gsd now 13 weeks, took her outside to park for first time today and a spaniel came to greet her, she cowered in between my legs and decided to growl followed by a snap at this dog? cant understand why, shes got a dog companion at home and met loads of other dogs at ringcraft tuesday?
any ideas please

Could be alsorts of things. Was she on a lead?  Dogs often feel more vulnerable when on lead as their body language is restricted unless you are very careful.  Spaniels can be a bit 'full on' when greeting other dogs, this may also have been nerve racking for her.  Also around the 12 week stage puppies enter a fear period where new things (and even familiar things that haven't been seen for a while) can become really scarey.  During this period puppies should be handled carefully to ensure they don't develop life long fears following an encounter.

As far as your puppy was concerned this dog had "invaded her space" and because she was not entirely in control of both her movements and the other dog's she felt vulnerable and therefore resorted to using a strategy which would make what made her feel uncomfortable go away.  It is perfectly natural.

my girl was on a lead and so was the spaniel, it came running up to her and she run under my legs and this is when she snapped and snarled? yet my lass is only 13 weeks old?

I've just read your other message about the Rottie last night - your girl could also be remembering this and protecting herself from a strange dog that may bite like that one did.  Next time ask the other dogs owner not to let his dog persue yours.  She snapped and snarled because she was scared.  As I said in my last message this needs to be handled VERY carefully as GSD's are prone to becoming dog agressive after a few incidents like this :(

my mum mentioned this today to me and it did cross my mind as well, i hope to god that rottie hasnt caused my girl any mental probs yet shes still ok with our other collie at home.
I wonder if i tell the trainers next week whats happened and see what they say or can suggest, i know when i go i wont be any where near it again, my thumb is very sore and bruised still, am suprised that nothing was actually done and the incident reported in the incident book, not that im aware they would have one? im new so i dont know the policies and to be fair the rottie went for the pup not intentially my hand.

It takes me by surprise every time when a confident outgoing puppy suddenly at 13 to 14 weeks becomes scared and suspicious of every one and everything, even if they have seen it or them before.

The way I tackle it is to be nonchalant and treat it as if it is nothing out of the ordinary (which indeed there is not) and walk away from the source of the problem, don't commiserate with the pup talk to it in a matter of fact way as you would to a child that became worried about something without cause. In this case I would have turned round and walked away then turned again and walked past the other dog without comment if they are still there.

They should have an incident book (and it might be worth getting a Dr to look at it - ofcourse your Anti Tetanus jabs should be up to date if he broke the skin)  Should you develop any problems they should also be covered by insurance..........

Sam,  Am I right in thinking that you have had this pup since she was 5/6 weeks old? And she is now 13 weeks old.  Were the dogs she met at ringcraft, including the Rottie that was aggressive towards her the only dogs she has met apart from the one she lives with.  I am sorry if I am assuming that you haven't socialised her with other dogs because that would explain the problem but I'm sure that you have so it was probably just the new environment that made her jumpy.
Sally

hi just signed on  so only read the replies, yes i brought my girl home on the 22nd december when she was 5-6 weeks old, [long story]
she has another companion at home a 4 year old bitch,and i have two children a hubby and an elderly mum living with me, we also have doctors, health staff and home help lady coming every day so pup is used to people.
As for other animals and traffic and home noise i tried to introduce her to as much as i could from day 1, mainly up in my arms outside and near the road.
Since she had her 2nd jabs i have taken her on the lead to the end of our close and sat with her near the road watching traffic and met alot of passers by with prams ch;ldren and dogs.
I am thinking that this incident was a result of the rottie going for her at training classes and its damaged her confidence?IMO
Thanks for the replies and advice

It was also her first real walk out yesterday following her jabs. i took her with me to the kids school to meet the children in the car then got out with her took her on the field and waited for my kids, she did meet loads of children who wanted to pat her but i told them politely please dont touch her yet as its her first day out and shes nervous then this dog came up to her?
it could be a number of things but maybe it was just that she was frightened.