Hoping for some insight

[WendiS]

Hi everyone, Something pretty unusual happened and I'm hoping you guys can help me out.
Yesterday I took Riley (8mo. today) and my 5yr old daughter to the coast.
We had a nice deserted stretch of beach. NO people, no dogs so I let Riley off lead and we all walked, ran, threw the ball, played in the waves etc.for over two hours. At one point we were in the water (maybe it's just me, but what a hoot to see your dog and child playing the same game in the waves, with the same entheusiasm. Very funny and cute) Anyway a couple of women walked past us, and Riley was busy in the water and didn't notice them. Then another couple walked by us with a couple of dogs, so I knew our alone time on the beach was pretty much over. I should have put him back on his lead but didn't since there wasn't anyone else close by. My mistake, without doubt. We were all having a great time and he's so good about staying right with us -when there are no serious distractions- that I sort of let good judgement slip. Anyway we were walking down the beach and by now another couple was coming toward us but still at a distance and suddenly my pup who's so great at staying with us rushes ahead, ignores my call, stops but does not come back and get's that "posture." I don't know what else to call it, but the hair on his neck stood up. He didn't growl and I was able to get ahold of him before they got close. I snapped on the lead we had a quick "discussion" about his reaction and then he was back to his eager playful self. But I was really surprised at the way he stood and the hair on the back of his neck going up. If anything in I would have expected him to run up to them hoping to say hi and grab a quick pet before I got there and put him on lead.

Other than all the things I did wrong (believe me, I know I blew it!) does anyone have any insight into what that was about? Was it a fairly normal reaction considering the situation or is that the first sign of aggression. This guy was bred for temperment. All the titles in his pedigree are a combo of obedience, therapy,cd,cdx,TT the breeder we got him from breeds first for herself then sells whats left. She is always after obedience and temperment. Which is why I chose to get a dog from her. I can't stand the idea of a poorly bred, ill mannered dog.
I'm really hoping someone has a good idea of what this behavior was about so I know if I really need to make some changes or was this just lax owner/adolescent puppy stuff
Thanks for your help,
Wendi

[Platzz]

Ummm.....Because he's 8 mos. old?

Do a google search on "Dog mental developement stages"

Your objective enough to realize you weren't being realistic about your training/control level overyour dog. So your're way ahead of the learning curve. It is a lot of work to stay vigilant....stay withit the rewards are worth the effort. Learn from this and go forward.

[WendiS]

So you don't think this was an unsual reaction, all things considered?
I'm off to google now.
Thanks very much

[Skip]

My answer is: I wouldn't waste ANY time at this point trying to disect the dog's reaction. It's a young dog..and a young dog off leash before it is real RELIABLE off leash can go thru a multitude of reactions from second to second. Just keep working on the dog on leash, be very alert to any changes it behavior and demeanor when around other people, animals...any new situations.

[Platzz]

I don't other might.

"stops but does not come back and get's that "posture." I don't know what else to call it, but the hair on his neck stood up."

The unknown is how this couple reacted when your dog approached. Did they freeze-up and give of the fear vibe & scent??? Or did they call out happly to your dog?

Every dog I've owned in the last 15 yrs. has been taught to return to the heal poition when we are appropached in public. Maybe something to concider?

[WendiS]

Thanks for the help. The other couple just walked by smiled said & said hi. But I had him on leash by then.

[Platzz]

"my pup who's so great at staying with us rushes ahead," --- I must have misunderstood, was he on a long lead?

[WendiS]

No, I caught up to him before they reached us. As I said he didn't come back when called but he did stop

[dmoniz]

All things considered I think he did very well being a pup at least he stopped and let handle things. I'm sure if they got closer he would have seen that they were not a threat and gone for pets, but them being far away I think he was just assessing things in the rottweilers wait and see attitude. Of course we don't know for sure, but hopefully you will never have to find out as a lesson was learned :)

[sophie's-mom]

He is young, therefore not listening to you (have you ever told your daughter to STOP doing something and she DIDN'T STOP??? there you go), and was feeling intimidated.......he tried to make himself appear LARGER than he is by the "posturing" and raised hair.

I agree with Skip............forget WHY he did it.........just keep working him on leash.

[JeanT]

A suggestion in another thread may have some bearing here... His eyes may not be great. I believe my dog doesn't have the best distance vision, though he is definitely not significantly impaired. Forms at a distance cause him to stop and watch. Even if it is me, and I thought dogs cold recognize their owner's shape and movements from a distance.

The good thing is that your dog stopped and stood. I personally wouldn't be disturbed with a little hackling at his age (since he stopped and waited) when he saw an unknown form moving in the distance. Platzz has a good idea about teaching the dog to come around by your side when people are approaching. I think that's a great idea. Makes the dog look very polite (reassuring) and also, "just in case", you have complete control instead of a few feet of leash which is enough for a lunge (friendly or not).

[WendiS]

Great advice and thanks to everyone. I wonder, if I had a corgi or jack russel would I still worry? Probably not. Lesson learned. I won't try to pschoanalize the behavior any more just work on not allowing it to happen again. I guess maybe I was a little dismayed to see anything other than fun, wiggley, puppy behavior. Like my children, I guess my puppy is growing up.
Again, thanks everyone.
Wendi

[Judi W]

You had been there long enough that he had probably taken on a bit of territorialty. He was distracted when other people happened by but just noticed these people and decided he thought they were intruders and hence alerted. He is becoming an adolescent which means he responses are gong through changes. Had you been on a crowded beach he would have known it was public and not have alerted at anyone (nor been off lead at all). IT is very unlikely he would have closed contact as he was in fact somewhat frightened (trying to make himself bigger)........

Now you know that the 8 month old is not a 5 month old dog. Up your formal training (inherited temperament does not substitute for formal training) and up your socialization (doesn't substitute for that either). He was dead wrong in his response as he should have known he doesn't own the beach. Be forewarned regarding the training and the fact that he is not seeing the world through the same eyes he was looking at even from week to week.

[WendiS]

I think you guys are exactly right. You can bet when he did that we didn't have one of those "no, no, little puppy" moments and he snapped right back into line once corected. He has recently started trying to lift his leg on things. I never let him. When we are walking we are walking, not sniffing, not marking, foraging etc. When it's a less formal moment I snap the leash because that's:
1.gross!
2.not yours, so get it out of your head!
We work daily on obedience, in class and out. I'll just have to keep in mind he's getting older and adjust the way we handle the world accordingly.

[Judi W]

He'll be fine. Just give him a reality knock when he starts thinking he is fancy