Scared people will think my reactive dog is dangerous

[Gsdmama]

So I've been working really hard with my girl since we had her at 9 weeks. So a little background. I started training with my girl from the minute we had her with basic commands. We signed her up for puppy class once she had her second injections. The first session went well though she was a little shy. The second session a cockapoo barked at her and lunged which nerved her a bit. The third session the minute she saw the other dogs she reacted barking and lunging and the trainer did nothing to help me and she barked for ages. The trainer then told me to go in a corner out the way. From this minute on the trainer seemed to not spend as much time with my dog, just gave me basic commands to practice which my dog already knew. The last session we had was recall and all dogs had a turn off lead. Trainer didnt want her off lead but was happy for the snappy cockapoo to be off lead who ran straight to my dog. We let mine off and she came straight to me no issue at all, then the same cockapoo snapped again and my dog growled and barked and the trainer basically blamed my dog! I guess because she was the biggest there. I came out of that class in tears and never went back.
We found someone who deals with this breed and within seconds of meeting him my dog was under control. He took her to built up areas with barley a bark. He said shes not aggressive just slightly unsure and reactive and rather than letting her greet dogs and people to have her leave it and walk past. If we see someone we know to stop, have her sit and wait. So I've been working so, so hard on this and she's got so much better. She sometimes will bark but I stop, have her sit and wait. She's so much better with people but not a fussy dog she would rather sit and wait than have a fuss. She goes to work with my dp and gotten to know the people there and loves them. She sometimes even barks at people she knows well. She's still not 100% on dogs and will bark if they stare or run towards her. We have another dog aswell and she loves her, we have rabbits which she adores and is so gentle with. I dont leave her unsupervised with them so please dont worry. People shake their head, cross over or snap at me when out walking. Some people praise me for the work I put in. I would like to have her greet different dogs but because of the way she acts when the dog gets close, noone is willing to help me really. I have her off lead when no one is around, her recalls fab and she loves a ball so no matter what dog is around she will not leave my side but on lead she's different, as my trainer said she's more restricted on lead so has no where to run if feeling threatened. She's quite protective of me aswell. I've read in the news that people can report dogs if they see them as dangerous and this scares me. I don't want people to see her that way. She's such a good, highly intelligent dog and would hate to think someone would report because they don't understand her or how much effort I've put into training. She doesn't like strangers coming in the house so will bark and sometimes growl but she backs away and after seeing them a few times she'll go for a fuss. Hes never bared teeth or truly growled in a nasty way. If someone comes in the house shes unsure of she barks, slightly growls, sbiffs then runs to find a bone or toy. She's currently in the window watching workmen as quiet as a mouse when normally she'd be barking so my training is paying off in most ways. All the news regarding dogs recently has put me on edge because I don't want people think that of her. My other dog has no issues. I do walk them separately so I can concentrate on the training 1 to 1. Ive had many dogs successfully in the past but none were reactive. Im fully aware having a big dog bark at you can be scary, ive had it myself and been the one to judge unfortunately because i assumed these owners couldnt be bothered to train their dogs but now i know different. Little dogs in the street bark all the time but people find this cute and coo over them but when mine does it, its a different reaction. Any advice thanks and sorry for the long post just wanted to add as much as possible.

Thankyou. Yes we are in 1:1 training now and have been for quite sometime. Its only the people we know and bump into often that I'd like her to greet but other dogs I'm training her to walk past. She'll happily sit on a bench with me and watch dogs in the distance. She has been offlead with 3 other dogs before and been fine it's mainly on lead she reacts.

You have chosen a large dog which is breed to be very vocal and have a high guarding drive in a family home. Combine that with the dog picking up on they have an owner who is nervous of their dogs reactions and you are going to have a challenging time.

The dog is just starting to mature now and I think you need to invest in training with someone who is properly qualified and knows this breed well to both train the dog and give you confidence you need with a dog with these traits.

It is perfectly reasonable for people to judge and natural for them to be very concerned if they are being intimated in the street by a large breed dog, commonly known for its guarding tendencies, where it appears its owner cannot control it adequately. It is your responsibility not to put your dog in those high pressure situations where they are being allowed to behave this way and the behaviour becomes ingrained until they are trained not to react.

I have a niece with two reactive collies (rescues with histories of neglect), but she knew what she was signing up for with both of them and the restrictions that she would have. They are so vocal and over protective she only takes them to places where people know dogs (agility), rents a dog field, or carefully plans walks where she knows she will meet very few people and there is plenty of space to cross the road or change direction if needed and most walks are achieved without stressing either dog out.

It's not bizarre. This is a public forum and the thread showed up in active. We all have to encounter dogs everywhere we go, we're allowed an opinion.

One of my family members gsd thinks she's a lapdog too. Everyone that came in the house was scared of her at first glance until she ran over to lick and cuddle them and bring them toys constantly.

Thankyou they are definitely more aloof. My GR will run to any visitor. My gsd barks a few times then runs away, comes back to sniff then bark then runs away, then sits and watches the visitor then may go for a fuss if she thinks they're OK or she'll stay in her bed until they leave.

The worst people are those that think every dog should greet and unfortunately there's alot of those people in my area. I always say they can greet my other dog but unless this one wants to greet then no I have her sit and wait. If we are put together and my GR greets a dog she does show more of an interest, I'm guessing she has back up from her big sister and she knows it's ok.
If I know she looks uncomfortable or the another dog is staring or showing signs of aggression or being abit boisterous them I do cross over to avoid anything happening. There's a few aggressive dogs in my street. Most are the smaller ones but we do have a collie and 2 labs in the street who are very unpredictable so I don't take her out when I know they are out.

I am one of those people who think dogs should greet. They are pets. Really no need to have a dog to do anything other than that unless it is sheep dog or a soft mouthed retriever!

I doubt very much that this behaviour is just because of a dog nipping or lunging at her. She would already have been genetically predisposed to this behaviour. The training class would not have caused the issues but it would have highlighted situations that she is uncomfortable with. Big shame the trainer was unable to help you though.

I am a little concerned re your behaviourist. Trained behaviourists will very very very rarely handle the dog that they are helping. It is for them to assist the owner in what to do not do it themselves. Do get a qualified behaviourist to help you.

The situation will get worse unless you get the correct advice.

You need to keep your dog away from all interactions that make them react, people dogs etc. Aim to keep your dog walks calm and no barking.

Her behaviour before this happening was fine. She was greeting dogs ok and loved greeting people. People always came to fuss her but as soon as that session ended it was like she dreaded going back because she knew what was coming.

My trainer only handles her to show me how to hold lead such as, no tension, shows how to walk to heel, shows how to stop, what feet to use etc then passes lead to me and watches me do the same thing. He's seen a big difference in her and has basically said teacher her to pass calmly rather than greeting. That's what I've been working on so whereas before I'd get a bark at everything that moved. Now she will mainly leave it on command unless she's doesn't like the look of the other dog or person. Then shell react but the reaction is now quickly controlled by me. It's mainly men with caps or of they walk with a bit of a gangster walk (didn't know how as to describe lol)

So you have a trainer not a behaviourist

A dog barking at your dog will not make any dog react to a man in a cap.

It helps to understand your dogs personality and temperament and not blame it on a few specific situations.

QueenCamilla- totally agree. I am sick of all the comments ‘my dog is on a lead’ so therefore it is everyone else’s fault if it snarls. It snarls as it is genetically predisposed to be aggressive!! So therefore why do you have it!!

When was the last time you saw the local drug deal with a cockapoo or Labrador 🙈

I’ve been bitten by three dogs. A collie on a relatives farm, a pug who was trying to get to my dog and a Chihuahua when I was running. My last dog was severely bitten by a lurcher.it isn’t necessarily about the breed other than some can do more damage. The chi really hurt and needed treatment. Owner laughed.

Her behaviour before this happening was fine.

She was/still is an immature dog, her behaviour will continue to change and develop as she matures. You really do need to stop blaming strangers for her behaviour, you are responsible for her and can control all her interactions. You need to get a professional behaviourist now if you are seeing these types of issues before she matures and they are ingrained.

If you imagine dogs as a cup and negative experiences as water, lots of negative experiences will eventually fill the cup up to the point the dog overflows and a reaction happens. That’s why some dogs can take a few bad things happening on a walk before kicking off compared to others that can’t cope with life and why sometimes it’s best to let them have a day off after a bad day to reset.

I tend to find something like a lab is a pint glass and can take loads of stressors before it overflows…GSD are more like an egg cup and can’t really cope with anything they perceive as bad. For the most part I find them big wimps. That one stressor was probably all it took for her to think dogs were scary and she needs to get rid of them, but she was most likely nervous before and it just wasn’t picked up on quick enough- not your fault as such but that’s what generally happens. GSD need very careful socialisation to avoid this happening but even with the best will in the world some of them just are weak nerved, bad and irresponsible breeding has done this to them as a breed sadly. I used to foster for a GSD rescue and there’s so many like this now.

As for why would you have one, I’ve had them all my life and you can’t get a more loyal, intelligent and imo more beautiful pet. A good GSD should never be nervous or aggressive, aloof yes but not barking and lunging at people. Sometimes people get them and expect to be able to train it to love everyone and everything and they aren’t that kind of personality, hence why so many end up dumped in adolescence when the new owner realises that they can’t cuddle or ignore their way out of the problem.

As I say terrible and irresponsible breeding has ruined them for the most part, there’s very few good ones left.

I love dogs-but I would be wary to frightened if one lunged and barked at me, regardless of size. It's a perfectly sensible reaction. I'm sorry- but you have to accept that's how people will react.

That's what I'm saying it has nothing to do with the breed specifically. Any dog can turn in any situation and majority of the dogs that have snapped at my dogs are not on leads when mine has been. Shes not been aggressive ive had 2 trainers tell me theres no aggression. When off lead my dogs have good recall and won't go near anyone at all they will stay by my side. My problem is she's reactive on lead and mainly because that's when other dogs have ran up to her jumping on her and nipping her.

There's alot of people with dogs who can't be bothered to train them or have them as a statement dog, I'm not doing that. I've trained her as best I can, I've socialised, I've gotten help for her.

I got help the minute this started and I'm not blaming strangers. I'm saying when I am out training and doing what my trainer has asked and people are still judging me, how is that meant to make me feel any better in continuing training if I'm getting backlash anyway. I'm doing what I can to help her and me.

how is that meant to make me feel any better

It is no ones responsibility to make you feel better. You need to not take your large reactive dog into these situations where they are lunging and barking at strangers until after their issues have been resolved in a controlled environment with willing volunteers to mimic the situations it cannot currently cope with.

Taking them into the environment where they are stressed, continue to behave like this and you cannot control them will exacerbate their problems and you risk it all becoming just too much for them one day and something more serious happening that will be your responsibility.

I'm sorry you're getting a hard time OP.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don't understand reactivity and as it looks like aggression, they just assume that's what it is, whereas in reality, the vast majority of reactive dogs are scared and wouldn't actually hurt or bite another dog - they just want it to go away and leave them alone.

What other people think is not especially relevant. Your dog won't give a toss what strangers think of her, so take her cue on that

What is most important is...

1. Do YOU know she is safe? In a reactive dog, this really does mean a lead at all times, except when you have clear line of sight that no one can get close without you knowing. In many cases, that is a big, wide, flat field - and these are not easily to find with rights of way. I would also really recommend working on muzzle training for street and park walking etc. Not necessarily because she may bite but because it gives you the reassurance that she cannot (this is not to be taken advantage of, you still need all the other controls and protections in place) and when combined with a lead will provide you with clear evidence she is under control. (Also, the 'my dog is friendly' types do tend to try to control theirs a bit more when they see a muzzle!)
2. How does SHE feel on a walk. If she is reacting, the walk is unpleasant for her, to some degree. Look for places or times of day that are less busy. With all the hip risks in GSDs, you could even lower walking levels down a little to every other day and instead find controlled, thinking activities for her. Your old training class sounds a bit shit in the way so many are - trainers who literally have no interest or clue if the dog does not immediately fall in line with their method. Find other, better classes and focus on increased obedience. This will use her brain, strengthen the bond between you plus is likely to help a little with reactivity.

I’m sorry are you accusing the OP of being a drug dealer? You are aware that’s defamation right?

I’m also struggling to picture this ‘local drug dealer’ you invoke. I’ve never seen a man with any type of dog and a ‘Get High now: Ask me How?’ sticker…. 🤔.

Thankyou. She's not reactive all the time. For example if there was a group of people around she's absilutly fine just looked around watching (she is very very nosey). If we walk past 1 person on their own she will give 1 maybe 2 barks. She doesn't lunge anymore I now have that under control. Though when she did lunge it was more of a lunge then go back not like a lunge I'm going to eat you. I'm sorry of that doesn't make sense I don't know how to describe it. If one person goes past too close she'll bark, if on the opposite side she's fine unless they have a dog then she may bark once but not a continuous bark as it once was. I've found she's more reactive in my street, once in another street or in a field she's fine unless a dog really does come running at her or stares her down. If I have her sit and focus back at me while the dog passes she's OK. She doesn't try to look back and bark. I've also noticed she's more reactive before the initial walk but once she's had a run and played ball she's much more calmer.

We only let her off if the field is open and I can see anyone coming. When shes playing ball she couldnt care less who is around. If a dog was right by her she wouldnt care. I have tried to use the ball as a distraction in the street but it doesnt work. My trainer had her greet one of his own dogs on lead while his dog was behind a gate and she reacted. He then let his dog out who is highly trained and walked past mine with a loose lead, so she thinks shes got more freedom and no bark no nothing she just went straight to his side and watched the dog. So it really is the lead and the trust she has in him I suppose. So I'm getting much better woth loose lead and not tensing up. Taking control with a firm leave it and sit and wait.

My trainer has done obedience, training games which we do if walks are kept minimal. She absolutely thrives of training she loves it. She can happily watch the postman walk to the door without barking as this was an issue before so she fine with that now and happily sits in the window watching people and dogs go by. My trainer said he doesn't think she's as fearful as I thought she was and he said he certainly sees no aggression and he's seen some aggressive dogs.

Thewolvesarerunningagain where I work, in a very crime ridden and deprived area, the local drug dealers tend to have large aggressive dogs such as German Shepherds, Bully’s, Doberman and husky type things. They have them for protection and perceived perception that they are a scary dog and wouldn’t choose them if they didn’t have the potential to harm.
If you choose one of these breeds you surely are aware that many people do not like them and do not want their children near them and the reason for this is because no matter how well they are trained, they are significantly more likely to cause harm than other soft mouthed breeds.

I can absolutely confirm I am no drug dealer! My area has lots of dogs big and small, some nice, some not so nice and the ones who are perceived as normally nice dogs are actually the ones who arent so nice. There are 3 other gsd in my area, one is a therapy dog, one an old man's dog and another is a young couples who is completely nuts, not aggressive just wants to play with everyone and upon first meeting him I thought he wanted to eat me but she said he wants to play so I put my hand out and he barked then licked me to death and tried to steal treats out my pocket I had left over from a walk, yet further up was collie snapping at everyone going by...clearly aggressive not reactive and the owner did nothing to stop it.