Initial fear

Kittilicious · 12-01-2011, 08:10 AM

I'm starting to be more and more concerned about this situation. We go and visit my husband's sister quite often and we bring Knuckles with because she has 3 GSD's, one being Knuckles' littermate. They get along great and Knuckles loves it out there, but when he get there is the problem. When we first drive into the driveway all 3 dogs are on the car right away, looking in the windows. The 2 adults (one being Knuckles' dad, not that that matters) have started to look in the back window now because they are so used to us bringing Knuckles with. We open the back door and let Knuckles get out... he is very quick to join in the fun but as soon as he gets onto the ground his hackles go up and he pees. Yes, they do all circle around him so I know it's overwhelming for him at first. Nobody growls, nobody snaps, it's lots of kisses & smelling. But within a couple minutes (not even) he's jumping on them all and happy as pie to start playing.
We don't just "throw" Knuckles into the pack, he gets out of the car on his own, his own time. It doesn't matter how we reintroduce them, it's the same peeing & hackles first off.
Is this something to worry about? Will he always be fearful initially? Is it just a puppy thing? This is the only place that we drive to that has dogs... the rest of his "friends" are on our walks, so I'm not sure if I can test it out somewhere else safely (I trust these 3 GSD's with him).

**Castlemaid** · 12-01-2011, 09:00 AM

Sounds to me like it's just a puppy thing. I don't even see fear in what you describe - I see excitement (hackles - can be fear or excitement, depends on the dog), and submissive peeing upon meeting adult GSDs that he has not seen for a while is also normal, and something he will grow out of.

Kittilicious · 12-01-2011, 09:22 AM

You think so? Good! I sure hope so. These are the only ones he seems to do it to, but like I said these are the only ones he gets a ride to see.

mysweetkaos · 12-01-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castlemaid

Sounds to me like it's just a puppy thing. I don't even see fear in what you describe - I see excitement (hackles - can be fear or excitement, depends on the dog), and submissive peeing upon meeting adult GSDs that he has not seen for a while is also normal, and something he will grow out of.

I would agree. Sherman for one gets his hackles up all the time while playing with K...at first I was concerned because if K's hackles are up...that's not a good thing. But with Sherm, it just seems to be mean he is excited (good or bad). The peeing, is submission in my opinion...if K and Sherman have been seperated for awhile even 1/2 day, Sherm always pees when they are reunited...luckily only outside, inside he just gets down and army crawls all around K to say hello

12-01-2011, 08:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kittilicious Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,101	Initial fear I'm starting to be more and more concerned about this situation. We go and visit my husband's sister quite often and we bring Knuckles with because she has 3 GSD's, one being Knuckles' littermate. They get along great and Knuckles loves it out there, but when he get there is the problem. When we first drive into the driveway all 3 dogs are on the car right away, looking in the windows. The 2 adults (one being Knuckles' dad, not that that matters) have started to look in the back window now because they are so used to us bringing Knuckles with. We open the back door and let Knuckles get out... he is very quick to join in the fun but as soon as he gets onto the ground his hackles go up and he pees. Yes, they do all circle around him so I know it's overwhelming for him at first. Nobody growls, nobody snaps, it's lots of kisses & smelling. But within a couple minutes (not even) he's jumping on them all and happy as pie to start playing. We don't just "throw" Knuckles into the pack, he gets out of the car on his own, his own time. It doesn't matter how we reintroduce them, it's the same peeing & hackles first off. Is this something to worry about? Will he always be fearful initially? Is it just a puppy thing? This is the only place that we drive to that has dogs... the rest of his "friends" are on our walks, so I'm not sure if I can test it out somewhere else safely (I trust these 3 GSD's with him). __________________ - Berleen - Knuckles - born 8/21/11 - my big knucklehead and can't forget Saki; the Golden Retriever, Born 11/07/07 The felines that rule the house - Oliver, Serena, Sakura & Bastian. https://www.facebook.com/berleen

12-01-2011, 09:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Castlemaid Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern British Columbia Posts: 9,089	Sounds to me like it's just a puppy thing. I don't even see fear in what you describe - I see excitement (hackles - can be fear or excitement, depends on the dog), and submissive peeing upon meeting adult GSDs that he has not seen for a while is also normal, and something he will grow out of. __________________ Lucia Keeta BH, OB1, TR1, AD (HOT) Rottweiler/Hairy Dog mix?? Shelter rescue Gryffon Vom Wildhaus BH, OFA Good (HOT) "Bites Through the Sleeve" Cuddlebug, b: Mar 2009

12-01-2011, 09:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kittilicious Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,101	You think so? Good! I sure hope so. These are the only ones he seems to do it to, but like I said these are the only ones he gets a ride to see. __________________ - Berleen - Knuckles - born 8/21/11 - my big knucklehead and can't forget Saki; the Golden Retriever, Born 11/07/07 The felines that rule the house - Oliver, Serena, Sakura & Bastian. https://www.facebook.com/berleen

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