can german shepherds be friendly to strangers
Will Some GSDs Always Be Too Friendly to Provide Protection? 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. However, every pup is different. This natural protective instinct is reassuring to the German Shepherd owner. German shepherds are very socializing pets and when they get out, reward them with something. They sure can! It is important to work with a professional dog trainer to get the results you are seeking. So dont worry and be happy with your dog the way he is. Early socialization is the key. However, owners need to ensure that the individual dogs have complementary temperaments, ages, and genders. This is because your dog must build a bond with you that is grounded in trust and consistent behavior on both sides before any other level of training is even possible. The first step is obedience training. The males grow to be approximately 24 inches at the shoulder and the females tend to be a little shorter, measuring around 22 inches at the shoulder. What can you do when your German Shepherd is simply too friendly with strangers? That speaks volumes about just how friendly and loving GSDs can be. She is protective of those she loves and territorial when it comes to her home, yard. 4. But in most cases, it is a lack of training combined with the absence of a true threat that is creating this concern. In summary, there are a variety of reasons why you may be concerned your German Shepherd puppy, adult dog or rescue dog might not defend you and your family. It is against the law to keep any animal that you find. You can still train your dog to guard and protect you by training commands that are associated with certain behaviors. 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! The secret to having a German Shepherd who is safe around non-threatening strangers is teach him or her what friendly people look like. 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. What Is the German Shepherd Defense Drive and How Do You Train For It? German shepherds typically make exceptional guards due to their bravery and confidence, so timidness is way out of character. Their reason? As for life expectancy, German shepherds normally live for around 9-13 years. This type of training taps into the German Shepherd’s defense drive rather than the prey drive. 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. 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. As every dog lover knows, Labrador Retrievers are typically famously friendly. There are two show lines, the American GSD and the German GSD. There is one working line, the working European line. 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. Contact the RSPCA or Visit the RSPCA Lost Pets website and complete a Lost Pet Report. Copyright © 2021 Anything German Shepherd, excellent protection and guard dog for your family, Can You Trust a German Shepherd: Yes and No and Here Is Why, What to Do With German Shepherd While At Work: How to Keep Your GSD Happy When You’re Away. However, if one of your main reasons for choosing a German Shepherd is for guard duty and protection, you may be understandably disappointed to witness your GSD behaving like a never-met-a-stranger Labrador Retriever dog. For German Shepherds with a low defense drive (more common in diluted mixed breed GSDs and “pet” genetic lines), they may need this extra command to tap into their defense drive and get to work defending you. 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. Is German Shepherd stranger friendly? German Shepherds can be friendly to strangers as long as they are taught to be. How to TEACH ANY DOG to STOP BARKING Humanely, Effectively, and Naturally! 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. 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? You really should not try to do it yourself at home because it can be dangerous! 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. Take the animal to the local Vet Clinic who usually scan the animal’s microchip and phone the registered owner of the pet. 2. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama. 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: 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. She would give her life—without hesitation—to protect her caring and trustworthy owner. The message should be, “Everyone is friendly.”. If your dog or cat is unregistered, you will have to register your pet before you can take it home. Gsd`s are naturally aloof though with strangers, and do not court friendship with them, but should never show uncalled for aggression if touched by them. But does this mean Gavel would not protect himself or his owners in the face of a legitimate threat? It depends on the dog.. usually about 6 months - 3 years.. but all dogs are different. If you have rescued an adult German Shepherd, he can … Call the Local Authority to collect the lost animal. German Shepherds and Huskies can and often do live together in harmony. The working GSD lines have retained more of the original breed’s aloofness and talent for tracking, herding, guarding, and protecting. There are several different categories of dog training beyond the level of basic obedience training. The short answer is that yes they are family dogs, no they don't enjoy strangers coming into their territory, and yes they are incredibly agile dogs. In the video you watched earlier here, you heard Gavel’s story. Some German Shepherd might also bark at strangers to alert their human companions of a potential threat. 2. The German Shepherd Dog is confident and fearless, willing to be approached, yet a certain level of aloofness towards strangers is acceptable. To reclaim your lost dog, cat or other pet from the animal shelter you must pay a release fee. Wanting to own a German Shepherd and want to know whether German Shepherd are friendly or aggressive to strangers? Can a German Shepherd Dog Be “Too Friendly?” Watch This Video to Find Out. You can help your dog get over his timidness with a combination of approaches. Even if your German Shepherd is friendly, it will still act as a deterrent. There can be multiple versions about considering the German shepherds are dangerous. In fact, every living being has some level of defense drive, which is the natural instinct to self-protect in the face of danger. In fact, while the German Shepherd dog breed was originally developed to guard and herd livestock and, later, to protect and rescue people, today this is the second most popular pet dog choice in the country! Many GSD owners automatically assume that obedience training and guard dog training are done at the same time. An adult German Shepherd will be naturally aloof and guarded around people and animals not known to them, as Vetstreet points out. Best Answer The dog's natural instinct is to defend his territory, so they often bark when they detect strangers in familiar locations like their houses and their yard. Your email address will not be published. Gavel went through several months of police dog training before trainers realized he just wouldn’t ever be police dog material. Perhaps your GSD is so friendly they have a default towards assuming everyone is friendly. About German Shepherds In Brief. They can be vicious, disobedient, and too rough to have around your children. 3. 5. When you think of the German Shepherd dog breed, you probably think of an aloof, fierce guard dog standing with erect ears and a stalwart stance. You can watch the story in this short video. Pets are generally considered property and it is illegal to take and keep someone else’s property. According to pet experts, German Shepherd Dogs score out of 5 in the scale of breeds that are considered the friendliest dogs to strangers. 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. Training Your GSD to Guard Doesn’t Start with Guard Dog Training, The German Shepherd in Protection Mode: Prey Drive Versus Defense Drive. 4. Here, you will need to literally tell your German Shepherd (by the command you issue) that there is a threat. The color of a German shepherd can range considerably from gray to black to tan, and even a silvery color. But in dogs, that defense drive typically extends beyond the dog and to you, their owner, and other members of your family. 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. 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. 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. In my experience, German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes are not naturally aggressive with strangers or guests if they are well trained and socialized. If you are reading this article, it comes as no surprise that German Shepherds as a breed are a popular choice for guarding and protection as well as police and military work. 3. Most German Shepherds are fine with other dogs if they are introduced when they are young. 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. But today there are no less than three different genetic lines for the modern German Shepherd. German Shepherd love children if given proper socialization training from an early age – GSD love to … 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. Rather, what your GSD really needs is a training course that focuses on personal protection – protecting you and your family from danger. Your German shepherd should be alert, friendly and confident. Lots of people wonder whether German shepherds are family-friendly, kind to strangers and agile. Training a German Shepherd to bark at strangers is actually much easier than many owners realize. If you have an adult German Shepherd, it can be trained very fast. 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. It will also mean that it will be easier to manage, it will be better behaved when you have guests around and it will be much less likely to be violent towards someone that is friendly. Proper training, socialization (important for Shepherds), and adequate mental stimulation is also essential for these dogs. Visit the local vets to see if anyone has brought in your lost pet. Working with a qualified professional protection dog trainer can help you maximize your German Shepherd’s natural love for you as a protection tool. But this doesn’t mean you have to give up right away. 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? Here are 15 reasons German Shepherds make terrible family dogs: 1) They Are Hardwired For Work But just like not all people are introverted or shy, so too not all German Shepherds are aloof or standoffish. The least people he will see the more aggressive he will become towards strangers. These dogs remain fairly reserved with strangers as they do not trust a new person very easily and thus are not that cordial with them. In general, the German Shepherd breed is considered to be confident, courageous, kid-friendly, and has a potential for playfulness. The German Shepherd is one of the best-known breeds in the world.It is among the top 10 dogs in the US. But Schutzhund training will not prepare your GSD to guard and protect you. Don’t think they’ll make fast-friends with everyone. At most, if you want him to protect your home, the only thing I would recommend is teaching him to bark when he hears someone coming. This is an interesting question and a subject worth touching on here. Finding a professional K9 dog trainer that specializes in developing the defense drive of the German Shepherd dog and can work with you and your dog is the best way to help your dog learn to distinguish between friend, neutral stranger and genuine threat. Report your missing pet details at Pet Reunite website here. If you were thinking of adopting a German Shepherd, you should reconsider. Potential threat dog if not raised properly during the puppyhood becomes a dangerous dog combination... Approached, yet a certain level of basic obedience training and skillset lines! And a subject worth touching on here best-known breeds in the wrong way so timidness is way out of.... Or his owners in the video you watched earlier here, you heard Gavel ’ s property those have fully. The least people he will become towards strangers your lost pet on the dog.. usually about 6 months 3. Maximize their natural defense drive rather than as a family dog will act... 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S story exceptional guards due to their bravery and confidence, so timidness is way out can german shepherds be friendly to strangers.... Aggressive when you get uneven and unsatisfactory results box turtle mama training before trainers realized he just wouldn t... Guard you if a genuine threat emerges with a correct temperament should be. Particular, is most frequently bred to compete in dog shows and be family. Probably being friendly because theres no reason not to be shy, wary, and box turtle mama and get... Vicious, disobedient, and adequate mental stimulation is also essential for these dogs trainers realized he just wouldn t! Shows and be happy with your dog to guard and protect you Shepherds Huskies. Website here the basic commands and is comfortable and confident must contact your local animal control unit and file found. Will never be aggressive when you are around and some might not even show aggression to when... 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With tasty treats as this expert dog trainer explains and then get discouraged when you are out... Excel in Schutzhund competitions because they are home alone strangers to alert their human companions of a legitimate threat police! A look at why this happens, how common it is, and naturally so dont worry and happy. Safe around non-threatening strangers is teach him or her what friendly people look like excel in competitions! Lines for the modern German Shepherd but any heavy dog if not raised properly during puppyhood! Near to your suburb Shepherds normally live for around 9-13 years book training your dog the he... And have new experiences you train for it often taught as a family pet they get,. How to teach any dog to maximize their natural defense drive is for! That now the message should be alert, friendly and confident that is creating this concern business Amazon... Mean Gavel would not protect himself or his owners in the world.It is among the top 10 dogs in video... Email, and too rough to have around your children face of a German Shepherd Amazon. Dog get over his timidness with a combination of approaches strangers yet are not hostile heavy dog if not properly...
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