Protective of car?

Shadow is protective of the vehicle when it comes to strangers. I haven't tried to fix that because I don't need strangers approaching the car. I should note that he doesn't get protective if they are simply walking by or getting into their own car. But a stranger wanting to get in (I was going to offer a friend in town a ride home) ain't happenin'.

Is this an old practice of leaving her in the car when your at the barn and new behavior?  Or is leaving her in the car at the barn something new?  I would think that if she use to be ok and now all of sudden is acting protective it would make me think if something scary might have happened to her.  If the whole thing is new, that is, being left in the car then it is pretty normal.  All my dogs bark at stangers when in the car - even if I am in there with them.  Sometimes they decide to bark at people as we are driving - they are big dopes like that.  However, I still leave windows open for them.  I figure, not even a kid is going to approach a car with a barking dog.

My dogs also would not bite someone I invited into the car or up to the car to talk to me.  I would tell them to sush or go lay down and that would be the end of it.  My Swissy is a watch dog by breed (not a guard dog) so he is always noisey with a big BAROOOO and then when the stranger enter the yard he would lick them to death and he is a resource guarding dog.  But to him the car is not a resource.  My Cathoula is the same, watch and alert and then friendly and that seems to be the same profile they follow in the car.

Willow behaves this way too and it's really annoying to me also.  I have to go to self serve for gas and can't stop for a quick oil change or anything like that if she's with me.  I got pulled over one night with her in the car.  I had to keep apologizing and finally the officer made me get out of the car, "so you're dog doesn't go crazy".  He liked her though! 

However, drive up windows are another story. . .loves them. 

luvmyswissy

Is this an old practice of leaving her in the car when your at the barn and new behavior? Or is leaving her in the car at the barn something new? I would think that if she use to be ok and now all of sudden is acting protective it would make me think if something scary might have happened to her.

Side note: being at the barns that I go to isn't like being in a Wal-Mart or mall parking lot. It's fairly controlled, not too many unknown characters hanging around. And, it's a fairly small area.

We can all be in the car and she will still behave in the same manner. She does get corrected when we're there. She takes direction from me and listens when corrected, although will chatter with discontent. I know she does this when I'm out of sight though because I can hear her.

It's very possible that somebody scared or teased her while in the car, not in my presence.

I plan on leaving the sunroof and/or front windows open for air - areas she does not have access to and where no strange fingers can get in.

I've heard other GSD owners report the same thing in regard to the car. I am wondering if it is a breed trait (?). Even if it is, I still plan on correcting her because I don't want her to be aggressive or act that way towards people/friends I am inviting to the car. Now, drive-up windows are a different story altogether! ...she has no problem there and has her head hanging out the window with Willow & Oakley, waiting for the goodie.

ron2

But a stranger wanting to get in (I was going to offer a friend in town a ride home) ain't happenin'.

willowchow

However, drive up windows are another story. . .loves them

I was just wondering if she use to be alright with it and then decided now that she didn't like it.  Given my experience with my dogs except for my Pug take to barking at people while they are in the car and get pretty excited with it but not aggressive.  I don't know why but I guess they feel threatened or not in control.  Maybe someone will be able to give you some advise to make them more quite but my guess is that it anxiety most likely.  My last dog though was an angel in the car when I wasn't with him.  I would leave him to run into the store and when I came out he would be sitting behind the steering wheel like he was driving..  just taking in the sights.

corgipower

It's not at all uncommon for GSD's to be protective over the car. They tend to be territorial, and that does extend to vehicles. You can look into getting a barrier (depending on the type of car) that will keep the dog in the back, which would allow for her to move around and you could have the fron windows open while preventing access between dogs and people.

luvmyswissy

My last dog though was an angle in the car when I wasn't with him. I would leave him to run into the store and when I came out he would be sitting behind the steering wheel like he was driving.. just taking in the sights.

Sounds normal to me. Even Gunnar who loves everyone is protective of anyone coming up to the car. Hektor is even more so.

TAOofGoldyShep

Curious to know how many others (GSDs in particular but any breed) behave the same way. And, how you handle it.

I don't have a GSD, but I do have a very, very alert watch dog.

When I show, I do a lot of overnight driving.  I take breaks at the rest stops along the way.  Xerxes sleeps while I drive.  And when I stop to catch a few winks, he's on alert.  He lets me know when anyone, anywhere within sight walks around.  It doesn't matter if they're 100 yards away or 5 feet away.  He let's me and them know that he's onto them.  

When he's in the car alone, I keep the windows rolled up to where he could stick his nose out, but not open his mouth to bite.  This is important-because I'm pretty sure he wouldn't bite, but I don't want to take that chance.  Anyone that does get bitten would have had to stick a finger INSIDE the car for it to happen.  Usually, a dog that is flashing his teeth as he barks violently is enough of a deterrent to someone that they won't stick their hand inside. 

dgriego

Sounds normal to me. Even Gunnar who loves everyone is protective of anyone coming up to the car. Hektor is even more so.

Xerxes

When he's in the car alone, I keep the windows rolled up to where he could stick his nose out, but not open his mouth to bite.  This is important-because I'm pretty sure he wouldn't bite, but I don't want to take that chance.  Anyone that does get bitten would have had to stick a finger INSIDE the car for it to happen.  Usually, a dog that is flashing his teeth as he barks violently is enough of a deterrent to someone that they won't stick their hand inside.

I too would expect people to not approach a car and stick their fingers in an open window with a dog barking violently. But I've had too many experiences with people who I assumed wouldn't approach her (& other barking or growling dogs) and they still do. Everybody's a dog or bird trainer, lol! Or, "all dogs love me!" ....love that one! I don't trust people in this regard.

TAOofGoldyShep

So you view this as normal? Do you ever correct?

I view it as normal and desirable behavior, but that is my particular view. 

If I'm in the car I tell him to "shush."  It doesn't always work and I'm fine with that.  He's alerted me more than once to strange goings on that made me uncomfortable so I drove to the next rest stop.  I know him and the difference between his normal "I see you" bark and his "i don't like this situation" bark. 

 It's really up to you as to what's acceptable and what's not acceptable to you.  If you don't like it, then train your dog that it's not okay to protect the car.
 

It's certainly normal behavior for a lot of dogs.

If she's carrying on and it's obvious that I know the person then yes, I do tell her to calm down.  I sort of handle it the same way in the house too.  If the doorbell rings and I know the person I don't expect her to keep carrying on. 

TAOofGoldyShep

sorry, I know it's not a funny issue. How did you handle this situation

The friend had a bicycle and and his house was less than a mile away from the gas station. And this was in my pick up truck. Anyone wanting to get in wouldn't be able to avoid getting in his space. It's something that I could train an alternate for. But that's the one and only time a person strange to him was going to get in. In order to train an alternate, I would need a few different people and some time to re-condition him. But I don't pick up strangers, so it's been a non-issue since then. And I don't get pulled over by the police, so I haven't had a chance to work on that, either. I drive even more carefully with him in the car.