We went to school with counselor Chrystal, Bean was a little stand offish, but didn't try to eat anyone....So we went to phase 2...other dogs...Bean showed her true colors to her new counselor...We went forward from there...dog after dog, Bean became more tolerant.

Chrystal's evaluation, determined two factors

1. Bean is very obedient in commands, when Mom is alone.

2. Bean is fearful and reacts to Moms stress when another dog or person is added to the equation.

Chrystal says......( and please pipe in here with opinions )...GSP's in particular realize two levels

1. the Alpha

2. Dog must take care of said # 1 Alpha...( when she senses MY STRESS )  HER RADAR TAKES OVER

I must admit, at one point in our evaluation, We were being introduced to a particularly LARGE dog...Bean went for her, and I actually noticed my breathing stopped.....I gasped and attempted the correction, that Chrystal suggested....which is>>>>

The choke collar correction & an about face....B4 I did do the correction, but then went to a sit stay....

We will go back next week, BUT in the meantime, I will continue to work Bean...and the confidence that I HAVE GAINED, by watching her mingle with other dogs, is priceless................

YOU ALL ARE GONNA LOVE THIS....................the sessions are twenty bucks

Plus I'm going to have Bean do daycare every couple weeks, for 4 hour stays, so she can get used to other dogs on her own

Counselor Chrystal asked me if I had other friends with dogs, so we could get together & mingle     WELL SURE I DO>>>>>>But they seem to be spread across the United States .....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO YOU ALL

Renee'

Bean and Spot may be related.

Spot takes it upon himself to protect me from all men.  He doesn't see women or dogs as a threat at all.  Just men.

Spot's trainer instinct tested him for shutzhunde(spelling?).  Spot did better than many GS do the first time.  So Spot is in protection training.  Not so he will attack but so I can call him off and he will believe me.

Spot was a rescue of sorts and had issues of all kinds.  It's taken a lot of time and patience to get him to where he is today.  He was originally afraid of almost everything and if my trainer is to be believed, fear leads to agressive behavior.

Good luck with the training.  It sure made a big difference for Spot.

I have noticed that Jackson who accepts any new dog or person into our home and seems to be the most submissive dog I know actually has acted diff. on our walks.  He plays nice at the dog parks and actually is more of a baby than anything.  Lately he actually has gotten shy and I have seen his hair stand up a few times with new people or other dogs.  I have heard that being on the leash takes away some of their own sense of security too because they have less control.  It makes it easier to be threatened.  I am hoping with continued intriductions on leash he will get past this hesitant attitude he gets during those moments.

That is intresting info about how your stressed played a role!  Good luck!!  I am sure Beans will do great!! 

jackson is about 9 months old....so he is just trying to figure out how to be a real big dog and not a puppy ....so what you are saying makes sense.  I just wish we knew more people with kids ...as we want him to be warm with kids one day when we have them

We have grand kids, but they do not visit often enough for me to feel 100% leaving Bean alone with them. If they are all playing it's kind of hard to keep the dog away from the kids...what I've done is taught our grands to be assertive, not loud & screaming,....but a solid NO is in their vocabulary..this has taken several visits...TRUST ME

Nothing more interesting to a GSP than a running / laughing / hollering / person at their eye level...and they are carrying TOYS  WHOOOOYA...not to mention SCOOOBIE SNACKS

I know that Bean grew up with kids...her 1st eighteen months...and the smallest at the time we got her was a 4 year old darling girl...who showed no fear of Bean ....on our visit...and we saw no aggression from Bean toward her....................BUT not knowing the WHOLE program I"M still protective to a point.............I think that is just being AWARE

Maybe try some play time at a park with wee ones.......after obtaining a written permission slip from said parent....JUST KIDDDING.....

Renee'