Trouble Dogs!!!!

[pitc9]

I need help, my two GSD rescues are very bad when it comes to people in my yard. I have about one acre, and it's fenced in, so they are loose. The problem comes about when we have people over, they have to walk into the yard by the driveway, then walk across the back yard to the patio. When they are walking across the back yard, they both will come running towards people barking (enough to make big dog owner and/or lovers nervous)
Sierra will even nip the butts of these people. It seems the faster the people walk the more the pups hate it!!

Once I had two people throwing a football in my yard, and Buddy BOLTED across the yard towards the people and snapped at one of the guys!!! What was that all about!?!?

I don't know much about there pasts, Sierra is 2 and we've had her since she was 5 months, she was picked up as a stray by a rescue. And Buddy, we got him in December from a kill shelter he's 1 1/2, the shelter found him living in a barn all by himself, they don't know how long he had been there,but it took them 3 weeks to trap him (he kept getting out of the traps they were setting to catch him)

I have yet to take them to training classes, do you think this would help? Or are they just being protective of there yard?!

[wolfsoul]

They are just being protective. I'm sure you know that german shepherd dogs are like that. :) They are very aggressive guard dogs that will protect till the end. My own GSD has bitten several people that have stuck their hands through the fence or into the car. (though she would never bite a child), and she barks like nuts when people go by. It's a nature that I wouldn't want to get rid of. You never know when you might need it! ;)

I don't think obedience classes would make them want to protect you or your home any less, but it's a good idea anyways, you should try it. :)

[Tonya]

There is a no kill shelter where I live that I go to often. They have a section of aggressive, never adoptable animals. Believe it or not, the majority aren't pits, rots, or dobies...they are German Shephards. German Shephards tend to be real territorial. On the same line, they are such intelligent animals, that training may be able to help them. My friend trains the police dogs, and I am just in awe at what those dogs can do. You really can train a dog that there is a time and a place to be protective.

Are they fixed? That may help too if they aren't already.

[KYS]

I envy you for having 1 acre of land.
As others have said GSD are very
territorial, protective and easly trained.
Even though it will not stop the dogs from
being territorial/protective,
I also think obedience training is a wonderful idea.
I was wondering if it is possible for you to
fence/gate off the section of the property from
the driveway to the patio?
That way when you are expecting company, you can
always close that section off and not worry
about your company and the dogs.
Just a thought. : )

[pitc9]

Tonya - Yes, both are fixed.
(but they WOULD have beautiful babies woudn't they?!?);)


KYS - I have thought about fencing off an area of there own I think that may be a good idea, before someone really get's hurt! We had next door neighbors with a fenced in yard, and we used to put them in there when we had people over, but they moved this past weekend.:( So I think that's what were going to have to do!!

[4 Dog Mother]

I am always amazed at how many people are scared of dogs. Most of mine are on the medium side but I have had people scared of Oreo who only weighs 25 lbs. So I can imagine what people who see GSD's running at them are thinking. We fenced in a small area of our yard so the dogs would have a place of their own and it has worked out well. I agree that training would probably help because you could probably come up with some word that would make them realize that their approach to invited guests could and should be different. But I also think you should fence off an area that is just theirs where they cannot always reach people who are approaching your home.

With these days of people who love to sue, it might be in your best interest to do this so no one can find a reason to sue. After all I would imagine that it wouldn't have to be a bite to sue - it could even be someone tripping and falling in their haste to get away from the dogs.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by 4 Dog Mother

With these days of people who love to sue, it might be in your best interest to do this so no one can find a reason to sue. After all I would imagine that it wouldn't have to be a bite to sue - it could even be someone tripping and falling in their haste to get away from the dogs.
Also -- get a sign that says Beware of Dogs. If they get bitten or "emotionally stressed" they can sue you for not having a warning sign.

[pitc9]

I already have "Beware of Dog" and "No Trespassing" signs.

My insurance agent told me a beware of dog sign does noting to protect you from being sued, you HAVE to have both signs in order to protect yourself from lawsuits!!!

I was glad to learn that!

Yeah, people get pretty scared when they come charing across the yard, some friends and family that are over more than others are used to it and stop and turn to them and tell them "NO" and for the most part they listen to them!
But it's scared people
(like my mother in law that is deathly afraid of Buddy )
that the dogs sense her fear and feed off of it!!

Thank you all for the input! It all really helps!!!!