Excercise & Paranoya

[paige]

I walk my dog everyday for 2 miles, when it starts to get cold outside I'm not sure I'll want to be walking outside as much. How else can I get my dog exercise in the winter?

Another question. I have friends that come over that my dog has never met before or they've only come over a few times. He gets a little agitated and starts to bark at them, which he never barks. He will also do this on walks, when we are passing people he will try to get as far away from them as possible, no barking though. It's not like he is never around people because we have friends that come over that have know him since he was a puppy and he'll give them kisses. I take him on walks, to the dog park, we took a puppy class where other people were handling him. So my question is how do I get him to calm down around strangers and realize noone is there to hurt him. We've never hit him, maybe the occasionaly pat on the butt if he got into something. He is a German Shephard/Boxer Mix, 10 months old, 85 lbs.

[davet]

i would take him back for more training...one puppy class cannoat solve all the problems sum people have to take their dogs back for refreshers ofter...also he may be imprinted in yhois socialization by his status in the liter peck order...i have some hwat of a problem with Sassie...she is a greate dog but we often swonder how she will react with strrangers......if you feel he needs more exerciste just tough it out and take him.l..it will be good for the both of tyou

[k9Karen]

Some dogs never really get over this. It is the same with many people. They are unsure of the unknown and also protective of you. This is a normal response. He barks when people he doesn't know come into the house because that's his job. He must alert you to this development. It doesn't mean he doesn't like the people. He doesn't know them yet. How is he after they come in and he knows you have welcomed them? Most dogs will initially hold back, then curiosity gets the best of them and they go to investigate. When they realize that the person likes them and will pet them, they are usually put at ease. When you are out, attempting to leave an area with unfamiliar people (or possibly lead you away from what could be something he perceives as a potential danger) is also not abnormal or unusual. Not all dogs are extremely friendly, in fact, I'd venture a guess that at least 1/2 of them aren't. None of mine will just walk over to someone they don't know without first assessing the situation. Then, only one will go to anyone. The others wait until they are comfortable with the situation and the person calls to them.

About the excersize. A dog the size of a Boxer is hard to exercise indoors, but if you have the space, throwing a ball for him will provide a good workout. If you have stairs, throw it so he has to run the stairs. Do you have a treadmill? Some dogs can be taught to walk on a treadmill. I can't say anything about not walking him, since I don't walk mine. There are too many fleas everywhere around here, and walking them only gets them infested with fleas (or worse, ticks). Unlike you, we don't have to worry about the cold weather, but it is miserably hot and humid at least 5 months of the year, and the dogs are as miserable as I am if they are walked in 95 degree heat with 100% humidity. The pavement is too hot for them to walk on, so I have to walk them in the grass, which leads me back the flea problem - so, I don't walk them.

[Amandasmom]

I have 3 large dogs who bark at everything. When a stranger come by, not only do they bark but the 2 boys get into a fight. Imagine how that looks to a new comer. If they have met someone before and consider them a friend, they will bark but as soon as the can smell the person, everything is fine. Friends and family visit me once every few years so it will be a while before the dogs see someone again but they always remember. I let the dogs charge out of the house, barking and acting like idiots. I'll have that happy squeaky voice yelling "look whose here" After they knock the people over, everything is fine. My point is, dogs usually remember people they've met before. My males are a germen shepherd collie mix and rotti lab mix so these are breeds known for protecting.

One trick you can try is taking your dog to a K-mart or similar store with lots of people coming and going. Let your dog meet these people, let them pet him. This will be neutral territory so the dog will not be so protective. Give lots of treats and praise. It also helps if you teach him to sit before people can approach and pet him. You can also practice having people come to the door. Make him sit, allow the person to come in and have them give a treat. This will teach him that all guests aren't bad.

As for exercising, I'm the opposite. My dogs don't walk in the summer because they get too hot. I only take them places that have a pond or ocean. Now that its getting cooler, we can start walking again but I'll have to start slow. My dogs will be 9 next year so I have to take it easy. In the house we play games like 'go find it'. Hide a favorite treat or toy in the house and have the dog search for it. Get him all excited about it. My collie mix will run around for hours. My collie will also go on the treadmill. No one else will. Good luck out there.