Question about prey drive... - Page 1

We recently adopted a 2yo GSD and are working to determine where she's at training-wise.  So far, our biggest problem is on the walk.  She's OK on the leash, but pulls from time to time when given any slack.  However, on the short handle she's fine.  The problem arises in coming across other dogs.  I've got a Lab who loves to meet other dogs, but will keep moving if I don't stop.  However, the GSD just stops and sometimes will drop and refuse to move.  I've actually had to pick her up to get her moving...out of a crosswalk.

I've dealt with pulling before or wanting to go one direction when I go another, but I'm not sure what to do with this.  Obviously, I can pick her up and get her moving, but how do I train her to keep moving on her own?  Verbal corrections/leash tugs don't do it, she's too focused on the other dog.  Is this what the prey drive looks like?

She's socialized in that she meets other dogs and is fine with them, but on a walk until they get past us and I can refocus her, she won't move.  Any suggestions are appreciated?  Thanks.

What is she doing body language wise when she does this ?? Is this just an old habit taught so that she doesn't get to friendly with other dogs ?? That would help you figure out if it is a training problem, or just an odd prey response/behavior. ( I am guessing this was trained )

Hmm, body language looks like she's stalking.  When she spots a dog, she lowers her stance/body and creeps to a point and then she goes down on her belly, but looks ready to lunge - no growling/barking.  When the other dog is close enough or passing by, she'll get up and try to greet them.  She appears to want to play, but I don't think she's been taught, or if she was hasn't retained, how to meet/approach another dog.  (To be fair, my Lab isn't great about it either, but she doesn't do the stalking/creeping/drop thing.)  I think it kinda freaks people out.

We have a cat and the GSD was intrigued and curious at first, but doesn't exhibit this same behavior at home, so I'm just not sure what it is.  We're working on leash training, but I'm at a loss with what to do when she refuses to move.  When she's done this, I've tried to get her off to the side in a sit/stay, but that's just perfect for lunging.  I'd like to be able to walk past another dog w/out having to stop completely, because then it's a little harder to keep the momentum going and get them past the distraction.  At least if she were walking but looking back or something, I could give a tug on the leash/verbal correction and keep moving.

Any ideas?  Thanks.

 P.S.  Not sure what training she's had in the past, but there's been something.  Her recall is pretty good, but not stellar.  She goes straight to a "down", but didn't seem to know "sit" (or maybe she just refused).  "Sit" is getting better, but I've noticed the recall weakening since we've been playing fetch.  She prefers to play keep away with the Lab, so if she's got a ball, she doesn't respond to "come" as she does without the ball.

I am probably way off base here, but won't a dog do this sometimes as a sign of "shutting down?"  

hi,

my 9month old shepherd dog use to do what your dog.
when i would walk with him, he sees another dog. he'll slowly creep then drop.

i was told it was a submissive action..

so could that be it? my old shepherd was a rescue dog, he was beaten by the girl boyfriend.
maybe the confideince is abit low??

hope this helps

Beetree - would you elaborate on "shutting down"?  Do you mean relative to training?  I'm not sure that's it, as it's in the middle of a walk, which she loves and other than learning not to pull, there's not too much training taking place then.  It seems to be more of a....behaviour??...or something, but I could be wrong. 

Kaoboy - I thought it might be a submissive type behaviour also, but then again her 'greeting' of the dog if/when it approaches doesn't seem submissive to me.  My Lab is actually a submissive personality and thus far, I don't see the same things in the GSD.  I don't think she's been mistreated, but I can't be sure what discipline/training methods were used.

Thank you both for the feedback.

I will. The one time I saw this behaviour in my dog was when he almost got ran over, before I forced the zap with the e-collar to teach him the boundaries on our invisible fence. He ran out, almost got killed, I called him to me, he came to me to the side of the road and I guess, platzed, lied down flat, wasn't going anywhere. He was out of his league, didn't know what to do, but he knew it was serious, that is how I explain it. 

Actually, I think kaoboy and I are on the same page, not that this is your dog's issue but it did happen to me.

Interesting, and maybe it is something like that.  I'll have to pay more attention next time she does it to see.  From what I've observed, it doesn't appear that way, but perhaps I'm missing something.  Thanks for the info and perspective.