Puppy is to nice to strangers?

Iannotti · 09-16-2011, 04:21 PM

My pup seems way to friendly to strangers. He is 13 weeks old now and wants to meet and play with everyone we walk by on a walk. Generally, we strive to socialize pups with all walks of life, but I really don't want a GSD who will think everyone is a friend when he is older.

Example, if my girlfriend is out on a walk with him when he is older and gets attacked, will he know that this isn't a friend of ours? Would he want to play with the attacker?

Sounds crazy, but we all do not want a dog that is not socialized and runs around biting people, but I really do not want a dog that things eveyone is a friend...

Anyway to correct this?

billsharp · 09-16-2011, 04:25 PM

IMO do not "correct" this. Puppies are generally friendly, period. Be thankful your dog isn't nervous or shy. As it matures it will become more aloof. In the meantime, its fantastic temperament should allow it to socialize easily and gain confidence quickly, which a lot of GSD owners really have to work for. What you have is a blessing, not a curse.

I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO · 09-16-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iannotti

Anyway to correct this?

NO. At 13 weeks, your puppy is a BABY, you want him to be a social butterfly. The more exposure he has to normal, everyday people, the more he will learn what is normal interaction and what is not. That distinction will allow to him act appropriately in situations when he is much, much older. Of course there's no way to know how he would really act if your girlfriend got attacked.

martemchik · 09-16-2011, 04:27 PM

Do not try to correct this!!! If you correct this kind of interaction you will get a dog that will bite everyone that walks by you! Socialize, socialize, socialize, you have a 13 week old puppy not a 2 year old GSD. Some dogs end up being protective, others don't, but you would much rather have a dog that is friends with everyone then one who thinks everyone is dangerous!

You have no way of knowing right now if your dog will be protective or not, the only way to guarantee it is to train him when he gets older, but at this point you have to socialize him as much as possible so he learns that there are friendly people. Step one is learning what a friendly hello looks like, step two will be (if you train him) figuring out what danger is.

wolfstraum · 09-16-2011, 04:29 PM

Puppies are BABIES!!!! A stable social well bred dog should mature into a dog who - ESPECIALLY if well socialized - understands the difference between a friendly/neutral interaction and a threat!!! You do NOT want an overly suspicious, fear motivated dog!! Seriously - the better social nerves the dog has, the more likely he is to be able to discern a negative social interaction!

Let him be a baby now and work on his social and environmental stability.

Lee

Jack's Dad · 09-16-2011, 04:36 PM

Iannottti:

Count your blessings.

BGSD · 09-16-2011, 04:54 PM

It's good to have a friendly puppy.

Lucy Dog · 09-16-2011, 05:21 PM

Hopefully you dont just give away this one like you did the last one about a year ago.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 09-16-2011, 05:40 PM

Please read up on what a normal puppy should be. If you are confused about a normal happy puppy greeting people, you'll probably need help with alot of other issues in the next year.

A HAPPY puppy makes a confident ADULT. That's what we all want. Be like saying 'my puppy likes to eat, how can I correct that?'. Or 'my puppy loves to play with toys, how can I correct that?'.

Schutzhund-Training.com - Puppy Tips

Puppy Development Stages and Puppy Growth - Canine Behavior and Training

Understanding Puppy

Von Falconer K-9 Training - Articles / Puppiest 1st Night to 1st Year

Tommy5144 · 09-16-2011, 10:51 PM

As everyone has stated below..PLEASE do not attempt to correct this. My puppy loves everyone and everything right now...sept squirrels and birds lol. He plays with all people, cats, dogs, anything.

We play on doing protection work with him but our puppy...likes yours...needs to be socialized and exposed to EVERYTHING. He has walked by moving trains...been around fireworks...around every age size color and shape of human and dog. I want him to know that these are okay...and when a person comes up to us with a knife and angry expression...he will know that that is NOT normal and protect.

09-16-2011, 04:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Iannotti Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: NY, NY Posts: 114	Puppy is to nice to strangers? My pup seems way to friendly to strangers. He is 13 weeks old now and wants to meet and play with everyone we walk by on a walk. Generally, we strive to socialize pups with all walks of life, but I really don't want a GSD who will think everyone is a friend when he is older. Example, if my girlfriend is out on a walk with him when he is older and gets attacked, will he know that this isn't a friend of ours? Would he want to play with the attacker? Sounds crazy, but we all do not want a dog that is not socialized and runs around biting people, but I really do not want a dog that things eveyone is a friend... Anyway to correct this?

09-16-2011, 04:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
billsharp Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 347	IMO do not "correct" this. Puppies are generally friendly, period. Be thankful your dog isn't nervous or shy. As it matures it will become more aloof. In the meantime, its fantastic temperament should allow it to socialize easily and gain confidence quickly, which a lot of GSD owners really have to work for. What you have is a blessing, not a curse. __________________ Liesl, b. 1/1/11 Maxie, 1994-2009 King, 1963-1968

09-16-2011, 04:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
wolfstraum Crowned Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: PA Posts: 7,088	Puppies are BABIES!!!! A stable social well bred dog should mature into a dog who - ESPECIALLY if well socialized - understands the difference between a friendly/neutral interaction and a threat!!! You do NOT want an overly suspicious, fear motivated dog!! Seriously - the better social nerves the dog has, the more likely he is to be able to discern a negative social interaction! Let him be a baby now and work on his social and environmental stability. Lee __________________ Csabre Sch1, Hexe Sch2, Bengal, Kyra, Kira & Kougar v Wolfstraum ~ Basha Sch3, Ghost Sch3 - Danger Sch1 SAR - ATB/Ret - Kyra, Sch3, Alice Sch1, Kelsey, Fenja Sch3 wolfstraum.net

09-16-2011, 04:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jack's Dad Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,351	Iannottti: Count your blessings. __________________ Andy

09-16-2011, 04:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
BGSD Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 450	It's good to have a friendly puppy. __________________ The misery of keeping a dog is his dying so soon. But, to be sure, if he lived for fifty years and then died, what would become of me? - Sir Walter Scott

09-16-2011, 04:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
martemchik Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,043	Do not try to correct this!!! If you correct this kind of interaction you will get a dog that will bite everyone that walks by you! Socialize, socialize, socialize, you have a 13 week old puppy not a 2 year old GSD. Some dogs end up being protective, others don't, but you would much rather have a dog that is friends with everyone then one who thinks everyone is dangerous! You have no way of knowing right now if your dog will be protective or not, the only way to guarantee it is to train him when he gets older, but at this point you have to socialize him as much as possible so he learns that there are friendly people. Step one is learning what a friendly hello looks like, step two will be (if you train him) figuring out what danger is.

09-16-2011, 05:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,180	Hopefully you dont just give away this one like you did the last one about a year ago. __________________ Paul

09-16-2011, 05:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,206	Please read up on what a normal puppy should be. If you are confused about a normal happy puppy greeting people, you'll probably need help with alot of other issues in the next year. A HAPPY puppy makes a confident ADULT. That's what we all want. Be like saying 'my puppy likes to eat, how can I correct that?'. Or 'my puppy loves to play with toys, how can I correct that?'. Schutzhund-Training.com - Puppy Tips Puppy Development Stages and Puppy Growth - Canine Behavior and Training Understanding Puppy Von Falconer K-9 Training - Articles / Puppiest 1st Night to 1st Year __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

09-16-2011, 10:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tommy5144 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 54	As everyone has stated below..PLEASE do not attempt to correct this. My puppy loves everyone and everything right now...sept squirrels and birds lol. He plays with all people, cats, dogs, anything. We play on doing protection work with him but our puppy...likes yours...needs to be socialized and exposed to EVERYTHING. He has walked by moving trains...been around fireworks...around every age size color and shape of human and dog. I want him to know that these are okay...and when a person comes up to us with a knife and angry expression...he will know that that is NOT normal and protect.

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