Hello DS Community!

[Savage6472]

Hi there DS Community,

Excited to be joining the group! As I’m sure some people have, I adopted a sweet girl from a local shelter unknowing of Dutch shepherds, we guess around 8 months at this point. After a lot of research, I’m working a credible trainer in the area who specializes in Dutchies and other working dogs.

I myself live an active lifestyle and already have started introducing her to hiking (she LOVESSSSS it).

I don’t believe Luna is pure bred (she’s not as high drive as other videos if seen of Dutches), loves napping/snuggling (very affectionate) and thus far wants to say hello to everyone. She’s a bit nippy but has never broken the skin ever. She’s a total sweetheart, and all around such a good dog.

She’s recently shown a lot of fear towards kids, specifically little boys. I believe this may have something to do with her former owners (which I unfortunately have no info about as she was found wandering and no one claimed her). I think she was either in a home with a boy who didn’t know how to behave around dogs or she was severely punished for getting too excitable around kids.

She’s fine being within 5-10 feet of kids as long as they are ignoring her. If they look like they are going to approach, she tries to run and hide, and if she can’t (if she’s on a leash) she barks at the kids. After learning this, I won’t let kids approach my dog, but I’m at the age where it is safe to assume kids will happen for me in the next 5-7 years, thus I’d love her to be tolerable of kids. I’d never force kids on her, just want her to get to a place where she knows it okay and she’s confident to say hello if I do allow the kids to approach.

Any recs? I don’t see this as an innate fear she was born with, just something that was conditioned into her. Other than that, she has like no triggers, totally comfortable with loud noises, cars, etc.

Pic below of Luna! Look at that floppy ear, it never stands straight. I did a doggie DNA test and it actually came back with Australian cattle dog, German Shepherd, Swiss shepherd and some other things like bulldog, but I’d love to know other thoughts about her origins!



Alexsa & Luna

[Savage6472]

Adding one more pic-

After Luna’s first hike. Veryyyyy enthusiastic
https://ibb.co/jfn1x7s

[kalinoodlesoup]

She is just too adorable. My dog has a floppy ear too. Welcome to the forum!

[ladyjubilee]

Do you have kids you could use feed and reward her?

[Savage6472]

Do you have kids you could use feed and reward her?

I don’t

That’s part of my challenge is I don’t know any kids or have friends with kids so no one trustworthy to practice with. I’ve had the opportunity to have one young boy throw treats to Luna as he was super calm and his parents were right there. They clearly were dog people. But other than that, nothing I can consistently practice with.

I’ve started in the last few days to really bring out the treats when kids are around. Like when there’s a scream or she’s looking at them (from her comfortable distance)

I’m in a very suburban area with kids everywhere which is why it’s important to me help her have good experiences with kids.