Thoughts on Gibby

 couple of quick thoughts...........

how old is he now? they do go through various stages

is he may be demanding to be pet?  My friend's golden will bark if she wants attention

I'll think some more and post again if I have other thoughts

What do you do when he behaves like this?  Are you giving him any kind of correction to let him know that this behavior is not acceptable.  He may need to hear how you feel about it.  If you aren't reacting at all...he may think its all good and that he is doing what he is supposed to be doing.  He needs to know that its inappropriate.

Honestly?

My first stop would be a vet visit, to rule out anything health or pain-related. I'd be checking his thyroid and doing a blood panel.

Then I can chat behaviour and training.

How old is he? If there's a chance at all that he is becoming fearful and it's not medical, it's likely to occur around social maturity (so for different dogs this will differ in age!).  What a lot of people don't realize it's that dogs often go through another fear period during adolescence, so age can be important.  If he is becoming fearful, please please please don't "correct" anything. If anything you need to go out of your way to SHOW him how wonderful strangers can be. If you get angry at him for *gasp* showing fear, then you will only confirm that bad things happen in their presence, and you may wind up with more issues than you started with.

 ETA:  Don't follow just the tail when it comes to behaviour. Many a person has been bitten because of that! If you actually watch aggression work, or see aggression videos, a good two thirds of dogs showing aggression are wagging their tails at the same time. A wagging tail is not a sign of confidence, or friendliness.  At most it's a sign of awareness - that something is going on. It's the entire body that will tell the whole story!

CoBuHe

What do you do when he behaves like this?  Are you giving him any kind of correction to let him know that this behavior is not acceptable.  He may need to hear how you feel about it.  If you aren't reacting at all...he may think its all good and that he is doing what he is supposed to be doing.  He needs to know that its inappropriate.

No...I do not just stand there...I tell him "no" he knows what no means.  I also tell him "sit" because that is one command that I use when he is not listening....and it takes a while but he does sit. He is way too excitable and usually doesn't seem to HEAR when he gets like this.  But I keep talking to him and telling him " no no Gibby..." and try to talk to him...tell him they are our friend.  The old aquaintence a few days ago got on her knees to get him to come and the were okay after that.....I told that to this lady today and so she did it but she put her hand out but was afraid to pet him......she didn't like being "under" him.....not to blame her. I didn't really want her to do that but she was going to try anything to be friends BUT yet she was afraid after he barked at her.      

I might have mentioned that he has been barking a lot lately....when ever he even thinks he hears noises, he is getting quite aggravating actually. Guess part of it is we just got out of cold weather when the doors and windows were pretty much shut...and now they aren't.  Not that it has anything to do with being by people. 

Karen I do not believe he is barking at people to get petted...seriously.   Most of the time that I recall they are trying to pet him...except for the lady at the beauty shop.    You know..........there are a lot of people in our neighborhood...so in the summer when we walk he always used to pull and all but he wanted to go by them to get petted.   Now he looks all around and I almost get the feeling he is looking for trouble.  Being protective???? BUT.....he doesn't do it at our house.                    YET!

Karen he is just over three. Finally showing signs of growing up.....OH NO............that means he is getting old.

I'm curious about his age too for the reason Karen brought up.  I have to disagree with Barb about correcting him when he acts like that to someone.  It may eventually get the job done but considering his size and power, it's not necessarily a good solution and may make him start to associate the sight of a stranger with punishment which can make the problem worse. Even if it doesn't make the problem worse, he may start to view all people as a precursor to punishment.  It also tends to up the tension for everyone involved. Correcting the behavior is  how I would have handled the problem many years ago but I've come to be a big believer in trying to use positive reinforcement with behavior issues. 

I don't really have any idea why he's started reacting this way, Dyan.  You may never know and it might go away as suddenly as it appeared.  If he were my dog I'd try using his favorite treat to make the association in his mind that approaching strangers=yummy treats.  Do this every time you have him out and try and make sure you are paying close attention to people approaching.  The second you know he's seen them and he's looking at them, give him a treat and praise him.  Don't wait till they are right up to you and I'd ask people not to pet him until you've got a better idea what's going on.

I just saw Kim's post and agree that a vet visit is in order to rule out anything medical. 

If he's showing fear when this happens, it's probably not barking to demand petting.

I am not a trainer but I would do several things.  One is put him in a sit and reward him (distract his attention), start talking to the people and as long as he is being polite would continue to reward.  Just get him to 'listen' to your commands so he knows you are in charge and to follow your lead.  IF you can't get him to sit then walk him in big circles so his eyes are not fixated on his target until he listens.  Don't get mad but let him know you are not concerned with what he is barking at and reward good behavior, distract on bad behavior.  Does that make sense?

OK...you guys have misunderstood what I meant about correcting.  And, I'm sure I wasn't being clear.  A correction can be making sure the dog understands the situation is not acceptable.  I was not by any means suggesting a yank kind of correction.  Correcting him could be distracting him to get him focused on something else.  Correcting him could be putting him in a sit or a down stay then rewarding.   Jeez.

My question was merely to find out what if anything is done when he is showing these new behaviors.

Barb, I didn't think you meant to yank on him.  My point and I should have made it clearer, is that any type of negative association, when a dog is showing fearful behavior can backfire and make the dog more fearful and defensive.  From what Dyan has posted since her original post, she has let him know it's not acceptable and it's not working.  I don't consider a distraction the same as a correction.  You can teach a dog to respond to a distraction noise, like a "kiss" sound or whatever you choose.  Dyan, here's a link to some articles that might give you some ideas to work on with Gibby.

http://www.dogmantics.com/Dogmantics/Training_Articles/Training_Articles.html

I'm actually more likely to give the dog a correction correction, but I won't necessarily advise that because I do not know this dog or the history or how he was trained.  At some point with my own dogs they need to just understand that no means no, we are not going to have to stop and fixate or bark at every dog we see and the reason is simply because I am in charge and I say so.  There's only so much trying to coax and convince and re-direct a dog I'm willing to put up with, especially having a large powerful breed (I'm sure Dyan can relate!).  The key for me is to make it *clear* what behavior is NOT going to be accepted, and what behavior is perfectly acceptable and rewarded, and if you think for a fraction of a second that the dog either does not understand or will not obey, then the dog needs to be handled properly so that it never gets to the point of barking and pulling where it has to be re-directed.  Granted my dogs aren't fear reactive, so I'm not really familiar dealing with that issue and would likely not use the same technique.  I tend to pair corrections with a LAT (look-at-that) type reward and it becomes a non-issue really quickly, like in a matter of one or two sessions/situations.  Pan recently started reacting at dogs (barking frenzy) and with two carefully managed sessions, it's now basically a non-issue.  Two nights ago we were playing in the front yard and two little dogs on flexi lines came zipping up into my yard, yapping and spitting and lunging at Pan, who I had just commanded to down figuring this would be a great proofing exercise.  He barely even glanced their way, just laid there with his ears relaxed and tongue hanging out.  Any time my dogs have a situation like that I *always* praise and reward for good behavior.  Even Nikon who is almost three will get praise and some sort of reward for ignoring a dog trying to get in his face or a dog that creates a high level of distraction.  Normal situations like walking down the street or passing all the dogs at a dog show don't get constant rewards but situations where the envelop was being pushed do get rewards for correct behavior.

 I really have no clue, but I'll throw this out there anyways. Is it possible that Gibby has become a little full of himself? Maybe a refresher obedience class would help. At age 3 Tootsie got a little big for her britches and another round of obedience class really helped.

tiffy

 I really have no clue, but I'll throw this out there anyways. Is it possible that Gibby has become a little full of himself? Maybe a refresher obedience class would help. At age 3 Tootsie got a little big for her britches and another round of obedience class really helped.

This is probably a big part of it, I think.  At 3 he is now hitting maturity.  Puppies are fun and impressionable but mature males start to notice things they didn't before.

First of all thanks to all of you guys for taking time to help! I appreciate it a lot. 

Barb...just to tell you that I never thought that what you wrote was anything but just to let him know that it was not acceptable behaviour. I never thought you meant to punish him for this.  So don't worry.....not going to beat him...lol!

Kim...I don't think there is anything medical about this...he has had a complete blood panel done not long ago when he was having some stomach issues and I just wanted a whole complete story on him.   He is healthy in every way and other than this thing when walking....there is nothing else that he is doing different. He is a big goofy overly friendly but mischievous male Great Dane that thinks he should have his way most of the time.   Yes..Leslie..he is now hitting maturity....starting to show that little by little..... settling down in many ways...but not giving up the "me" attitude very easily.  Tiffy..you just might have hit the nail on the head when you say " is it possible that Gibby has become a little full of himself!"  Gibby IS full of himself...always has been.  And he walks the street looking at everything. HE watches every car that drives by....and if its a black one ( we have a black one ) he will stop dead and watch it drive completely past us...and then some.    He looks for poeple up and down the street...always did...but he always would want to get petted.  Now I see him looking and I feel like he is looking for trouble.     He does think he is Gods gift to life,,,that hasn't changed in the 3 years that I have had him.  He is the dog you must stay on top of..... and keep him calm because he gets so excited with things then its had to get his attention.  He is spoiled.....I'm guilty of that...but I have never let him have his way about things that I did not want him to do or have. I have always said that Gibby lives to A. eat and B. get petted. He has always ran up to everyone to get petted and I am guilty of letting him because if any of you remember Bubblegum...she came to me afraid of people...it took me a long long time to get her to feel comfortable around people..and we really never suceeded around most men...actually gave up. I was so happy with FRIENDLY GIBBY that I let him be friendlier than I probably should have.  THAT is why I really don't understand this.

Thing that bothers me is I learned with Bubblegum....if you get uptight....they will. So of course now when someone approaches....I do get uptight....not sure how to stop that.  I usually have big kibble in my pocket...I will make sure I have more and use it on our walks.  I was able to give it to the one friend last week that got off her bike to pet him and he barked at her....she made friends in a hurry giving him that.

I have another thought........as I was walking him today ( we didn't come across anyone for him to bark at except a landscaper was at the house across the street from me and I let him pull me there to get his pat on the head ;) I was thinking and thinking.  WHAT has changed?  What is our life is different while walking.....and the only thing I can come up with is his harness.  If any of you remember when I was trying to teach Gibby to walk nice..we went thru the dreaded "Gentle Leader" ( NOT ) that he STILL has a marr on his nose where it was....and eventually got the Gentle Leader Harness or whatever its called.  I used it for quite a while..but went back to the prong collar. I was taking him with his regular nylon collar but once in a while he DOES pull and I do'nt want his neck getting hurt...the prong collar stops that because he won't pull as hard with it.  BUT about a month ago I got out the harness again..and we have been walking with it.   I just wonder....can he feel confined in it???  Or ????    You know..when he is out with without a leash...he is really quite obedient.  A new little pom moved in next door...she comes out NON-STOP barking and charging Gibby...and I just say " Gibby STAY.....and keep repeating and he doesn't go by her!"  But our law here is dogs must be on a leash..I can't walk him without. 

Talking to the trainer that I took Gibby too when he was younger....she said I should try to use the WAIT command and 3 seconds and teach him " hello!"  That was one of the things she taught in class to greet other dogs....to say Wait...wait 3 seconds and then " hello" ........   She thought that would be better than making him SIT as I had been. I use SIT because he seems to know that command best...   BUT maybe not..I walk him every day and we do not cross a street without me saying WAIT and then OK when I think its okay to cross.  I guess the hard part will really be for me to not get uptight when someone approaches. Yesterday on our walk a fellow walked out of the Pool Store and greeted him...Gibby had no problem being friendly...and I wasn't good about the 3 seconds but did get across a good HELLO!         Trainer Julie also said to try to encourage people to NOT pet his head...but rather his neck or side of his head.....I can see that, especially when they are hesitsnt....they are reaching over his head quite a while and he is looking at that hand coming slowly at him.............but on the other hand.... who wants to put their hand by the dogs big mouth!!!  LOL! Seriously.