[squeakermama]

Hi everyone
My family and I moved a few months back into an acre lot that is fenced (4 ft chain link) off all around our home that sits in the center of the property.
After moving in, we got a female German Shepherd puppy. She is now almost 4 1/2 months old. She is a great dog outside of the usual puppy issues and is training very well.
My question is that our neighbors (at the back and sides) seem unable to keep their hands off of her and pet her over the fence. She loves it and so does my Pug dog. Anyway my concern is that she will become 'friendly' at the fence line or start to climb, jump or dig out to get to them. I really don't want her to be "friendly" to people at the fence. I don't want a mean dog but I did get her to not only be our pet but to be some protection for us and our boys ages 6 and 4.
Do I allow this to continue? Should I talk to them about petting her? Will she grow and start to bark when people approach the property? Will she distinguish between known neighbors and a stranger?
As of now she is barking but then they call her and she becomes friendly and goes to them.
Should I be concerned?
Thanks for your help.

 

[we4elves]

I don't think it will stop her from being protective...Try to get to know your neighbors...this may be a blessing...maybe they could help with vacations and dog sitting in the future

 

[Stevenzachsmom]

I want my dog to be friendly at the fence to the neighbors. I'm sure she wouldn't be happy about a stranger hopping the fence into her yard, but I sure as heck don't want her rushing the fence barking and scaring the neighbors. Bad situation. I have never left my dog in the yard unattended, so digging out, jumping over, etc. is not an option.

 

[squeakermama]

My last Shepherd was never "friendly" at the fence and never trusted anyone unless I or my husband was around. We inherited her after our a friend of ours passes away and she was already grown. She was my eyes and ears and I loved it. If someone came up to the property she would give a good warning bark and I loved it. I suffer from deafness in one ear and hearing loss in the other so I appreciate a good set of ears My son also suffers hearing loss as well.
I stay at home with the boys all day and home school them while daddy is gone at work.
I'm not wanting a guard dog that is a nuisance but a watch dog to let me know someone is near and look a bit more intimidating than my Pug while doing it.
Thanks for your input ")

 

[we4elves]

They are just naturally protective of their people...Im sure she will still be...in a few months you will probably notice she will probably start barking at people, maybe (if your lucky)not your neighbors...because then you will have problems with people complaining!!!

 

[Stevenzachsmom]

I really believe your pup will still do that. My dog alerts to anything going up and down the street. She even barks at us when we come home. You are right. I do like that warning. It discourages people and makes me feel safe. I'm sure as your pup matures, she will make you aware of what is going on.

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

Unless you're afraid that your neighbors are going to someday break into your house and steal your stuff I wouldn't worry about her being friendly to them. Presumably YOU are friendly to them, and IMO she should readily accept people that you know and are not concerned about - neighbors, friendly strangers, people you invite into your home. A dog who is suspicious of neighbors might end up not trusting your kid's friends who come over some day. At her age especially, she should like and be friendly to people in general.

 

[PaddyD]

I don't think it will stop her from being protective...Try to get to know your neighbors...this may be a blessing...maybe they could help with vacations and dog sitting in the future

I agree. GSDs are smart. She will probably continue to be friendly to those who have pet her and bark at everyone else. Mine surely knows the difference between the dog walker who comes at noon and anyone else who comes to the door.

 

[squeakermama]

I suppose it just makes me nervous because I really just moved in this house a month or so ago and really don't know my neighbors too well yet. I'm friendly with them but I wouldn't say that I'm tight with them like in my old neighborhood. Hopefully in time that will change. They seem nice and just wanting to pet a cute Shepherd puppy. I understand that. But it's not something that I myself would do without asking the owner first or have them present. I just don't know them too well yet and it kind of bugs me.
I do realized some folks don't have the same boundaries as I do
I do feel better about it after hearing some input on here.
Thanks so much.

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

I get what you're saying, but puppies should be confident, friendly, and social because they have no reason to dislike or be suspicious of people. As she matures she will likely become more discriminatory about people, but right now she's way too young to be protective. Any suspicion you might see in a 4-1/2 month old puppy would more likely be fear based and indicate poor temperament, such as weak nerves.

 

[DJEtzel]

I would personally discourage it. Just because I am paranoid and don't want my dog TRYING to jump fences or being happy to meet strangers at fences where they could slip her something before I got to her or let out a "Leave it" command.

I would talk to the neighbors and explain WHY I didn't want them at the fence, but let them know that anytime they see us out in the yard they can come over to the gate and I'll let them in to play with her. We'd love the socialization, I just don't want her thinking it's okay to approach strangers at the fence for this and that reason.

 

[Montana Scout]

i would think that situation actually gives him some extra socialization... my pup doesn't know anyone around here, he has a 7ft wood fence (breeder wouldn't let him go with anything less than 6ft) and doesn't get neighborhood socialization... so i think your in a good spot as long as they know dogs can bite...

and as for you question on strangers, i think they do know the difference, for example, i go to petco playdates (i know leave it alone LOL) but there is one dog that he gets along with and its a 3mo chocolate lab.. anyway we ran into eachother at the fairgrounds and he knew exactly who they were, even tho the environment has changed... but its all how you train him also.. i would hate to have a neighbor kid poke his fingers in trying to be playful and my pup bite him /c:

oh and i would think about raising your 4ft fence.... even i can walk over that LOL

 

[Deuce]

I would take it as a blessing they she's being friendly with your neighbors....they're not going anywhere and neither are you I assume so wouldn't you want her to be "nice" to people who are always around?

 

[Shadow's mum]

My neighbor on one side of my house has been doing this since we got our pup at 10 weeks, our pup is now 1 year old. Shadow our pup is fine with this neighbor, but she will now watch the neighbors property for strangers as well as our own. She won't let anyone come to the back fence line (not where our neighbor can get to ) without barking or growling. Shadow also alerts us when there is a stranger now in my neighbors drive way as well.
GSD's are smart dogs, your pup will see these neighbors threw the fence line anyway and possibly when you walk your pup, she/he will see that you are being friendly with your neighbor. I would be very surprised if your pup didn't alert you to a stranger as it grew older. It's also different talking to a pup/dog threw a fence as opposed to actually crossing over into their yard without their owner being right there. My neighbor who Shadow has grown up with and she has had GSD herself over the years would never dream of entering our yard without us present. Shadow knows the neighbors place is in the neighbors yard, not our yard.
You could try talking to your neighbors and asking them to please not give treats to your pup without you being present (in list their help) explain to them you don't want your pup eating anything that you haven't okay'd, in case she is ever baited or gets into something she shouldn't.
Your at a huge advantage if you have the neighbors on your side.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

I want my dog to be friendly at the fence to the neighbors. I'm sure she wouldn't be happy about a stranger hopping the fence into her yard, but I sure as heck don't want her rushing the fence barking and scaring the neighbors. Bad situation. I have never left my dog in the yard unattended, so digging out, jumping over, etc. is not an option.

That entire post is well done! If I'm going to leave my dog out ALONE in the yard, then I'd way rather have it friendly friendly with neighbors petting them than deal with the blood/doctor bills/suing that may otherwise happen. Also a neighbor who loves my dogs will be less likely to be bothered by their barking when left alone in the yard.

So if I choose to leave my dog in the yard unattended, then I WANT them to like the neighbors.

 

[Rerun]

We've often said if our neighbor breaks into our house when we're not home we're screwed because all the dogs love her. Akira even takes her the cuz and she slips it under the gate and tosses it across the yard for her. Shortly after we moved in I was in the master bedroom one day and saw the cuz go flying across the yard. Looked out the other window to the side yard (between her house and mine) and saw her standing at the gate. Akira retrieved the cuz, took it back, and it repeated.

Used to bother me a little but she's friendly and harmless.

Be friendly to your neighbors, they aren't hurting anything. Trust me - our dogs know the difference between her and a stranger.