how can we make my dog more alert and serious instead of being kind all the time to people she don't know?

Question

Every time my dog seen someone she never seen before she runs up to them like she knew them for a long time. And i want to make her not mean and vicious but more alert, serious, and aware. In other words she is too friendly to people. She will be alert with dogs strictly. She loves kids and people. But too much. But with dogs she is strict and demanding. How can I make her for vicious but not dangerous vicious? Just like when i give the word for her to get off being mean when its okay to be friendly?

Answer 1

Don't play around with this. It is very easy to make a mistake and wind up with a dog who's mean to everyone all the time. There is very specific training that gaurd dogs go through that enables them to know when they are "working" and when they are not. Look into Shutzhund training if you're interested in having a trained gaurd dog. Dont' do it on your own.

I agree with helping her to develop a focus on you so she isn't running up to every single person she sees (hopefully, however, you keep her on a leash while in public--it's the law), but beyond that I think you're very lucky to have such a good-natured dog. You can devleop that focus through obedience training so that she sees you as her partner and boss and will look to you to know what to do.

Some people would kill to have your "problem". A friendly dog is a wonderful thing. Maybe her destiny is to be a therapy dog, helping senior citizens and people in hospitals feel better by being able to play with your dog a little. When I brought my new dog home and saw how much he enjoyed meeting new people and how tolerant he was of little kids poking and prodding him, I enrolled him in a class to become a therapy dog, which we're in right now.

Answer 2

I would start by making her focus on you and not the new people. You do not want her to act mean vicious or dangerous in anyway.

Keep meaty treats with you at all times and when she is not paying attention to you and starts to go toward someone else turn and walk the other way. When her eyes focus on you again give her a little piece of meaty treat. Not big enough for her to have to stop to eat it. This works best in a park with a long training lead. (NOT A RETRACTABLE LEAD) It is called a training lead for this purpose.

Answer 3

I found that when you spend more time with the dog and teach it tricks as well as giving it treats, the dog starts to realize that you are his/her owner and that is important. Your dog needs to understand who his/her boss is, so he/she can be more protective and obedient. You need to make the dog realize the difference between you and any other person. In that way your dog will become more obedient.

Answer 4

Its the breed. I have 4 shih tzus and they absolutely have no sense of loyalty. They're more excited when they see complete strangers or visitors in the house. Get a medium breed dog like the french bull dog and train him to be more cautious.

Answer 5

I found that with maturity, my dogs' protective instincts kick in and they are more selective about whom they are friendly with. Have your dog heel and sit next to you. Have the strangers approach her, while she is sitting, to say hello with your permission. Do not allow her to run off and initiate contact herself. She needs your permission before greeting strangers. Both my dogs are social but I just want them to behave when we are in public and be more reserved.