Playfulness or dominant aggression?

fizzwigady

Hi,
We have a 9 month puppy, lab/german shepard cross. She's always been very confident around other dogs from day 1, but lately it appears worse out and about, and her training has regressed- adolescent stage perhaps? At home she is great - not allowed upstairs or on furniture, has to wait for her food, respects the cat, sleeps a lot, hangs off our every word. However when I'm walking her, she seems far too dominant over some dogs - mainly the playful/hyper ones. Grumpy/old/not bothered dogs she just sniffs and moves on. But the ones that want to play she then seems to take it too far, either pinning/making noise whilst playing, quite mouthy but has never bitten. She also steals dogs balls or sticks, or if she has her own she gets cross if another dog comes up to her. Dog trainer is coming tonight, but I'm just looking for opinions on her behaviour. With friends/family dogs who I'm comfortable letting her play with, or even a strangers dog who is happy to let them play, after 10 mins it settles and the dogs will have kisses, mooch around and then play again, so I'm hoping this points to less being aggressive and rather over zealous play instead? Either way I think it's unacceptable to allow her to jump all over someone else's dog who we don't know, so any tips or advice welcome! 

hb2

I'm afraid I can't give any advice but would be interested to hear what the trainer suggests.

fizzwigady

hb2 said:

I'm afraid I can't give any advice but would be interested to hear what the trainer suggests.

No problem, I will put an update on after our session tonight, see what he says

sheramber

As soon as she gets too boisterous then stop the play. Once she calms down let her play again. She will learn the boundaries before she meets a dog who objects to  her style of play.
 Some dogs can be very vocal in play. One of my  retrievers sounded like a bear growling when she played with my other dog.

fizzwigady

sheramber said:

As soon as she gets too boisterous then stop the play. Once she calms down let her play again. She will learn the boundaries before she meets a dog who objects to  her style of play.
 Some dogs can be very vocal in play. One of my  retrievers sounded like a bear growling when she played with my other dog.

I think that's one of the bits that makes me panic, the play noise. She does it with my mum's springer but it's only ever been play - but understandably a stranger won't necessarily understand that. Lots of help from the trainer tonight regarding getting her to focus on me more, de-sensitising her when dogs are around and so she's calm when she says hello. Also help on improving my confidence so that she can't feel it, which might be putting her on 'alert' mode, as she doesn't do it with my husband who is very chilled!

Soot2006

Sounds like a good trainer!

In my experience, GSD do get vocal and they do get rough, but they absolutely learn to play correctly with different types of dogs. My GSD X Rottie played so nicely with dogs like cockerpoo or pointers, but watching her with a Rhodesian Ridgeback or large lab or other GSD  was utterly terrifying and looked like a savage attack. But they always were having the best of fun and if one dog wanted to stop the other immediately respected those signals and backed off. These are the signals your dog needs to learn to respect so she doesn't get herself into trouble later on.

(My GSD X Rottie taught our terrier puppy to play like a big scary dog and it ruined his social life for a long time as he lacked the reference point. Even when she was ancient and doddery, she STILL wanted to play rough all the time, every day, so it was only after she died that the terrier accepted some dogs DON'T want to play like that. He's grown into a very polite young man who likes to be left alone now )

onwards&upwards

You've found a good trainer there, stick with them!

fizzwigady

Thank you for your comments. Been working on the training, she was a bit of a pain on the lead yesterday - passing a field of sheep so put her on, wasn't bothered about the sheep but pulled like a train to get ahead. Think she felt in a field she shouldn't be leashed, but I have to accept she's still a puppy so excitable and still doesn't know all the rules. Had a pug jump up on my leg in the morning walk but she just sat and focused on me and sniffed it, so that was good. Off to walk around the market in town now to mix up her experiences!

KimBaumgart

Thanks for sharing your story and for the update! My friend has GS and a similar issue. No problem with a dominant dog, but very aggressive towards nice once in the park...Vet says it is just a phase and she will grow out of it.