Lunging and growling at strangers - 4 Month Old puppy! - Page 3

Only people with Chihuahuas etc get away with it, (and NEVER in shops selling food), so I would not like to try it, e.g. even in our B & Q or Waites or HomeBase, which sell DIY goods. MOST stores of all types in the UK have a complete ban on anything canine except Guide Dogs for the blind (which includes other Assistance Dogs by implication, but that is rarely seen specified) .

I did Home Depot, Lowes and a few others in the shopping cart. for a 4 month old puppy it ihas not been an issue for me. Socialization can mean just accepting the environment thais can go along way. Every step in the socialization process should not be stressful for the pup. Some times being around people and being elevated can go along way. this also give more control to the handler over the pups experience. Great for confidence building. But to each their own : )

Sorry I was not thinking very globally. Is this pup in the US or UK?

My pup is from a Canadian breeder, so in Canada for us. If you're asking me troublelinx.

Neither lol

So what's CANADIAN stores' policy ?

Not knocking the theory about safe elevation in a busy place BTW, just pointing out that option does not work for some so I have never had an opportunity to try it for myself.

I used to take my skittish puppy into Home Depot for socialization. Then, someone's little lap dog bit a Home Depot employee on the face, and they changed their policy. They will now allow service dogs only, even though the biting incident happened in the States and not Canada.

 

I believe Lowe's is okay with dogs, and of course, most pet stores will allow dogs as long as they are on leash.

The key to preventing lunging at people or other dogs when on leash is to teach your dog to focus on you. YOU are the most important thing in the world, and nothing else should matter. Reliya's foot tap thing follows along with this idea, the goal of the foot tap being to get the dog's attention. However, your goal should be for the dog to not focus on someone else in the first place.

Many trainers I know start a puppy out with a 'look at me' or 'watch' focus exercise at home. Each trainer may do it a bit differently, but basically, you start out by holding a treat near your face, and when the dog looks at you, you say "YES!" in an enthusiastic voice, and reward it with the treat.

Once the pup has thoroughly learned to focus on you, you begin adding distractions (other people, other dogs.)  You also teach the dog to do the exercise when sitting in the 'heel' position, instead of in front of you.  Eventually, of course, you have the dog walking beside you on the leash, with its attention focused completely on you.

This may sound simple, but if you've never done it before, you will likely need the help of a trainer. And some dogs are SO frightened and skittish when away from home that they will not even take treats from you. Yup, I had one of those...

If it's only one week until the start of the obedience class, and the trainer knows how to work with this breeder's dogs, I would wait it out. I would also practise the focus exercise at home, and if your dog makes good progress, after a couple of days practise, see if you can get him to do it when a stranger is walking by.

A word about the lunging and growling... a dog does not do this without warning. You need to watch your dog closely, and the very instant his focus starts to switch to the approaching person, call his attention back to you. He should NEVER be allowed to reach the point where he actually lunges. If that happens, it is YOUR fault for not paying attention to the warning signals!  And this is where a good trainer can help, by showing  you how to pick up on those signals.

:(

I will attempt that, he stopped the lunging at people thing, I honestly think he was being odd, and trying to protect me. We took him to our friend's today.. When the people approached them, he'd lay there, but didn't wanna be touched by them, and avoid them, instead, he'd come up to me, and sit right on my shoes, or behind me.... We then introduced him to our friend's Labrador puppy, who's 8 months, the dog is full grown basically, and is smaller than him.. (It's a mix), like, way smaller than him when he's 4 months.. She was play bowing, and trying to get him to chase her, whenever she tried to sniff his behind, he'd tail tuck and run fast from her, when she came up to him, he growl at her, and try to snap at her face, while hiding behind me, he'd also bare his teeth. The whole more than an hour, he was running from her, or trying to chase her, and bite her, and baring his teeth (scrunching his nose), ears back, with his head pulled back.

When they took their lab puppy away, he started running around the yard, happily, and wanting to play.
I do not know how I am suppose to fix this behavior with other dogs, it concerns me.

Also, I am aware it was not neutral ground, but her territory, but.. It's odd, because she was just wanting to play with him constantly play bowing, and running around, sometimes would bark at him. Which, I don't think he liked.

It concerns me, I don't really care about him playing with other dogs, but I live in a neighborhood where people are constantly walking their dogs, I can't have him pulling, so he can get to them to bite them.

:(

I really wish we had gotten him from another breeder, amazing puppy... But, so skittish :(

Re the way he relates neutrally to visiting people, he is a Shepherd, not a Golden Retriever. He may be showing aloofness a little early, but it comes as breed territory. He still shows some signs of being a bit shy though, from your descriptions - but as I said earlier, I don't like to make judgements without seeing the dog.
As to the Lab pup, she may just be a bit 'full on' for him, and he could be different with a
smaller, quieter dog to relate to (puppy or friendly adult).

The more important issue is that you should get to the point where you are in control of him outside your home, and those of your friends. And the most important part of that is that you should be calm, patient, and consistent, whichever training method you use to obtain that control and leadership, and however long it takes to get there. Good luck.