My working line GSD is 7 months now and had the same issue with dog reactivity when she was younger. We used positive reinforcement but it wasn't helping. Then I tried a few leash pops (on flat collar) and she got the message right away. Your video is so true!
Why not use a prong collar? If you know what you’re doing that is.. She’s still growing/maturing you have a very strong breed and I hope you have experience.
@@thesilentvertigo2901 I hope you’re getting your WL GSD involved in IPO/Schutzhund/protection work. A WL GSD really shouldn’t be just a pet that’s not what they were bred for. But I’m sure you know that right? I hope you’re not just trying to make her a couch potato & you’re going to work her up to her potential.
My Thai ridgeback I have walking to heel recall off leash is very slow, But I find she lunges at dogs on walks in the park😡 I pop her choke but she just manages to get up on her back legs in a split second 😡 I'm finding this hard to stop still 😭
@@eunice8116 I'm old school , some children never needed a swat . But some insisted on doing things like putting things in elecrical sockets. Even after being told" no." { Mind you we didnt have "child proofing " in those days. } So a pop on the fanny was dicipline. And our children lived. Same with a pup, some are more headstrong than others. But our goal is for them to live long and happy lives. We have to adjust for the more headstrong ,and be mindfull of the gentle.
This is true! I tried socializing my herder with everyone, until he slightly nipped and moved away from people he doesn't know. I then realized he is acting exactly what I need, neutral in public, but not fluffy Jones and open to everyone. A personal protection canine should be like a personal bodyguard. Simple, quiet, alert and focused. Oversocialization is extremely overated in the dog world. Moderate exposure in appropriate age and emotion is relevant for an intelligent creature.
Sound advice. So many people buy GSDs because they want a "protection" dog then they get upset when he does his job. Don't get a shepard if you dont fully understand the breed and can spend the time training them or finding an experienced shepard trainer.
Family is having trouble with their reactive gsd.. don't train him, wasn't exposed to anything, not enough work/stimulation, poor boundaries or follow through.. a gsd is a like a PT job
Addicted to all your videos as I just found your channel Tuesday. High quality content that’s very helpful since my husband and I just decided to have a German Shepherd. 👍🏽
So, I've got this video on this morning, volume up. I'm listening while doing a few things around my house. I walk back into the livingroom and Buddy, my 3yoGSD, is standing in front of the TV intently watching and listening. 😂 He didn't even turn to check on me entering the room. You caught his attention, Haz. Looked like he was taking mental notes too. 👍🏻 (I did snap a quick photo, but can't post here. As you all can imagine, it's pretty cute.)
Quality advice. I have working German Shepard she is like this. And spending time walking in public and different places helps her lots. And yes she still barks at strangers to our house
Exactly what I needed to hear , thanks. My pup is 4 months , he is very friendly…too friendly so I don’t let him go strange ppl thinking we’re all friends.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I completely concur. I have a 4-month old male Doberman pinscher. I take him absolutely EVERYWHERE with me and watch his reactions to everything and everyone. He's a Doberman through and through and when he over-reacts to someone or something, he gets a FIRM correction. As a counter to that, my trainer doesn't agree with the "firm correction" theory but then again, she trains Border Collies and Aussies for agility. Granted, I intend to put my Doberman in agility one day, but I have informed her that the guard/protection/high drive breeds need to be dealt with a bit differently than a BC or AS. Thanks for putting up these videos. I get confirmation that I am on the right track with my dogs.
My first baby was a dobie. He was my very best friend. I still miss him and it's been 15 years since he passed. Best wishes to you and your best friend. Have a blast together.
I have two opposite GSDs - one loves everyone, who is 1/2 working line 1/2 show line. He is a complete love. I have another working line girl who will take off your face. This is an excellent description of GSDs. The handler here is very good and I enjoy watching the owner work. Nice job.
Hooray! There's hope for my GSD she's definitely a one family dog. I've worked really hard with her on neutrality around other dogs and strangers but I let people know; she's not comfortable around strange men, sorry. My GSD is about 20 months now and we got her at 3.5 months. She's come a long way and I'm so proud of her. ❤
Right on track with what I’m experiencing with my pup too. 4mo we could walk downtown and he didn’t have a care in the world. One month later and he’s barking at the trash bin across the street outside our house. Insecurity aspect makes sense and teaching them appropriate way to cope has been most effective in recovering his original disposition.
Thank you Excellent educational tip. I have a four month old shepherd that I’m starting to train and I’m having the same overreaction when the dog sees another dog. And I will use this correction approach. Thank you again.
Always great work, watching this for the 100th time! Going through insecurities with my puppy, so it is great to know that it isn't something I did wrong and instead my pup is just growing up!! Working hard to raise a dog of good social standings.
🥺🥺I can't tell you how happy I am to see this video my dog is not a fan of strangers men in particular shes a one fam dog no outsiders.... she walks fine but doesn't like strangers approaching her..I thought this was a bad thing tysm for this vid❤
Thank you very much for that feedback. I’m new in the dog world and in fact have had to work through a fear of them. You prepared me very well for possible behaviors of this breed. We still think this is the breed for us and thank you for your objective advice in having a well trained GS. Blessings!
I wish I watched this when I got my dog at 4 months exhibiting this behavior. I had to trudge through so many unnecessary and ineffective strategies that barely made a dent in his sociability. Most effective thing was respecting his space, telling everyone to ignore him, and most of all, changing my own mindset to accept this part of his personality instead of trying to change it. Your content is so unique and has benefited me and my dog tremendously. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Omg yes.. my gsd I had growing up was chill and I could pass people, could bring people in, could stop to talk to people upclose. No barking, pulling, alert but aloof. Sometimes people would ask to pet him and that was a solid no, will bite even though you're standing 2ft away and he's totally not even paying attention to you. The most he ever gave strangers was a quick sniff and a measly tail wag.. No touchy.. even with dogs he was aloof.. though he liked little dogs. My gentle giant.. I was all the friend he needed
You are exactly right! I have 6 month GSD she was very reactive to my neighbors coming out of the house and bark bark. So them put her on a leash corrected the behavior and now if she starts I just say quiet and she stops. No not doing it at all. When ppl come through my got I don’t stop her and she still does her job!!
Yes, u r absolutely right! I have a white GSD that I rescued, and the stranger giving treats does NOT work. Gave treats to my brother who came over, she took them from him, and still tried to bite him! But recently got a prong collar and started today using it as to ur suggestions. Wow!! What a difference already! U r so right about ur training tips. Thank u so much!!
I want to thank you for your valuable insight about dogs it is helped me and my kids to socialise and care for our dog. I thoroughly enjoy your talks while interacting with the dog. Hilton from South Africa
Amazing. I wanted to reach out to ask if you would do a phone consult with me for my 18 month working line GSD. You answered so many of my questions here. Timing of this video!!! So grateful. So cool to see one of Onyx' progeny and how you handle him.
I love your technique it’s true with gsds! I had a gas acd mix and he had the exact same personality. He was suspicious of strangers but in public he was neutral but never truly trusted people, thanks again for the great vid.
Great video! If someone is an extroverted social butterfly and expects their dog to be the same way.. get a golden or a lab. Don’t get a German Shepherd.
And just look at Gage now! 🥰 Look what patience, consistency, being disciplined & attentive manifest into- a consistently attentive, patient disciplined dog! Imagine that!
(Quote) "By far, this drive causes more confusion than any other. Defense drive refers to the dog's instinct to defend himself. It is part of the self preservation instinct. Thus, a complete absence of any defense drive in the GSD would be faulty temperament. Though we would expect to see very little defense drive in a Lab. That breed isn't supposed to have a great deal of suspicion toward humans. Whether this drive is problematic depends both on the strength of the drive and the threshold at which the drive kicks in. We will talk in depth about thresholds in the next section. When a dog is in defense drive, he is displaying aggressive behaviors. Barking, lunging, snapping, snarling and growling are part of the constellation. The dog's hackles may be up. Understand that the dog feels that he must fight for his life. A dog in defense drive is under extreme stress. He may be feeling extremely ambivalent, and you'll see ears swiveling back and forth, the dog may bark and back up, then move forward again. This is why good trainers never, ever introduce elements of defense into protection training until the dog has sufficient emotional maturity and self confidence to be able to manage his stress. Defensive behavior is not fun for the dog. Unfortunately, it seems to be really fun for far too many owners. It's easy to understand why so many people mistake a defensive display with genuine protection. Remember, the dog who is in defense feels threatened. All of the lunging, snarling and other displays have one common goal: to drive the threat back. That's why a defensive display has such forwardness to it, the dog wants to push the threat away. The best analogy I've heard so far was to compare the dog in defense drive to a solitary wolf being confronted by a grizzly bear (I believe this analogy was written by Donn Yarnell). The lone wolf knows he cannot win this fight and feels that he is not free to flee. So, he puts on a big show, hoping to drive the bear off. In fact, if the dog felt that flight was an option, he absolutely would flee. It's very important that owners of defensive dogs understand this. Too often, people incorrectly assume that the dog won't bite unless he is cornered. That's not true. All that matters is the dog's perception of the situation. If he feels that he cannot escape because he is on lead or even because he could lose face, the dog could very well bite. Is there anything positive about defense drive? Yes!! It's essential for a good protection dog. Why? Because defense drive is always accessible. It's not subject to exhaustion or boredom. Defense is what puts the seriousness into protection work. Again, it's all a matter of degree and threshold. Assuming the dog has good, strong nerves and a reasonably high threshold, a dog with strong defense drive can be a good working dog. Keep in mind the next time someone tells you that his growling, lunging dog is "protective", that protection, by it's very definition, requires the presence of a legitimate, identifiable threat. If the dog is carrying on defensively toward a non-threatening person or object, that's not protection, that's a spook dog."
Awesome feedback and as always, super helpful information. We have a 10 month old WLGSD going through significant stranger reactivity. This reassures me with the measures that we are taking with him! Thanks so much.
WOW seeing Gage at this age , then I just finished watching your guy’s protection work at IPG3 , have to say it’s absolutely incredible, how you can judge and predict how Gage was going to turn out !!! Magnificent work. & thank you 🙏 for sharing your videos. Question; where dose someone start, too get into the sport? & the world of shutzhound ,Ipg .
Very aloof that’s exactly how my Shepherd is. He looks exactly like that. He is a east German Czech Republic working line German Shepherd. He will tolerate people, but he doesn’t want nothing to do with nobody but daddy.
I had a shepherd as a kid and he bit a neighbor who randomly walked into our house XD We had to rehome him and I cried. But honestly it makes sense, she didn't even knock XD She just opened the door ! XD So yeah definitely what I want. If they can protect and be around who they grow up with then yes yessss XD
Good video super helpful. I have 3 gsd 2 are mix but one is this same breed as video and she does behave different than the other 2 but this video was very helpful on how to go about walking her.
Thank you so much for this video. I was having difficulty with my 10 months old male ddr in socialisation. He would bark anything that he sees. And he stop listening to me if he is focused in the prey. And he is totally different from my previous GSD show line. However,I’m very much relieved after watching this video. Looking forward for more videos like this. Cheers :)
I have a 1 y/o Czech and He’s a handful been using your info. Keep up the great vids. My line is all Czech K9 and mil working dogs. He’s a great animal. Love him to death
Can't believe this my lovely girl is so alike I pass a couple of GSD and they are so chilled they walk don't look or interact in any way my girl is into every thing always on a mission I don't let her be petted I give her treats as we walk when she gives me good manners which is most of the time
These dogs are super smart and consistency is HUGE! They pick up ques so fast. I'm fighting this having the dog around the rest of the family who don't do the same things i do.
W my young shepherds, I have found if they have plenty of off leash exercise (which they really need) before going on a lease walk they do not need the pinch collar. Sadly a lot of people misuse them.
Always get awesome value from your videos! My wife and I have watched/studied intently for weeks worth of content. Just got our first gsd pup, she's 15 weeks. She was super nervous but overcame in the first couple hours, now she's confident and alertness is through the roof, she's particularly fixated on our 10 year old son(the primary principal for tthe dog, so my wife can return to work in the next few years when he's set to be by himself). She comes from guardian/protector stock. How do we maintain the divide between family friends coming over for a visit and unwelcome guests? Do you perhaps have any vids that drill down on that? I'm happy to pay for advice on the subject, simply direct me to your link.
All the reasons why I have a GSD. She doesn't react to people as long as they don't approach, she loves her family and the people she knows well, there are certain people she reacts to, I'd trust her over them on every day that ends in y and we have issues with some dog reactivity that has gotten better too (mostly little dogs grind her gears) but I got her exactly because I didn't want a friendly dog. If people ask to pet her, I just say no, no one gets to pet her or my GSD/IWH mix pup. Thank you for this video.
This is such a eloquent and non-offensive way to talk about owning/training a guarding dog with strangers who own other types of dogs. Many people I know with dogs don't even know what a prong collar is. Question from me is, while I have my GSD lab cross who is 7 months old on a prong collar for a walk, runs into a familiar friend/dog? He is 75% GSD and has shown plenty of signs where he is friendly as well as guarding in character. While I believe I always have a choice to either interact or don't interact with them, I find it really hard when my dog recognizes them and already starts showing signs of excitement and anxiety to yelp and bark at them from a mid length distance (5-10 ft away). He lunges to the point of giving himself pain from the prong before I could even say no or snap him back. He will go at it again and again until I have to eventually "give up" and unclip the prong portion and use my backup harness so that they can interact. Yes, most of the time, I lose that battle. With other strangers dogs, I can divert his attention just fine with my training regimen. He often "looks" and even lays down to look, but I can manage to pull him away. But the problem is with regards to fellow friend doggies. Any tips would be appreciated.
Love you videos, we have two GSD one who’s hard word but our other working line is 7 months old and just great but loves to bark at other dogs, so I’m going to definitely try this. Thanks
I think you're right..... As long as the dog knows, you're the one feeding him... Its very important to keep the dogs emotional response like our's...Don't over react....asses the situation. 'Oh look.. some people walking...cool."... For me, it was some people encroaching very close, and in front of the dog at a crosswalk, he really didn't like that(Big Rottie on a courtesy walk...he was sitting at my feet....Cheers, Blessings Eh!
Nice changeup from your regular videos which are fantastic but this showed a young dog in a social outing and how to respond. Would have been great to see video of him showing 4 month behaviour pattern you mentioned....maybe do some videos showing one of your future working line puppies thru their changes and you training thru those stages. Cheers and THX
This is exactly what I wanted to see
NEEDED to see haha dealing with this right now.
I wonder at what age he starts public interaction 4 months?? Is it just bite work and boogie mans before that???lololol
@@JamesDavis-rz2cq very true, I needed to see it.
My working line GSD is 7 months now and had the same issue with dog reactivity when she was younger. We used positive reinforcement but it wasn't helping. Then I tried a few leash pops (on flat collar) and she got the message right away. Your video is so true!
Why not use a prong collar? If you know what you’re doing that is.. She’s still growing/maturing you have a very strong breed and I hope you have experience.
@@misssamhain4334 It already worked with the flat collar so I didn't feel the need to correct with prong.
@@thesilentvertigo2901 I hope you’re getting your WL GSD involved in IPO/Schutzhund/protection work. A WL GSD really shouldn’t be just a pet that’s not what they were bred for. But I’m sure you know that right? I hope you’re not just trying to make her a couch potato & you’re going to work her up to her potential.
My Thai ridgeback I have walking to heel recall off leash is very slow,
But I find she lunges at dogs on walks in the park😡
I pop her choke but she just manages to get up on her back legs in a split second 😡
I'm finding this hard to stop still 😭
@@eunice8116 I'm old school , some children never needed a swat . But some insisted on doing things like putting things in elecrical sockets. Even after being told" no." { Mind you we didnt have "child proofing " in those days. } So a pop on the fanny was dicipline. And our children lived. Same with a pup, some are more headstrong than others. But our goal is for them to live long and happy lives. We have to adjust for the more headstrong ,and be mindfull of the gentle.
This is true! I tried socializing my herder with everyone, until he slightly nipped and moved away from people he doesn't know. I then realized he is acting exactly what I need, neutral in public, but not fluffy Jones and open to everyone. A personal protection canine should be like a personal bodyguard. Simple, quiet, alert and focused. Oversocialization is extremely overated in the dog world. Moderate exposure in appropriate age and emotion is relevant for an intelligent creature.
Yeah, I worked on my dog with this, but after another dog continuously attacked her she turned reactive
This video is 3 years old and this has helped me more than anything else could have. TY!
Same bro
Great that knowledgeable people like this guy promote greater understanding of these beautiful dogs 😊
Socially neutral! Thats what I wanted from my dog. I didn't know how to word it but that's the exact behavior that is needed!
Thanks
I seriously appreciate your honesty with breeds, training, and behaviors. Your videos are very informative. Keep up the good work
Sound advice. So many people buy GSDs because they want a "protection" dog then they get upset when he does his job. Don't get a shepard if you dont fully understand the breed and can spend the time training them or finding an experienced shepard trainer.
Well said
Shepherd.
Family is having trouble with their reactive gsd.. don't train him, wasn't exposed to anything, not enough work/stimulation, poor boundaries or follow through.. a gsd is a like a PT job
Some humans could benefit from this training, and this isn't even shade.
Yes!
You 'Nailed it' Patricia...Cheers
Addicted to all your videos as I just found your channel Tuesday. High quality content that’s very helpful since my husband and I just decided to have a German Shepherd. 👍🏽
Congratulations!
Have fun guys and be patient.
I've had five German Shepherds and absolutely love the breed. I really liked the content.
So, I've got this video on this morning, volume up. I'm listening while doing a few things around my house. I walk back into the livingroom and Buddy, my 3yoGSD, is standing in front of the TV intently watching and listening. 😂 He didn't even turn to check on me entering the room. You caught his attention, Haz. Looked like he was taking mental notes too. 👍🏻
(I did snap a quick photo, but can't post here. As you all can imagine, it's pretty cute.)
Omgoodness! My GSD/Lab mix does the same! He loves to watch training videos 🤣
Quality advice. I have working German Shepard she is like this. And spending time walking in public and different places helps her lots. And yes she still barks at strangers to our house
Thank you yet again for saying it's OKAY if your dog does not want to be petted by strangers!!!!
Our Boerboel is three months old, perfect timing as we approach this stage and prepare for the reactions!
Lol i was wonderimg.if I owned the only GSD puppy that wouldn't walk in a straight line. Thanks for this
Exactly what I needed to hear , thanks. My pup is 4 months , he is very friendly…too friendly so I don’t let him go strange ppl thinking we’re all friends.
Your content is helping so many people and dogs get the most out of their time together. Thank you!
Lol. I love it.
"If you think I'm wrong, I don't particularly care." 🤣
Yep, you know what you are doing.
👍
100% correct once again. Thank you for your continued free content and awesome information.
I've been following Gage for years now. Great to see he's competing at the FCI world championship right now!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I completely concur. I have a 4-month old male Doberman pinscher. I take him absolutely EVERYWHERE with me and watch his reactions to everything and everyone. He's a Doberman through and through and when he over-reacts to someone or something, he gets a FIRM correction. As a counter to that, my trainer doesn't agree with the "firm correction" theory but then again, she trains Border Collies and Aussies for agility. Granted, I intend to put my Doberman in agility one day, but I have informed her that the guard/protection/high drive breeds need to be dealt with a bit differently than a BC or AS. Thanks for putting up these videos. I get confirmation that I am on the right track with my dogs.
My first baby was a dobie. He was my very best friend. I still miss him and it's been 15 years since he passed. Best wishes to you and your best friend. Have a blast together.
Been watching your videos now for a while without commenting. Raising 2 military working dogs from puppies to 1.5 year ur spot on!
Quality content and great advice, as well. Thank you!
Also for those us experienced handlers and who have dogs trained in protection... you're spot on!
Wow! You know EXACTLY what you're talking about! Very helpful! Excellent channel and content!!!
Just rescued a GSD mix who is 9 months and no training/socialization
This is perfect!!!!
That was perfect what you said about all dogs are different and you’re there to give just general advice perfect A1 bravo
I have two opposite GSDs - one loves everyone, who is 1/2 working line 1/2 show line. He is a complete love. I have another working line girl who will take off your face. This is an excellent description of GSDs. The handler here is very good and I enjoy watching the owner work. Nice job.
Hooray! There's hope for my GSD she's definitely a one family dog. I've worked really hard with her on neutrality around other dogs and strangers but I let people know; she's not comfortable around strange men, sorry.
My GSD is about 20 months now and we got her at 3.5 months. She's come a long way and I'm so proud of her. ❤
This is exactly how my dog is being raised. Great video.
Right on track with what I’m experiencing with my pup too. 4mo we could walk downtown and he didn’t have a care in the world. One month later and he’s barking at the trash bin across the street outside our house. Insecurity aspect makes sense and teaching them appropriate way to cope has been most effective in recovering his original disposition.
Thank you Excellent educational tip. I have a four month old shepherd that I’m starting to train and I’m having the same overreaction when the dog sees another dog. And I will use this correction approach. Thank you again.
My GSD mix is 10.5 weeks old - thank you so much for all of your videos! So helpful!
Always great work, watching this for the 100th time! Going through insecurities with my puppy, so it is great to know that it isn't something I did wrong and instead my pup is just growing up!! Working hard to raise a dog of good social standings.
🥺🥺I can't tell you how happy I am to see this video my dog is not a fan of strangers men in particular shes a one fam dog no outsiders.... she walks fine but doesn't like strangers approaching her..I thought this was a bad thing tysm for this vid❤
My Milanois puppy is very aggressive towards people. I needed this video for advice. Thank you!
Thank you very much for that feedback. I’m new in the dog world and in fact have had to work through a fear of them. You prepared me very well for possible behaviors of this breed. We still think this is the breed for us and thank you for your objective advice in having a well trained GS. Blessings!
I’m watching him and the whole time I’m thinking he has to poop….. the shape of the tail is a give away!
I want to met you one Day !!! I love how you thinking ! Great job Man !
I wish I watched this when I got my dog at 4 months exhibiting this behavior. I had to trudge through so many unnecessary and ineffective strategies that barely made a dent in his sociability. Most effective thing was respecting his space, telling everyone to ignore him, and most of all, changing my own mindset to accept this part of his personality instead of trying to change it. Your content is so unique and has benefited me and my dog tremendously. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Omg yes.. my gsd I had growing up was chill and I could pass people, could bring people in, could stop to talk to people upclose. No barking, pulling, alert but aloof. Sometimes people would ask to pet him and that was a solid no, will bite even though you're standing 2ft away and he's totally not even paying attention to you. The most he ever gave strangers was a quick sniff and a measly tail wag.. No touchy.. even with dogs he was aloof.. though he liked little dogs. My gentle giant.. I was all the friend he needed
You are exactly right! I have 6 month GSD she was very reactive to my neighbors coming out of the house and bark bark. So them put her on a leash corrected the behavior and now if she starts I just say quiet and she stops. No not doing it at all. When ppl come through my got I don’t stop her and she still does her job!!
Yes, u r absolutely right! I have a white GSD that I rescued, and the stranger giving treats does NOT work. Gave treats to my brother who came over, she took them from him, and still tried to bite him! But recently got a prong collar and started today using it as to ur suggestions. Wow!! What a difference already! U r so right about ur training tips. Thank u so much!!
Top notch content, thank you!
Do you have any recommendations for durable leashes?
Best regards from Germany👍
I want to thank you for your valuable insight about dogs it is helped me and my kids to socialise and care for our dog. I thoroughly enjoy your talks while interacting with the dog. Hilton from South Africa
Amazing. I wanted to reach out to ask if you would do a phone consult with me for my 18 month working line GSD. You answered so many of my questions here. Timing of this video!!! So grateful. So cool to see one of Onyx' progeny and how you handle him.
I took my dog to a dog day care. The manager had children so that really helped. It is worth it if you can afford it. Social, exercise and other dogs.
This made me so anxious watching this dog moving about.
Why?
I love your technique it’s true with gsds! I had a gas acd mix and he had the exact same personality. He was suspicious of strangers but in public he was neutral but never truly trusted people, thanks again for the great vid.
Great video, thank you. I have a 7 month old female GSD that needs some work. I'll try what I've seen here, thanks again.
Great video! If someone is an extroverted social butterfly and expects their dog to be the same way.. get a golden or a lab. Don’t get a German Shepherd.
2:50 guy saw the dog and crossed the street i do that shit too lmao
Just what the Dr. ordered. Much need topic. The curriculum is developing well my friend. Gage is the prototype. Excited to see him at 5yrs.
And just look at Gage now! 🥰 Look what patience, consistency, being disciplined & attentive manifest into- a consistently attentive, patient disciplined dog! Imagine that!
Your advice is always helpful great work. your passion will be rewarding
This is so what I need. Thank you for this video!
Thanks for all the advice. Your videos are awesome.
(Quote) "By far, this drive causes more confusion than any other. Defense drive refers to the dog's instinct to defend himself. It is part of the self preservation instinct. Thus, a complete absence of any defense drive in the GSD would be faulty temperament. Though we would expect to see very little defense drive in a Lab. That breed isn't supposed to have a great deal of suspicion toward humans. Whether this drive is problematic depends both on the strength of the drive and the threshold at which the drive kicks in. We will talk in depth about thresholds in the next section.
When a dog is in defense drive, he is displaying aggressive behaviors. Barking, lunging, snapping, snarling and growling are part of the constellation. The dog's hackles may be up. Understand that the dog feels that he must fight for his life. A dog in defense drive is under extreme stress. He may be feeling extremely ambivalent, and you'll see ears swiveling back and forth, the dog may bark and back up, then move forward again. This is why good trainers never, ever introduce elements of defense into protection training until the dog has sufficient emotional maturity and self confidence to be able to manage his stress. Defensive behavior is not fun for the dog. Unfortunately, it seems to be really fun for far too many owners.
It's easy to understand why so many people mistake a defensive display with genuine protection. Remember, the dog who is in defense feels threatened. All of the lunging, snarling and other displays have one common goal: to drive the threat back. That's why a defensive display has such forwardness to it, the dog wants to push the threat away. The best analogy I've heard so far was to compare the dog in defense drive to a solitary wolf being confronted by a grizzly bear (I believe this analogy was written by Donn Yarnell). The lone wolf knows he cannot win this fight and feels that he is not free to flee. So, he puts on a big show, hoping to drive the bear off.
In fact, if the dog felt that flight was an option, he absolutely would flee. It's very important that owners of defensive dogs understand this. Too often, people incorrectly assume that the dog won't bite unless he is cornered. That's not true. All that matters is the dog's perception of the situation. If he feels that he cannot escape because he is on lead or even because he could lose face, the dog could very well bite.
Is there anything positive about defense drive? Yes!! It's essential for a good protection dog. Why? Because defense drive is always accessible. It's not subject to exhaustion or boredom. Defense is what puts the seriousness into protection work. Again, it's all a matter of degree and threshold.
Assuming the dog has good, strong nerves and a reasonably high threshold, a dog with strong defense drive can be a good working dog.
Keep in mind the next time someone tells you that his growling, lunging dog is "protective", that protection, by it's very definition, requires the presence of a legitimate, identifiable threat. If the dog is carrying on defensively toward a non-threatening person or object, that's not protection, that's a spook dog."
Awesome feedback and as always, super helpful information. We have a 10 month old WLGSD going through significant stranger reactivity. This reassures me with the measures that we are taking with him! Thanks so much.
Awesome dog!
WOW seeing Gage at this age , then I just finished watching your guy’s protection work at IPG3 , have to say it’s absolutely incredible, how you can judge and predict how Gage was going to turn out !!! Magnificent work.
& thank you 🙏 for sharing your videos.
Question; where dose someone start, too get into the sport? & the world of shutzhound ,Ipg .
Very aloof that’s exactly how my Shepherd is. He looks exactly like that. He is a east German Czech Republic working line German Shepherd. He will tolerate people, but he doesn’t want nothing to do with nobody but daddy.
My 3 months old German shepherd is so friendly
I had a shepherd as a kid and he bit a neighbor who randomly walked into our house XD
We had to rehome him and I cried. But honestly it makes sense, she didn't even knock XD
She just opened the door ! XD
So yeah definitely what I want. If they can protect and be around who they grow up with then yes yessss XD
Thanks for sharing this info you have been a big help in my GS as she is 7 months
Thank you for the excellent material🇨🇱💪💪🐺
That‘s what I needed, thanks!
This knowledge is gold
Sorry you answered my question at the end. Great vid. Cheers
I have a Malinois, and this video helped my pup with socialization. Especially at the food basics lineup outside
Good video super helpful. I have 3 gsd 2 are mix but one is this same breed as video and she does behave different than the other 2 but this video was very helpful on how to go about walking her.
I appreciate and value your feedback. Keep up the great job!
Thank you so much for this video. I was having difficulty with my 10 months old male ddr in socialisation. He would bark anything that he sees. And he stop listening to me if he is focused in the prey. And he is totally different from my previous GSD show line. However,I’m very much relieved after watching this video. Looking forward for more videos like this. Cheers :)
I miss my dog so much.
Putting him down was the worst experience ever.
He had a tumor that got cold sores and vestibular syndrome.
I hear ya Freddy.....i cried for so long!
I have a 1 y/o Czech and He’s a handful been using your info. Keep up the great vids. My line is all Czech K9 and mil working dogs. He’s a great animal. Love him to death
Can't believe this my lovely girl is so alike I pass a couple of GSD and they are so chilled they walk don't look or interact in any way my girl is into every thing always on a mission I don't let her be petted I give her treats as we walk when she gives me good manners which is most of the time
100 % agree !! Thank you 😊
You're absolutely right man ... Hehe ... Love all of your videos ... Again, thanks for sharing your immense knowledge and experience for free ... :)
These dogs are super smart and consistency is HUGE! They pick up ques so fast. I'm fighting this having the dog around the rest of the family who don't do the same things i do.
This did help thanx 🐕🦺🐾
W my young shepherds, I have found if they have plenty of off leash exercise (which they really need) before going on a lease walk they do not need the pinch collar. Sadly a lot of people misuse them.
Agree a good run before the leash and they walk a lot better
Keep up the good videos. Really helpful
Perfectly executed guidance 🙏
Thank you very much, your videos have been extremely helpful and practical!
Always get awesome value from your videos! My wife and I have watched/studied intently for weeks worth of content. Just got our first gsd pup, she's 15 weeks. She was super nervous but overcame in the first couple hours, now she's confident and alertness is through the roof, she's particularly fixated on our 10 year old son(the primary principal for tthe dog, so my wife can return to work in the next few years when he's set to be by himself). She comes from guardian/protector stock. How do we maintain the divide between family friends coming over for a visit and unwelcome guests? Do you perhaps have any vids that drill down on that? I'm happy to pay for advice on the subject, simply direct me to your link.
loved the great information, but I sure got dizzy wathching this video.
😆
All the reasons why I have a GSD. She doesn't react to people as long as they don't approach, she loves her family and the people she knows well, there are certain people she reacts to, I'd trust her over them on every day that ends in y and we have issues with some dog reactivity that has gotten better too (mostly little dogs grind her gears) but I got her exactly because I didn't want a friendly dog. If people ask to pet her, I just say no, no one gets to pet her or my GSD/IWH mix pup. Thank you for this video.
This really helped me out with what I asked you about on the phone the other day
Truth on this issue. Period!
This is such a eloquent and non-offensive way to talk about owning/training a guarding dog with strangers who own other types of dogs. Many people I know with dogs don't even know what a prong collar is. Question from me is, while I have my GSD lab cross who is 7 months old on a prong collar for a walk, runs into a familiar friend/dog? He is 75% GSD and has shown plenty of signs where he is friendly as well as guarding in character. While I believe I always have a choice to either interact or don't interact with them, I find it really hard when my dog recognizes them and already starts showing signs of excitement and anxiety to yelp and bark at them from a mid length distance (5-10 ft away). He lunges to the point of giving himself pain from the prong before I could even say no or snap him back. He will go at it again and again until I have to eventually "give up" and unclip the prong portion and use my backup harness so that they can interact. Yes, most of the time, I lose that battle. With other strangers dogs, I can divert his attention just fine with my training regimen. He often "looks" and even lays down to look, but I can manage to pull him away. But the problem is with regards to fellow friend doggies. Any tips would be appreciated.
Awesome Video!!! Much appreciated
Awesome man! Keep up the good work!
Very good points.
Love you videos, we have two GSD one who’s hard word but our other working line is 7 months old and just great but loves to bark at other dogs, so I’m going to definitely try this. Thanks
Awesome video, exactly what I needed
I think you're right..... As long as the dog knows, you're the one feeding him... Its very important to keep the dogs emotional response like our's...Don't over react....asses the situation. 'Oh look.. some people walking...cool."... For me, it was some people encroaching very close, and in front of the dog at a crosswalk, he really didn't like that(Big Rottie on a courtesy walk...he was sitting at my feet....Cheers, Blessings Eh!
All you're saying makes sense 💯%
Our 11 month old female is great with people on or off leash doesnt pay them any mind but she freaks out with dogs. Thanks for this
I have a 10 month old that does the exactly same thing !!! Fine with people but when she sees a dog game over
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@@glizzytk5619 cool will follow you @lunamoon
Nice changeup from your regular videos which are fantastic but this showed a young dog in a social outing and how to respond. Would have been great to see video of him showing 4 month behaviour pattern you mentioned....maybe do some videos showing one of your future working line puppies thru their changes and you training thru those stages. Cheers and THX