Fights? Do we get more upset then the pup?

[wildrivers]

I have a fairly well balanced, well socialized 15 month old female. I have had her around other dogs all her life. She does great until a dog pushs her too hard and I didnt see it, then the dog does it again and a fight can start if the other dog doesnt get her signal to back off. This happened today and I wonder if it effects my 15 month old pup, and how she will react in the next dog on dog meeting, with other dogs, not the one she had a small fight with. Am I being overly worried when I think this may change her future behavior towards all dogs? Or by now is she pretty set in her ways and dog skills? She loves 99.9% of all dogs. I am worried that each time there is a fight she may be losing her balance and the training I have given her. Last thing I want is a bitchy female.

[msvette2u]

Control the situations and don't let things get out of hand.

If you're always taking her to uncontrolled settings like dog parks, it could definitely turn her into a very defensive dog who fights quickly.

[doggiedad]

how often is your dog involved in fights? set up a play date
with a dog or 2 that she has no problems with.

[Blanketback]

I think that as our GSDs mature, they'll decide if they want to be social to other dogs or if they'll want to keep them at a distance. It sounds like she doesn't really like other dogs being in her space, even though she's friendly to most of them right now.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Control the situations and don't let things get out of hand.

If you're always taking her to uncontrolled settings like dog parks, it could definitely turn her into a very defensive dog who fights quickly.

I agree. If I have my dog(s) with other dogs and they are loose, I have to KNOW they all behave around each other OR I need to pay attention.

If a scuffle breaks out it is MY FAULT and if I wasn't watching I have no idea who/what started it or how bad it was so my young dogs can get messed up and become less reliable around other dogs. I kill myself to socialize and get my dogs to behave around others and to ruin it in a few instances when I failed to pay attention is just not being responsible.

My dogs have to be polite around all dogs, but don't need to like all dogs. And that's a big difference. So if another dogs is a pain and is being inappropriate around my dog, I shouldn't have let my dog be in the situation that they have to deal with it. I prefer to be watching and either be able to step in BEFORE an issue starts or remove my dog entirely from the situation.

The best dog scuffle is NO dog scuffle and paying attention makes all the difference to help our dogs.

[wildrivers]

Thanks for replys. I just never know for sure in public which dog is a social dog and which one is not. I know dog play and behavior pretty well and watch over my pup. However being human I screw up now and again. I wont put her with that dog again. This is only the 3rd time in the 15 months of life she has done this. I saw my pup give the other dog two signals and at that I should have stepped in. This is a great journey in learning canine socialization and my leadership role.

[pets4life]

if shes a stable dog shes not going to turn dog aggressive at this age. Shes still young tho she has yet to mature. A lot of bad experiences can turn her into a real bitch though. GSDs are what they are though shes not going to have the personality of a typical lab or golden. Even the more submissive gsd females i have met have that edge to them.

[wildrivers]

I think she is going to be fine too. yesturday I ran into two 4 dog packs loose while hiking and she did fine. She also ran into one 13 month old hound and all went excellent. I just need to learn to keep her away from dogs whos owners never took the time to socialize their dogs/pups and or strange dogs. Thanks again for replys they helped calm me down after her fight.

[sashadog]

I definitely think that we react more emotionally than the dogs do and can hang onto the anxiety longer. If she's a stable girl then you should be fine but do keep in mind that as she matures she may very well become a slightly "bitchy" female. Not that this is a bad thing I just have yet to meet a mature female GSD that as pets4life said, doesn't have an edge to them. They're GSD's and they're females...