That was unexpected

[BostonBanker]

I had an interesting experience with Meg the other day (or rather, a man did) that is about to trigger some more training. I had a good conversation with my friend, who is a behaviorist, today which made the situation more clear in my mind and helped me come up with a plan. I'm thinking others may have some ideas as well.

First off, to be very clear what I expect from my dog - ZERO aggression towards humans. I know some people like and expect their dogs to protect them/their house etc. I don't want or need that. I assumed I had it in Meg - didn't think there was an ounce of protective instinct in her (and I'm still not sure there is - a bit of enlightenment that came up during that conversation).

Last week I took my car in to be inspected. They finished it all up fine, but there was a problem with my registration, because apparently in DMV land, they write backwards and the expiration date of 08/10 meant that my registration had expired in 10 of '08. Oops. So I go out to the DMV a few days later, take care of it, and swing back by the inspection station. I'm inside paying, and one of the guys comes out from out back with the sticker. He sees Meg sitting in the front seat and asks if she'll be okay if he goes out and puts the sticker in. I say, "Oh, she'll be fine". He came back in a minute later, sticker still in hand, and says, "boy, she doesn't like me. She's got her ears back and is growling". Seriously?

So I go out with him, Meg is very pleased to see me and her normal friendly self to the man. However I don't think the man was lying to me. I assume when he tried to get in the car without me there, she was growling. My original assumption was she was guarding the car.

The twist on it that we came up with today was that my friend pointed out that I basically use the car as a crate. Meg is very used to hanging out in there, and probably rather than being "protective" is actually being possessive of "her" space. I don't think she'd actually back anything up, but it is not a behavior I want in my dog either way.

So the current plan is to start having people I know help me with fixing the problem. Progressing maybe from having them drop treats through a cracked window, to opening the door and handing them to her, to eventually getting in the car, sitting down, and handing her a treat. I have a bunch of friends Meg knows well, and a smaller group who know her very little or not at all. Obviously I'd start with the ones she knows first.

Any other ideas? She's very food and "touch" motivated, far less toy motivated. She generally adores people without fail, except obviously in this situation.

[Doberluv]

Sounds like a good plan to me. When you start out with the friends she knows well, go with them...stand right there and then gradually increase distance between yourself and your friends until you disappear. (If necessary) Then when you get people she doesn't know to try, start out with you standing there with them...chatting happily and when she's comfortable with that, do the same thing...gradually step further and further away until you don't need to be there. Then try where they approach without you.

It was funny because most people would expect a Doberman to be very guarding of his car. But since Lyric was a little puppy, I took him often to the grocery store and got help with my groceries. The helper would reach in and put the groceries in. I never gave Lyric any treats or anything. He just got so he was fine. So, he never wound up being "protective" of the car. And the dogs I have now couldn't care less if someone put something in the car....especially groceries. LOL.