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I've walked with someone who had a German Shepherd. He is a beautiful dog, fine markings and soft sable coat. She got my information from another person that had written something about me in the local on-line classified after I'd taken a walk with them. Her adopted Shepherd had a bad habit of lunging at people. Not all people but random people so her dilemma was two-fold, she could not "walk" the dog because she was always unsure of who her dog may lunge at. He also during these times tried to nip (small marking bit) at these same intermittent occasions. Since walks were out she was keeping the dog on a tie-off in the yard further complicating walking training as this was a full-grown pup just ready to turn adult and he was just about her weight now. Since she lived with room-mates it created a problem at home and then complaints reached the landlord whom the dog had displayed this behavior with. So now she was going to be kicked out of her apartment.
When we first talked I learned a lot about the dog and it was all good historical information to process additionally getting a good feel for her personality in her communication reflecting her dog's behavior. On her dog's part, he had just been sent from Colorado by her ex-boyfriend where they had both lived together not more than 3 weeks prior. He was not an "alpha" to cut the writing short and had a sitting on the fence attitude of sometimes nice and sometimes naughty. They had adopted the dog from a shelter where he was placed with abuse and trust issues. Her attitude toward her family was commendable as she felt that finding a new apartment was the alternative to pacifying her landlord and room-mates and bringing her dog to the shelter. But she was desperate for help. It was not hard to sense the love and concern for her pet but at the same moment you could sense the frustration.
So we have a dog, not yet 2 years old who is now in his 3rd pack. During this time he has know teasing and abuse and when he found his current master although she was nice to him the other member of the pack was ambivalent. The dog was in this the "Alpha" but none of the pack members had a plan. The dog has gone from being brought home as a new puppy to being relinquished to a shelter when behavior was not instilled. He stayed in the shelter until adopted by this couple and then he was shipped by air to his current owner when she moved to New York. Wow, that's an interesting histogram!
Lunging is a question of ambivalence between trust of one creature and mistrust of another. This is very significant, "Your dog is much more in tune with the emotions of people than you are!" As such their senses of these personality inconsistencies are acute. The dog would never lunge or nip at his owner because his owner had a good heart for him and he knew it. As it was for most people when she did walk him her dog would behave and focus on his walk. But every now and again the dog would lunge and try to nip at someone.
I was anxious to meet this pair and we decided to walk together with our dogs. Duma had become a very good walking partner and on our journey's outdoors we'd found many other packs to walk with. What I sensed on the phone I sensed in person and he was indeed as I'd written a beautiful dog. I did not pay attention to him as she approached focused entirely on his owner. We formally introduced ourselves and began our walk.
The modifications for her were clear she was not sure how to be an alpha, at least not entirely. Using a stern but non-faulting voice when commands are given is okay. Dogs thrive best on boundaries and when those boundaries need clarity a good command voice is important. This is not yelling at the dog but a confidence in feeling and tone. She was unsteady in her strength and leadership and shaky in her frustration with the lunging problem which made her very hesitant in taking the lead in walking. As we walked we talked of position in the pack, the alpha, leadership and confidence. With your dog you are always under the eye. Not necessarily for an excuse to make mischief but consistency in leadership. This leadership is what allows a canine to understand the acceptable and not acceptable pack behavior making them more emotionally and mentally secure.
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For too long I've messed with the wiring in my head. Now it shorts out more oft than not. But at my age I just sit and enjoy the sparks. RJM '07
Many Exceptional Free and Pay for Images Available here Fotosearch.com
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