would lunge and bark because he was kept in a kennel and not exposed to anything new. I nipped that in the but right away, taking him places and he quickly became very calm anywhere we went. My neighborhood kinda sucks, one night 3 guys tried to jump me by the road. Logan was 1-1/2 yrs old by then, I'd had him for 6 months. I just stood there and let him get in front of me...he stood there all tall ready to lunge and would have bitten the closet guy if he had not been on a leash. They decided to leave me alone. I praised him as they walked away, truly grateful at the moment.
He's not a fearful or nervous dog and I am very careful with maintaining control of him at all times. He isn't a mean dog at all, he just wants his space and respect, he's aloof...matter of fact I can take him to the hardware store. He ignores people and people can even pet his back if they listen to me and are respectful. He'll let the vet examine him if I am there but the second they try and do it without me, they can't get near him even with a jafco muzzle on. He's not fond of strangers messing with him or with me, he suspicious without being nervous if that makes sense.
So for some reason, he seems to think that people in the cars are a threat, IDK if they are making eye contact or the fact that they're looking at us just being careful is what triggers it. Either way, I don't want him to do that.
I'm going to treat him they way I do when we have to pass people. Before or right as he notices, that very split second I'll give him a look or heel command or at least a leave it. That works great for passing by people...he's got to the point where he usually doesn't need to be reminded and we just simply walk by. I just used marker training and always got his attention the second he noticed the distraction so I didn't have to correct him...correcting wouldn't faze him at that point anyway or he would bite me as a reaction.
Facebook page.
WTF but why? I can't believe I never noticed before!!!