Being "civil" and social aggression?

[PatchonGSD]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Okay...so is the stranger welcome on the property??

And even if not (some church members going door-to-door) are we going to allow Fido to take them out?
I might.

We'll just say for the sake of argument that the stranger, although we've never met, we can tell means us no harm.

...

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by pets4life

who are you talking to mrs k lol you have to respond at least to someones question or name

From my understanding, working dog handlers understand, treat and handle their dogs differently. It gets very apparent in discussions like these.

I'm a bit confused to. The OP is not a working dog handler

[Jack's Dad]

Great thread.

So in a lot of the aggression threads if a dog barks, hackles or growls, in some of the scenarios mentioned here, many say the dog is FA.

I think in some of those cases the dog is doing what a good GSD should do.

Now I realize there are genetic nerve bags but the more I read here the more I wonder, could the owners be creating the instability in some of these dogs.

Maybe some of these dogs are ok but the owners don't understand the way the dog should be.

Both my dogs have strong territorial aggression. I want them to have that. But some would say they are acting out of fear.

It is common to hear that on this board.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by PatchonGSD

...

All these "going from door to door" people started to ignore our house. Sometimes I wonder if there is an online forum where these people warn about certain houses.

[PatchonGSD]

Originally Posted by Vandal

We have a rather huge shift in mentality nowadays and the dogs are paying for it.

Would you consider a person reaching through a window in your house as threatening? I would. I might consider shooting 'em. Maybe that makes me unstable but a fence is usually surrounding the dog's territory and mine. If someone ignores the warning from the dog and reaches over anyway, I would expect my dog to escalate his response.

Again, this is not about unstable dogs but nowadays, any dog can be made to sound like he is. Years ago, dogs were expected to protect. It was accepted and people RESPECTED the dog's space and territory! I have so much sympathy for what the dog are put through now due to the level of ignorance that exists and the very unreasonable expectations. They are DOGS!

I could not agree more on all points!

[Jax08]

I haven't read the thread yet but I do agree with Andy. My dog is FA with other dogs. You can see the lack of confidence, the shying away, the tension. But there is something about a person not moving, frozen, that sets her off. It's not normal to her and she reacts STRONGLY to it. There is no hesitation in her response. She's not scared of the person...she just simply really doesn't like it.

[gagsd]

Originally Posted by Jack's Dad

Great thread.

So in a lot of the aggression threads if a dog barks, hackles or growls, in some of the scenarios mentioned here, many say the dog is FA.

I think in some of those cases the dog is doing what a good GSD should do.

Now I realize there are genetic nerve bags but the more I read here the more I wonder, could the owners be creating the instability in some of these dogs.

Maybe some of these dogs are ok but the owners don't understand the way the dog should be.

Both my dogs have strong territorial aggression. I want them to have that. But some would say they are acting out of fear.

It is common to hear that on this board.

And once people hear their dog is fear aggressive, I bet it just sticks and the poor dog gets labeled and handled as if he is.
Self-fulfilling prophecy.
I am often amazed at the different information I get from real people versus what is on an internet forum.

[gagsd]

Shoot... I can make my dog insecure in the way I handle him. It is very apparent when I train in front of people that I respect and are more experienced than I. I get worried. The dog starts ear-flicking and glancing out of the corner of his eye at me because he senses my nervousness.
Most watching cannot tell how I feel.... but they can see the dog's reaction.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by gagsd

And once people hear their dog is fear aggressive, I bet it just sticks and the poor dog gets labeled and handled as if he is.
Self-fulfilling prophecy.
I am often amazed at the different information I get from real people versus what is on an internet forum.

Also, it depends on whether you deal with pet dog people and the average jo and if you are dealing with somebody that actually works their dogs in Schutzhund/Protection/SAR etc.

There is a huge difference in not only how we view our dogs but also how we work them, keep them, what needs they have and what is expected of them. That alone, makes a difference. The average pet owner wouldn't want the type of dog that we are looking for or want. They don't want to hear the word aggression or the truth what a dog really is and how they can and should react in certain situations. Even though the word "Alpha" is being thrown around a lot...
crazy world...

[gagsd]

I watched a video taped seminar recently. Kathy Sdao's "Cujo Meets Pavlov."
She presented a video of an aggressive dog.... and I couldn't believe it. To me, the dog was insecure and showing it, but compared to aggression that I have seen the dog was like a 4 on a 1-10 scale of aggressive behaviors. Just not very scary.

So yes, Mrs K..... it certainly depends on the person doing the evaluating.