Dutch Shepherd Forum

Hello, I do not have a DS yet, but I have read a lot of posts about Dutchies needing to be properly introduced to strangers. All the dogs I've grown up with typically loved everyone that walked through my front door. I'm sure my current pup would overwhelm a burglar with kisses and wiggles. So, my question is, how do you introduce your DS to strangers, both inside and outside the house?

it depends on the individual dog, Thalie is easy, she is happy and loves everyone so there is nothing I have to do with her. Sadie is very insecure, so she barks at everyone, so I tell them to ignore her and let her come to them at her pace. You can teach them to sit and wait for the person to come in the house and have the person offer their hand for them to sniff. When we are out, I have them sit and the person offers their hand for them to sniff, but they must stay in a sit. Then the person walks away and we go in the other direction.

Outside of the house, Odin is very happy to meet most people, so he'll sit and they can pet him. If he backs away when they approach, I don't let them pet. It's his call because I don't want him to feel uncomfortable.

In the house, it really depends on the person. There are certain people that know didly about dog behavior or insist on treating every dog like the family retriever that the kids harass into hiding. For those people, he gets a retreat away from them with bones, toys, bedding, and soft music and I secretly wish I could escape from those people too.

For repair guys and those people only over once, he's crated because it's not worth the intro time.

For dog savvy friends and long term guests, he's tethered to me to start and then pulls a drag line for the first night. He's also muzzle trained, so for many people, mainly bearded men, I put on the muzzle and they walk him in a heel around the house offering him treats as they go.

My experience is the energy you give off and if your the alpha and again it depends on the dog. I'm usually in front of him even on a walk and when people come to visit and I have a short leash on him when company comes over. The only thing I don't know if people show up unanounced on the property, then really it's their stupidity. We have a gate around the property I've only known 1 sales person walk off the street when I didn't lock it, I'm sure he'll never do that again . Though I've never seen him aggressive.

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My guy is very suspicious of strangers at the house and will bark. I make him sit and tell the person to ignore him then he'll settle. He's fine out on the street unless they are running towards me or my son. Then he goes nutty. Only problem I have is him and small children. He doesnt like them unless their at my house. I dont let strange kids pet him unless I have treats for them to give him.

Charles wrote:My guy is very suspicious of strangers at the house and will bark. I make him sit and tell the person to ignore him then he'll settle.

This is good. It shows he can think and work through a situation. Does he know "place" or "base"? If not, I would encourage you to work with a trainer who can help you teach it to him and teach you the appropriate way to use it. It is an awesome tool to have and can be used both inside and outside the home. But just like anything, if used incorrectly, it can lose its value and effectiveness

Charles wrote:He's fine out on the street unless they are running towards me or my son. Then he goes nutty.

This sounds to me like he is a bit reactive. My miniature schnauzer falls into this reactive category. Again, work with a trainer who knows dog behavior (not just obedience). Learning his cues is key and learning how to balance pressure can be amazingly helpful.

Charles wrote: Only problem I have is him and small children. He doesnt like them unless their at my house. I dont let strange kids pet him unless I have treats for them to give him.

Maybe I am wrong, and this is just my , but I don't believe that I (or anyone else) have to allow small children (or anyone else) to pet my dogs...whether or not I have treats. Small children give off all sorts of weird energy and some dogs (especially those who lean towards reactivity) don't handle the stress and weird energy well. Somehow as a society we have come to the conclusion that all dogs have to accept everyone at all times or they are "bad dogs." Not so. For instance... When out and about, I never let anyone pet Tyson while he is laying down. If he is relaxing, his space should not be invaded. I will ask him to come up to a sitting position and then allow the petting to commence. This would be like us chilling at the pool, relaxing and then some stranger just coming over to rub on us. No Bueno!

It sounds like your main goal is for him to be okay around small children and to not be a threat or concern, and I think you can get there with the help of a good trainer who understands dog behavior and who can give you exercises to work on at home after having seen him in action. One size fits all doesn't exist in dog behavior.

Here is one thing that my trainer had me do with Baby Ruth:
I asked a neighborhood kid to help me...to walk towards me as I was walking towards him dropping a treat on the ground every few steps so that she could try to focus on something other than the approaching human. As we were going through the exercise, I watched her body language and looked for cues. The SECOND she started to act in a reactive manner, I immediately turned around with her (without any words/commands) and walked in the other direction. It-blew-her-mind . We did this over and over for about 15 minutes in each session, each time getting closer before she got reactive. When she finally got it, and made it to the kid's position with no reactivity, she was the recipient of a handful of treats dropped on the ground (not taken from his hand). Start small and work your way up...Increase the ante, but not before he has experienced success in the previous step. The thing to remember when doing these types of exercises (or any training in general) is to not overdo. Watch your dog and look for signs that you are reaching his threshold. If you do too much too soon, it's back to the drawing board.

My Ds wont let people in at any way if Im not home.

When strangers (guests she havent seen), come for visit, I put her first to other room. Then when guests settle down,and we have been talked some, and she stops growling,she gets out. Usually she just goes sniff people,and then goes her own bed. Sometimes she wants attension from someone, but I say not to give it,cause if someone gives attension,she starts to demand it from him/her more when stopped.(wipes with paw,barks,growls,then nips.

My normal guests,she have seen, usually wont get any attension. She heards who is coming over,and if its someone she know,she goes to her own place.If energy levels are high, jumps, nips, follows the person room to room,and so on, if not forbitten.

Once i couldnt take the dog with me, and my friend agreed to take him out and so on. She went inside, dog was on the other room, and she opened the door little bit,but gthe dog were still,showing teeth,growling,even she knew my friend. So she talked herself at home about an half hour, and when dog stopped the growl, she let her out, and got licked face.

Outside, neighbour kids pet him somethimes,and she loves them. But with adults, often No.
She don"t like people coming too close, if they do, and gets to pet her, (dogs goes first to scent),then she get the pet,and after plays dum, like wont hear a thing they say.Usually people are like "come here you,come on, I pet you more.
Dont like people who look her straight in to the eyes. May warn,if they come too close.

Treats or no treats,she wont take anything from the strangers.

This behavior started like when she turned 3 years old. She didnt like strangers before either, but lets them pet. Still,I have no need to let people pet it when she clearly dont like it. So I wont make it number tho introduce it, when someone comes to the pack,and I let him, he/shes in the pack, my dog doesnt care. What comes to our territory, shes still little suspicious after walking with new people who come over,but works better to "walk with them to our home.

repairmen, no. have to put dog to the other room. Tries to get door open so I stand infront of the door and try to speek with them. Wont work, maybe cuz the atmosphere. No use to say no to that state of mind, no use to toys or treats,wont eat,wont play.