How does your GSD act with strangers?
How Does Your GSD Act With Strangers?
Jusdy
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Lisl is good with family that visits, but she doesn't like strangers and will not trust them. It does depend upon the person in some cases, but many times she will just ignore you after she gives you a once over sniff, or if she doesn't like you will try to keep you pinned in whatever location you are in.
The couch in the living room, the front porch, the bathroom (if you get that far). She will sit or stand in front of you, bark at you aggressively and not allow you to move if I allow it.
A few weeks ago I was in the garage with the door open assembling a new Weber grill. Lisl is never very far from me anywhere we are, but that day she heard the mailbox lid open.
I did not.
She quietly ran to the front porch and detained the mail gal until I could get to the front of the house to see what all the ruckus was about.
She never attacked her, but she would not let her off of the front porch until I arrived and told her 'quiet!' and 'off!'.
I appologised profusely for Lisl having scared the poor girl to death.
The couch in the living room, the front porch, the bathroom (if you get that far). She will sit or stand in front of you, bark at you aggressively and not allow you to move if I allow it.
A few weeks ago I was in the garage with the door open assembling a new Weber grill. Lisl is never very far from me anywhere we are, but that day she heard the mailbox lid open.
I did not.
She quietly ran to the front porch and detained the mail gal until I could get to the front of the house to see what all the ruckus was about.
She never attacked her, but she would not let her off of the front porch until I arrived and told her 'quiet!' and 'off!'.
I appologised profusely for Lisl having scared the poor girl to death.
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2,084 Posts
There should be another option--my male GSD stays aloof to strangers, but he doesn't immediately want to bite their head off. He doesn't really fit in any of those three descriptions.
My female, now, opts for the bite their head off. Until I let her see that someone is okay, then she is aloof.
My female, now, opts for the bite their head off. Until I let her see that someone is okay, then she is aloof.
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597 Posts
ditto this with my pack!
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344 Posts
If were out in public, on a walk or whatever Dixie usually ignore's stranger's. If a stranger tries to come onto the property they are met with an unhappy girl. Until my husband or I give her the command to stop than she'll come back and watch the person very intently.
Bear appears to want to be everyone's friend, human, dog, cat, or otherwise.
Even when another dog (or person) clearly doesn't like him or is scared of him, he seems to take it as a cue to try extra hard to be friendly and un-obnoxious. It works maybe 90% of the time, and when it doesn't, poor Bear has a nearly perfect 'kicked dog' look over the fact that someone didn't think he was great.
I've found more people automatically assume he's going to bite their face off because of his breed than anything, and more than one older person who is wary of him because of 'bad experiences with police dogs in the 60s and 70s' (thought that was a strange one-off conversation, but I've heard it from about 10 random people we've met on walks in the past few months).
Even when another dog (or person) clearly doesn't like him or is scared of him, he seems to take it as a cue to try extra hard to be friendly and un-obnoxious. It works maybe 90% of the time, and when it doesn't, poor Bear has a nearly perfect 'kicked dog' look over the fact that someone didn't think he was great.
I've found more people automatically assume he's going to bite their face off because of his breed than anything, and more than one older person who is wary of him because of 'bad experiences with police dogs in the 60s and 70s' (thought that was a strange one-off conversation, but I've heard it from about 10 random people we've met on walks in the past few months).
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I couldn't vote.
My girl is a pup, so it's hard to say how things will end up, but as she gets older, she's leaning more toward the parade but not waving (which totally cracks me up). Right now, it's really hit or miss regarding who is an instant BFF and who she refuses to acknowledge, and there is zero correlation between that and the level of interest the stranger has in her.
Unless you are a kid. Then she will love you.
My girl is a pup, so it's hard to say how things will end up, but as she gets older, she's leaning more toward the parade but not waving (which totally cracks me up). Right now, it's really hit or miss regarding who is an instant BFF and who she refuses to acknowledge, and there is zero correlation between that and the level of interest the stranger has in her.
Unless you are a kid. Then she will love you.
She is watchful and later ambivalent. But I think if I displayed any hostility or fear she'd be on them like a badger.
No exact vote category.
I keep my signals careful because she really disapproves of strangers on first exposure. If we are relaxed then she is friendly.
The the reaction is changing as she now settles into her second year; the 'friendly' is becoming 'aloof' towards adults.
She still likes and is attracted towards children. And herds them.
**add: It also depends on location. Around home she is more proactive in defense mode.. travel = day off
No exact vote category.
I keep my signals careful because she really disapproves of strangers on first exposure. If we are relaxed then she is friendly.
The the reaction is changing as she now settles into her second year; the 'friendly' is becoming 'aloof' towards adults.
She still likes and is attracted towards children. And herds them.
**add: It also depends on location. Around home she is more proactive in defense mode.. travel = day off
Bijuu used to love every one, but ever since he his the 5 month mark he ignores people. He'll sniff them, but doesn't care to be touched by people he doesn't know. He just acts like they don't exist, he'll glance at them from time to time if we stop and talk. It apparently bothers a lot of 'dog people' in my area, they call him unsocialized and antisocial, lol.
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We just got our Shepherd, but he seems to like everyone. He did let out a huge bark the other day when I came home, through the front door. He seems to be just what we've been wanting. Doesn't bark except when he thinks something is "off". We are not sure how he'd be if anyone tried to threaten us, but I imagine he would try to protect us.
Mila - East German Bloodline Female 2015 Olaf - Black Male 2018-2020 Baron von Trigam - Bi-Colour Ma
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Mine is still a puppy. Went to Puppy School and Mila immediately started barking/growling at the other pups and her back hair were standing up. So we all held back our puppies until the instructor came around and took the leash and took her to meet all the pups. Then all was fine. She is still to young to react to human strangers, will see in future.
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I picked "instantly loves everyone" though if there was something between instantly loves everyone and cautious to meet people, I would probably have picked that. Asher didn't get the memo that he is supposed to be aloof, though he is getting somewhat more reserved as he gets older. He is friendly and outgoing in public places, out on walks, at the vets, pet store, obedience classes, ect. He likes to greet people. We've never encountered anyone acting shady or suspicious though. He does bark at strange occurrences outside...like people out on four-wheelers shouting at each other (which is happening on the road outside our house while I type this, haha).
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