Why Did She Do This?

[paulsuzy1991]

Hi all,
We have a 15 month old White called Sienna and today when a delivery man called she barked at the window like she normally does.(she's wary of strangers anyway)
Usually we then call her , lead her by the collar to the other room to put her away. I was at work and my wife went to lead her away by the collar and she showed her teeth and went to snap. My wife was shocked but she got hold of her and led her away to the other room and put her away. Sienna wasnt happy and put her mouth around my wifes arm then realised what she doing and stopped and went into her crate where she was left for 5 minutes, then was fine when she was let out again.
She has never done this before, even my 7 year old son can pull her away from the window with no problems.
Does anyone know why she would have done this?

Hmm maybe a one-off if she's not done it before. Maybe she wasn't quite finished barking at the delivery man!

Bear in mind pulling / leading a dog by its collar can increase the dog's arousal level / stress response, so this might be what happened. A hand on the collar when the dog's already in a stimulated state is seen by her as a provocation. Also she's a teenager, might be trying to push boundaries with your wife?

Next time she barks at the window, allow a few barks (normal guardy behaviour) then say Quiet! or Enough! You could try clapping your hands to distract her and when she stops and when her focus is on you call her and praise her.

At least you've a dog that barks - neither of mine utter a woof when anyone comes to the door, bliddy silent dogs!

[Caryll]

I agree. It was probably just an instinctive reaction.

[zetstaff]

Hmmm,trying it on I think, little menace


I'd agree that let her 'guard' till you decide 'that's enough' then lead her away. If the same thing happens then I'd keep mine away from that area (easier said than done I know in some house setups) until I'd worked on her stopping when I told her to

They're all instinctively protective but can't be allowed to 'mouth' when they are excited + don't feel like doing as they're told

xxxx

[Stuart]

I think leading her away by grabbing the collar is not the best way to do it, a far better idea I think would be to use the quiet command as adviced and lead her away with either a command, or a treat,...personaly I would train her to the `Cage` command [or simular], so that she goes there herself,..of course she has to gain something, so a tasty morse awaits her

[lauraburns]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I think leading her away by grabbing the collar is not the best way to do it, a far better idea I think would be to use the quiet command as adviced and lead her away with either a command, or a treat,...personaly I would train her to the `Cage` command [or simular], so that she goes there herself,..of course she has to gain something, so a tasty morse awaits her

This is what we have done with Ozzie, he has his bark at the door then goes to his bed, usually still barking, but goes to his bed and waits there until I call him out again.

[Nash]

You are taking her reward away by dragging her away from it. This puts you in a weaker position and the dog will treat you as she will treat a lower ranking pack member. It will get worse as she matures.

If you use an obedience command at this time then you raise your level higher to a pack leader, here she will not feel that a lower ranking member is pushing her around. So use an obedience command first to assert your position then she will follow willingly and happily.

[LOVEGSD]

I would have also recommended that you call her away with a command and then instruct her into the other room, taking a dogs collar isn't always the best approach.
x

[Sassysmum]

Totally agree, collar contact with a dog that is already aroused and adrenalised can cause many reactions inc redirection through frustration of being dragged away.

Also, collar grabbing can be seen as confrontational behaviour by you and therefore create a confrontational reaction.

If someone grabbed me in the same way I'm sure I'd have something to say about

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by Sassysmum

Totally agree, collar contact with a dog that is already aroused and adrenalised can cause many reactions inc redirection through frustration of being dragged away.

Also, collar grabbing can be seen as confrontational behaviour by you and therefore create a confrontational reaction.

If someone grabbed me in the same way I'm sure I'd have something to say about

I'm sorry but any confrontation by my dogs to me is completely unacceptable whether I grab their collar or not

If I entice them away from a situation by giving them treats they have created ie barking/guarding/whatever that I'm not happy with I'm just rewarding them for doing what I don't want them to do !!!

GSDs are big powerful dogs, they are gorgeous + intelligent + loving + the list goes on. They also try it on, like any other bubba, at every opportunity. Maybe I'm a horrid harsh mummy, but my dogs behave themselves for me, they run OH ragged mind you but then he's not the wicked witch that I am

I love my woofers sooooo much, but I'm sorry I won't tolerate confrontation + because they know I'm in charge it's never happened + never will

xxx