Importance of nipping behaviors in the bud

[Adrienne Farricelli]

As many readers may recall, I am a big proponent of "nipping behaviors in the bud." This morning I witnessed a young German shepherd who was barking at me and my friend as we walked by the fence. This may not be too relevant, many dogs bark at people walking by property lines after all, and this is a German shepherd which is a breed many people expect to bark at people because of the breed's role as protective guardians. As we turned the corner we stumbled upon the owner who reassured my friend who appeared startled. She told her that her dog does that to everybody all the time when she's let out in the yard and not to worry about it.

 

Now, if many dogs perform this behavior and people expect it in a breed as such, where's the concern? I see several red flags here.

 

One big one is the fact that this was a young German shepherd most likely under 5 months old. The dog was taking a frontal approach, barking with raised hackles and the head held high. The barking was acute and repeated, in a tone denoting nervousness and anxiety.

 

Another problem was the passive role of the owner. The dog wasn't given any guidance at all from the owner's side. The dog was left alone to face the circumstance and most likely this scene repeated several times a day when she was let out.

 

This is a dog who at such a young age is rehearsing problem behaviors that will most likely escalate if no swift intervention is taken. While this dog isn't likely dangerous at such a young age (it would likely take a good amount of courage for her to bite) she has the potential to become so as she matures if she isn't provided with guidance.