In vehicle barking acceptable?

[Skip]

I wasn't sure whether to put this thread here or in the working section. It seems like when I go to our schutzhund club, all the dogs that are crated in their vehicles go absolutely berzerk when anyone walks by. I know that most schutzhund people enjoy having high-drive dogs...but is all the aggression proper when there is no threat. My boy is doing pretty well on the field, but I don't let him go crazy whenever someone walks past the car when he's crated.

[Judi W]

Well, if you want the dog to be able to be crated any place other than the training field, I think it is a good idea to discourage firing off everytime someone goes by.

[Mattweiser]

I cannot stand it when dogs act like that...


I actively "discourage" my dogs blowing off like that.. the only exceptions are:

- when there is actually work going on, I can excuse my dogs barking

- and when someone actually approaches my car. I don't mind my dog "warning" me.. so long as he shuts up when I tell him to. ;)

[stevenc]

Originally posted by Skip
I wasn't sure whether to put this thread here or in the working section. It seems like when I go to our schutzhund club, all the dogs that are crated in their vehicles go absolutely berzerk when anyone walks by. I know that most schutzhund people enjoy having high-drive dogs...but is all the aggression proper when there is no threat. My boy is doing pretty well on the field, but I don't let him go crazy whenever someone walks past the car when he's crated.

Are you talkin on behalf of your dog? How do you know what he is thinking? Big problem in dog community. Fido won't hurt you. Sad! How do you know whether he feels threatned or not? I don't call this reaction by the dog aggression. His is warning people not to come near his territory. This is how they communicate with others. If you didn't want this type of reaction maybe you should have bought a animal who was not bred to guard homes and herds. Also, I take offense to pointing out schutzhund people. Are you telling me that your dog does not let you know that people are coming to the door at home? Or that is ok to bark just not in a car. Sounds silly to me! Your dog does not think like you! Sounds normal to me. But maybe I know that I don't have a lap dog either! :)

[Skip]

Originally posted by stevenc
Are you talkin on behalf of your dog? How do you know what he is thinking? Big problem in dog community. Fido won't hurt you. Sad! How do you know whether he feels threatned or not? I don't call this reaction by the dog aggression. His is warning people not to come near his territory. This is how they communicate with others. If you didn't want this type of reaction maybe you should have bought a animal who was not bred to guard homes and herds. Also, I take offense to pointing out schutzhund people. Are you telling me that your dog does not let you know that people are coming to the door at home? Or that is ok to bark just not in a car. Sounds silly to me! Your dog does not think like you! Sounds normal to me. But maybe I know that I don't have a lap dog either! :)

When he buys his own car, maybe then. No matter what he is thinking, MINE is the deciding vote whether there is threat or not. I find it unsafe and irresponsible of me to allow my dog to make such a decision when there is no threat. I'm totally aware of what kind of dog I have. But he is my property, not my decision-maker. I did not buy him to go crazy when someone simply walks past my car. That's what I have door locks and insurance for. NEWSFLASH--A child walking past my car is not a wolf attacking my herd of sheep. I did not buy him to decide whenever he thinks he needs to "protect" me. I am very capable of protecting myself in most situations. My ego doesn't need it. Of course he is allowed to "alert" me if he hears a strange noise outside our home. To "alert" me (or even if I'm not there) by going full throttle just because someone walks past my car is ridiculous. Again, my ego doesn't need it. But that's just me.

[Skip]

...and to clarify..I'm not just talking about one simple bark..My previous posts were talking about dogs that go way beyond that when someone simply walks past a car..

[Muckdogs]

I personally don't mind when my dog blows a gasket when in his box. I let him go until I want him to shut his sewer. Then it is time to be quiet or else. WE actually spent a little time with him teaching the vehicle guard when he was a little younger and he's good at it. I want him raising hell when anyone walks near my truck. And, as Matt said, he busts nuts when other dogs are wokring which is fine with me. At least he is watching and getting ramped up for his turn instead of sleeping.

[Hainland]

From your response to other's replies, it sounds as though you have answered your own question.
Your dog is your responsibility and you make the decisions.

Good Luck!

[samanthac]

Originally posted by Muckdogs
And, as Matt said, he busts nuts when other dogs are wokring which is fine with me. At least he is watching and getting ramped up for his turn instead of sleeping.

HAHAHAHA...even my quiet little rescue bitch who doesn't have an ounce of fight drive in her dew claw watches and gets all ramped up. Then you get her out to the field (when I tested her) and she just stares at the sleeve and tug like, "Um, no, ain't gonna happen'. Cracks me up actually.

Meanwhile, Disel, the boy with the 24/7 drive, simply sleeps. But then when we get him out he goes from zero to 60 in milliseconds. He's a real pistol this one.

Personally I don't find it offensive, but that's just me. As long as they don't act like that in my house or yard, I don't care.

[Skip]

Originally posted by Muckdogs
....And, as Matt said, he busts nuts when other dogs are wokring which is fine with me. At least he is watching and getting ramped up for his turn instead of sleeping.

I think this is fine too if he sees other dogs working and he gets "ramped up" while he's watching.

[Skip]

Originally posted by Hainland
From your response to other's replies, it sounds as though you have answered your own question.
Your dog is your responsibility and you make the decisions.

Good Luck!

ok...but I'd like to know your opinion. Let's take it off the schutzhund field. You're on your way somewhere, anywhere, and your dog is crated in the back. You stop to get gas. A person in the car across from you gets out to get gas from the other side of the pump. You exchange pleasantries. What is the level of aggression that is ok from your dog?

[lblax]

Originally posted by Skip
ok...but I'd like to know your opinion. Let's take it off the schutzhund field. You're on your way somewhere, anywhere, and your dog is crated in the back. You stop to get gas. A person in the car across from you gets out to get gas from the other side of the pump. You exchange pleasantries. What is the level of aggression that is ok from your dog?

for the most part it is simply not aggression it can be many things, my dog at the club doesnt go off on everyone that walks by as long as they keep moving lol some dogs are just like this they go off in crates .... you must remember even for the best nerved dogs when you are in a crate you are trapped.. a weak nerved dog will bite for no reason or always run a strong dog may stay and fight but No dog wants to fight unless he also has a way to escape get it?? its not that they are deciding who is and who is not a threat they are trapped so a display wards off the person... and they are automaticly rewarded by the person keeping moving

[lblax]

Originally posted by Judi W
Well, if you want the dog to be able to be crated any place other than the training field, I think it is a good idea to discourage firing off everytime someone goes by.

i believe that most dogs also know when they are at the training feild and there drive are up and boiling away in the crate(i would not correct them for this) but act totally differant when they go out for a sunday drive.... i would correct them in that situation the dog can and will make the connection

[Hainland]

Personally, I would not encourage it. However, I have a bitch that is very strong on the field, at home or for that matter, anywhere; she does this. I, generally ignore it and she stops when there is no reaction for the subject or me. As a woman, that does tend to travel alone, it does not bother me that my dog does this. It is a deterrent.

We have had dogs that we had to teach to bark from their box or hanger, so I can hardly blame them if they bark at someone coming up on their car or hanger.

[Mattweiser]

Originally posted by Skip
When he buys his own car, maybe then. No matter what he is thinking, MINE is the deciding vote whether there is threat or not....... But he is my property, not my decision-maker. .........Again, my ego doesn't need it.

Very nice!!!