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**I'm sorry, this is super long winded**
We had a bit of an "incident" with Artimis last night. First some background though.
He's almost 2 years old in May and from the day we got him he's been a bit nervous around people. He wasn't too bad, he got better a bit when we had people giving him treats and not fussing over him too much, but still felt he needed more socialization. So, we decided to take him to a puppy class to try and meet new people around other dogs where he feels more comfortable. He always loves other dogs so we thought in a class with other dogs, seeing them getting loved on from people with treats etc would be good for him, so we found a trainer we thought would be good, all positive training (or so she said!) and she seemed pretty good when I talked to her on the phone.
Well, we went to the class and it was OK, but not great. He enjoyed playing with puppies, he was far ahead of all of the others as far as training, so we went for a few weeks. The more I went the more I didn't like going. She said on the phone she was all positive reinforcement, but when I went on the second week a GSD puppy wouldn't stop barking being too hyper active so she made the owner do a scruff grab and alpha roll. My first thought was WTF?? We decided to ignore that, after I specifically told her I didn't like that, that was not positive reinforcement, and she was NOT allowed to ever suggest or do that with Art.
She said she understood, that she was normally PR, but some cases she needed to use other methods.
I decided to ignore it and just stay to get him some socialization as he needed it and was enjoying his time there. Well, she played a game called "Pass the puppy." Everyone got in a circle and passed the pup along to the next person, no problem if they took it slow and lured Art with a treat, but she went way too fast and I saw her DRAGGING him by his collar to the next person when he was too afraid to go on his own. I got up, grabbed Art, told her that was NOT appropriate he was too frightened, and decided not to come back and just forfeit the money. It wasn't worth it.
After that, he was terrified of people all together, he started barking at them from a distance and tucking tail. I really attribute that class to messing him up a lot, he went from a bit nervous but curious to terrified. We were also very hesitant to find another trainer and had little money to loose yet again, so we've been working with him ever since. He's come a long way with some slow, pateint work and careful introductions. He still doesn't like new people if not introduced properly, but for the most part he ignores people. He is allowed to go to the dog park, he enjoys dog people. He even lets some of them pet him and is always there if they have treats. Those that he is a bit nervous about he just ignores and stays away from them, or runs to us which is what we taught him. We taught him that people coming near means he gets treats if he stays calm, or if he goes and sniffs someone he gets a really good treat.
But anyways on to the "incident."
We are VERY careful with him, but we were at our friends house watching videos. He was introduced to everyone there and loves them all like his own family, but my brother came over and, us not knowing and not being able to see the door, he brought his friend that Art has never seen before. Art didn't know the friend was there until he just randomly walked into the other room where the friend was sitting and it scared Artimis when the guy said something. Art literally jumped back shocked, but then started barking/growling hackles up and jumped on his lap barking/growling. As soon as I heard Art growling/barking I ran over there cause I still thought it was only us and my brother there.
I got there and Art was right in the guys face and he was barking/growling, but he was also wagging his tail (super fast and loose), and licked at the guys face happily. I almost had a heart attack, as soon as I saw Art on him I thought Art was going to bite him (never has he bit or attempted to bite anyone ever). The guy wasn't sure what to think, a dog was growling/barking between kisses and right in his face! Of course I grabbed Art, as soon as I could, but I'm a bit confused.
I can't for the life of me understand Art's actions. He seemed conflicted. He was kissing him very friendly, his tail was loose and wagging like he was happy, and when I took him away he began to whine. But at the same time he would growl and bark at the guy as he was doing it??? The guy even said he was petting Artimis and Art was giving him kisses and being very friendly other than the barking and growling.
Any ideas????? I just don't know what to make of it? I mean, I know how he acts with new people he's not properly introduced to (he barks at them and runs and barks at a distance), but I've never seen him bark/growl and be super friendly too????
I kept Art in the second living room while my brother and his friend were in the first living room, and Art paid no attention to the guy at all after that. Usually he keeps an eye on new people.
We had a bit of an "incident" with Artimis last night. First some background though.
He's almost 2 years old in May and from the day we got him he's been a bit nervous around people. He wasn't too bad, he got better a bit when we had people giving him treats and not fussing over him too much, but still felt he needed more socialization. So, we decided to take him to a puppy class to try and meet new people around other dogs where he feels more comfortable. He always loves other dogs so we thought in a class with other dogs, seeing them getting loved on from people with treats etc would be good for him, so we found a trainer we thought would be good, all positive training (or so she said!) and she seemed pretty good when I talked to her on the phone.
Well, we went to the class and it was OK, but not great. He enjoyed playing with puppies, he was far ahead of all of the others as far as training, so we went for a few weeks. The more I went the more I didn't like going. She said on the phone she was all positive reinforcement, but when I went on the second week a GSD puppy wouldn't stop barking being too hyper active so she made the owner do a scruff grab and alpha roll. My first thought was WTF?? We decided to ignore that, after I specifically told her I didn't like that, that was not positive reinforcement, and she was NOT allowed to ever suggest or do that with Art.
She said she understood, that she was normally PR, but some cases she needed to use other methods.
I decided to ignore it and just stay to get him some socialization as he needed it and was enjoying his time there. Well, she played a game called "Pass the puppy." Everyone got in a circle and passed the pup along to the next person, no problem if they took it slow and lured Art with a treat, but she went way too fast and I saw her DRAGGING him by his collar to the next person when he was too afraid to go on his own. I got up, grabbed Art, told her that was NOT appropriate he was too frightened, and decided not to come back and just forfeit the money. It wasn't worth it. After that, he was terrified of people all together, he started barking at them from a distance and tucking tail. I really attribute that class to messing him up a lot, he went from a bit nervous but curious to terrified. We were also very hesitant to find another trainer and had little money to loose yet again, so we've been working with him ever since. He's come a long way with some slow, pateint work and careful introductions. He still doesn't like new people if not introduced properly, but for the most part he ignores people. He is allowed to go to the dog park, he enjoys dog people. He even lets some of them pet him and is always there if they have treats. Those that he is a bit nervous about he just ignores and stays away from them, or runs to us which is what we taught him. We taught him that people coming near means he gets treats if he stays calm, or if he goes and sniffs someone he gets a really good treat.
But anyways on to the "incident."
We are VERY careful with him, but we were at our friends house watching videos. He was introduced to everyone there and loves them all like his own family, but my brother came over and, us not knowing and not being able to see the door, he brought his friend that Art has never seen before. Art didn't know the friend was there until he just randomly walked into the other room where the friend was sitting and it scared Artimis when the guy said something. Art literally jumped back shocked, but then started barking/growling hackles up and jumped on his lap barking/growling. As soon as I heard Art growling/barking I ran over there cause I still thought it was only us and my brother there.
I got there and Art was right in the guys face and he was barking/growling, but he was also wagging his tail (super fast and loose), and licked at the guys face happily. I almost had a heart attack, as soon as I saw Art on him I thought Art was going to bite him (never has he bit or attempted to bite anyone ever). The guy wasn't sure what to think, a dog was growling/barking between kisses and right in his face! Of course I grabbed Art, as soon as I could, but I'm a bit confused.
I can't for the life of me understand Art's actions. He seemed conflicted. He was kissing him very friendly, his tail was loose and wagging like he was happy, and when I took him away he began to whine. But at the same time he would growl and bark at the guy as he was doing it??? The guy even said he was petting Artimis and Art was giving him kisses and being very friendly other than the barking and growling.
Any ideas????? I just don't know what to make of it? I mean, I know how he acts with new people he's not properly introduced to (he barks at them and runs and barks at a distance), but I've never seen him bark/growl and be super friendly too????
I kept Art in the second living room while my brother and his friend were in the first living room, and Art paid no attention to the guy at all after that. Usually he keeps an eye on new people.
