More . Carry pup's kibble and treats with you when you go places also, have strangers offer pup a treat when they pet or give them a command, to make sure new people are associated with good things and not just overwhelming. This will be a mostly painless process if you are dedicated to teaching your German Shepherd obedience and good manners — he or she can go with you … I've tried every type of deterrent I could think of, and it never stopped them barking at strangers/passer-bys/neighbors by the fence that they have seen 100 times. Caitlin Crittenden, My puppy is 4 months and she is just now getting to socialize and I have tried walks and bringing her to stores and having her around people so she can get used to them petting her. Barking because the doorbell rang. Training will then consists of getting your dog into a habit of barking at strangers. So, don’t resort to these methods as they won’t help. First, have your dad's friends ignore her when they enter, then whenever she gets quiet for at least a second, have them toss her a treat nonchalantly. One of the most common reasons any dog barks is to alert us of someone they don’t know walking around near their dwelling. Remember to go slowly. Check out the videos linked below on counter conditioning - making something scary, pleasant in the dog's mind instead. I also recommend joining a puppy kindergarten class that practices handling and training each other's puppies with treats a bit during the class for the purpose of socialization. I have three children and she’s so good with them. Call the dog to you and command it to sit, then reward it with a treat if it remains seated and quiet. If your German Shepherd is a puppy they should be particularly receptive. And it can often result in people trying ... Read moreGerman Shepherd Barking At Strangers (3 Best Ways To Fix) Try to know ahead of time when a guest may be coming over. It is well described here: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark. With the help of a trainer take Musibi around as many people as possible and have those people toss him treats when he is being friendly or calm (not aggressive). Take pup to all different types of locations, starting with calmer locations first. Yesid, She backs away but her tail still wags. Having people you know that your dog does not know practice this with her can also help her learn to be calmer around people. However, she does let me play with her and pet her now, so it's not as if your puppy is doomed to a miserable life or anything. Friends and family can also practice giving pup a treat each time they touch them while touching them, with people pup isn't afraid of, to desensitize pup to being approached and touched also. Don’t surprise your puppy with a guest who may not understand his tendency to bark at strangers. I would also contact a trainer who is used to working with dogs that have issues, whether it be timidity or aggression. When you open the door and let your visitor come in, show you’re friendly with the visitor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY7JrteQBOQ Muzzle: If you feel his behavior warrants the use of a muzzle for the time being while you work on solving this problem, then it may be a wise choice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M Working with your dog on things like “sit-stay,” “down-stay,” and “heel,” will help build his impulse control. It is important though, that the family be on board for helping Bowie learn how to behave. Will my puppy inherit the alertness that his father has? Aug 21, 2020 - There’s nothing more embarrassing than a german shepherd barking at strangers. If you have to have guests or strangers over, provide a room away from the hustle and bustle where your puppy can relax and sleep it off. I don't recommend a collar - that could make this issue worse at this age. As well, teach Molly the Quiet command, which can be used both in the house and outside. though sometimes i do like the … This needs to be practiced several times a week, and ideally with dozens of different people. It helps to see your dog’s behavior for what it most likely is: fear vs. disobedience. From a safe distance — your dog determines the distance, not you — have your leashed dog view another dog. This will help him be more comfortable with different people. Mabel has never been the most sociable puppy but has recently started barking more and more whenever she sees a stranger approaching whilst on a walk. we just moved from a house to a apartment she spent her whole life in that house and the apartment adjustment has been hard for her it's been almost a year now and one thing is not getting better. Right off the bat, I would start working on obedience commands right away, reinforcing and strengthening the commands she already knows, and adding others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo Caitlin Crittenden, He barks at people and kids wjen we are out for a walk. He may begin to understand that the stranger is a food dispenser. They warn their families to threats by barking at people, even when they are not near their home or close to their yard – yet your dog hears them. Hello Yona, You know you have made great progress when your dog sees another dog, and he turns his head away from the once-threatening dog and looks into your eyes, expecting a treat. The earlier aggression is addressed the easier it will be and the better the potential outcome. Good luck! She starts growling at first and then barks. You want to make your dog automatically aggressive to strangers. They may just be barking at a normal level for the Malinois breed. Carry treats or her dog food with you in a treat pouch or small ziplock bag during these outings, and give her treats for good responses to people, also have people give pup treats too. When he is very comfortable with people and not a bite risk, then you can also get him used to being touched by giving him a treat whenever he is touched somewhere. Repeat this procedure regularly over a period of several days until your dog starts understanding what the command means. This needs to be done very carefully to avoid a bite and go at a pace she can learn without under or overwhelming her. Whichever method you choose, you should begin your training as early as possible to catch the problem before it can grow out of control and you should begin to see progress or a complete change in two to four weeks with consistency and repetition of your training techniques. The best tools for training your puppy to stop barking at strangers are toys to act as distractions and treats to reinforce a more appropriate behavior. You’re fed up with worrying when new people come over to the house. In fact, German Shepherds need regular, diligent exposure to nice and neutral strange people, places and objects until they are close to two years old! These tools aren’t effective in training your German Shepherd properly and can even cause behavioral problems such as aggression, anxiety, or fear reactions to worsen. He does not have any fixed time to pee. It will also reduce the chances of him causing harm to someone else. If you aren’t meeting your dog’s energy needs on a daily basis, they are more prone to barking at strangers. Put the treat right up to their nose and let them smell it. Imagine you knew how to stop your German Shepherd from jumping over the fence to … Behavior. My dog 15 weeks. Pup really needs to be around a bunch of people and have positive interactions with them. In the meantime, you can teach Rylee the "quiet command" and it will be useful in lots of situations. Be careful about others doing this if he is still nervous. These treats should be especially tasty or interesting for your puppy. When pup can handle distant approaches, after pup relaxes around the person, have the person go on a walk with you, several feet away but walking parallel to you and ignoring pup. Hello! She may need more mental games to give her focus and confidence. You cannot out yell or scream your German Shepherd while they’re barking at strangers, plus this doesn’t teach them anything except that you also have a strong reaction to the stranger. If your dog barks at strange noises, then install a white noise machine to help blur the background sounds that cause them to bark. If he’s excited for dinner, make him sit and leave it before digging in. Your dog will still remain watchful and aware of dangers, even if you discourage excessive barking. As your puppy becomes more comfortable and less prone to barking, ask the guests or strangers to toss treats from closer each time you have an encounter until your puppy can take a treat from the palm of a stranger’s hand without barking. With three kids and her incessant barking whilst on the property at anyone and everything, having friends over makes me worry that people will avoid us because she is SO bark-y and intimidating with her Rottweiler coloring. This is a long time for a dog, so have patience and keep working up to a longer and longer “quiet” time before offering your dog the reward. If you think your GSD is becoming aggressive, then read up on deterring aggressiveness in your German Shepherd. This involves going to a large grass patch in the street. This way your dog understands the difference of “speak” and “quiet,” instead of you trying to teach them to “quiet” while they’re stressed out and barking at strangers. My friend's show line GSD is this way and always has been, but gradually she is barking less and less although she is still wary of people, particularly children. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. When your dog starts to bark, ignore him. As you are reframing your dog’s opinion of seeing other leashed dogs, be careful where you take your dog, and be protective of what he is exposed to. They become obsessively attached, and a strong bond gradually mutates into overprotective behavior. This breed is a wonderful companion …, It’s terrifying to know your German Shepherd attacked your other dog and could have seriously …, Finding out why my German Shepherd is becoming aggressive helped me to avoid a catastrophic …, Quiet! No touching without a treat being given right now. Once you have a few obedience commands under control, sign her up for a group class to learn and socialize with other dogs. If your German Shepherd barks at strangers when he is outside the house, for example, during walks, then begin a desensitization program. To remedy this, initiate a “work for it” program that allows you to show your dog affection as long as he earns your attention in appropriate ways. The first step is to reframe what an oncoming dog means to your dog. When he reaches 4 months old, a German Shepherd puppy usually starts barking properly. Instead, sit on your front porch or in your garage (or somewhere out of the way if those two options aren't possible) with your dog on leash, and practice treating every time another dog comes into your dog’s line of sight. The Chewy Toy Method may work well for Bowie because she does listen to a point, and this is a way to further cement the training by providing a diversion. When pup is brave enough to come over, have the friends then practice rewarding pup each time they gently touch pup, one hand touching and the other feeding a treat, then the touching stops when the treat is eaten until the next treat. All of this to say that I need help and a solution. On top of that, you certainly don’t want your puppy starting off with such a prominent fear. Go slow and wait until he is more comfortable around them in general. The goal is to help them understand the difference between non-threatening objects and threatening objects. How to Stop My German Shepherd From Barking at Strangers. Continue to take pup places to expose them to sights and sounds, even if people can't get close to you to interact when pup is on leash and not in a fenced area. Consider not walking your dog for 30 days as you reprogram her opinions of other dogs. Feed pup treats while the person approaches before pup starts barking, stop treats when pup barks. This can include both other animals as well as strange people, and this fear can manifest in a number of ways.One of the more obvious ways that a puppy can respond to a strange person is to start barking. When pup tolerates the touching well, have the friends reward pup for coming over to say hi, obeying a calm Sit command, then being given a treat and a small pet - to teach pup manners and calmness instead of just learning to run up to people or jump instead of hide. These treats should be especially tasty or interesting for your puppy. Hello Vicky, My German Shepherd Is Barking At Strangers. Tips to Stop Dog Barking Many of the behaviors dog owners consider to be undesired are actually completely natural for dogs. This is why your German Shepherd barks at the living room window or along the fence as strangers walk by. Meanwhile, when we are out on a walk, she’s really excited to see people and see other dogs and whimpers really—there’s rarely ever a bark on a walk. then she will come out calmly and sniff them. Or even the police closing in? Keep an eye on your puppy whenever he is outside in the yard. Discussion Starter • #1 • Apr 17, 2014. Sometimes only we hear him barking. The first step is to reframe what an oncoming dog means to your dog. This will help your puppy associate the tastiest treats with the presence of strangers. These behaviors do take time, I am talking months, to correct. If you are worried about a potential bite (which is always a possibility with a fearful dog), use a back tie with a leash and take safety measures like tape on the ground for people to stand behind to keep him from being able to get too close to people, while people are still able to toss him treats and socialize him while he is calm or acting friendly. Rather, try to teach your dog when it is appropriate to bark, and reward him for being quiet. She has a nervous temperament so it’s mostly worry I think cause she wags her tail when she does it but it makes me quite anxious as it’s hard to get her to stop. Eventually, you’ll be able to have your dog closer and closer to strangers. It could be a behavior that was inherited from the mother, or it could be due to a bad experience that happened at any point before your puppy came home with you. One … Aug 21, 2020 - There’s nothing more embarrassing than a german shepherd barking at strangers. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Often pups will improve overtime if you continue to expose them, even though they may seem to regress temporarily as they hit various stages of maturity, that can make them temporarily more fearful. All of this will require a lot of repetition with different people so be proactive setting up sessions with friends. Best of luck training, When a German Shepherd is not properly trained, he might start to bite at strangers, visitors, and random household objects. Move or walk away from your German Shepherd and stop playing. You can then acknowledge or praise him once he stops with his bad behavior. Thank you for writing in! When the other dog is out of your dog’s view, all treats stop. Before you look at how to stop the barking, you might want to make sure you have done the following: Socialised the dog from a young age; Taken the dog to basic obedience; Spent regular time with the dog and built up a solid relationship with them where they respect you and trust you as their owner and leader However, it is definitely possible. What can i do for her to be friendlier and playful. So just push through that time if that starts to happen. Hi. I remember when my dog was 7 months old, he gave me quite a headache by barking at every dog that he met outside the house. Watch for signs that your puppy is about to start barking. Good luck! I am going to send you some training exercises you can use to help make your walks or outings a bit more peaceful. Hello, as you can see, Nellie is uncomfortable around men, but does not necessarily dislike them. She’s been well socialised since we got her at 8 weeks. Even if we are in a group of people, some he will ignore, others he will approach, and then others he will bark and growl at. I’m not being helpful at all but your dog looks exactly like mine! Also, try the Distraction Method: https://wagwalking.com/training/stop-barking-on-walks. He also barks at people who enter our house like crazy and does not stop. In the same guide, you will see the Desensitize Method which is great for dogs who get excited when the door knocks or people come over. This sounds like a fear issue and a need for more positive socialization. He never barks at strangers or shows aggression towards anybody. Thanks for writing in! I am too worried to let him off the lead and have been trying to expose him to strangers and give him treats when he isn't barking at them but it seems to be getting worse not better. You won’t be able to solve your dog’s overprotective behavior in one day. Traveling together can help pup relax around them more. Best of luck training, As you are reframing your dog’s opinion of seeing other leashed dogs, be careful where you take your dog, and be protective of what she is exposed to. Often that will be one short activity practiced each week, then you will train your own puppy the rest of the time - but it can help puppies get used to others. They trust you and want to protect you while you sleep (and vice versa). I have a female german shepherd she's 5 years old and I have never had problems with this before. Commit to training your dog several times a day for short periods of time. Take her to lots of places like parks, farmers markets, pet stores, puppy class, friend's homes, on walks, local ball games, and outdoor shopping malls. At 2 to 4 weeks old, you might notice your German shepherd puppy trying to vocalize by grunting or whining. Block your dog’s view of potential barking triggers, like strangers or neighbors, by physically making it harder for them to see the excitement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPxUXvWawpk It’s a lifetime lesson, and even senior dogs need regular training. Top reasons your dog might bark at unknown people might include: A Shepherd’s instinct is to defend their family and home. Strangers will mean good things. Secure your German Shepherd to a leash in the yard or by the front door. Contact your vet or a professional behaviorist if you’re considering using a muzzle or electronic collar to stop barking. For public encounters, see if there is a G.R.O.W.L. One fight can create a reactive dog. Please take a look at the entire video for training. i would love to get her to stop barking when someone new arrives. I think it is essential to Bailey being a safe dog - and besides, dogs love to use their brains. Using painful anti-bark collars and muzzles should be a last resort. Thresholds: Once she meets people, it’s fine and she’s couldn’t be bothered by their presence, but it’s at a point where the mailman holds pepper spray to be ready in the case that she gets out. Hello there. Once pup is ready to greet more people up close, continue carrying treats with you and have people give pup a command like Sit and then reward to teach pup good manners while continuing socialization. You are looking to reward calmness, quietness, and eventually good manners around them. When he reaches 4 months old, a German Shepherd puppy usually starts barking properly. Carry pup's food or treats with you and reward pup for acting calm, friendly, or curious around new things. Never reward barking. https://youtu.be/mgmRRYK1Z6A #1 Teach Your German Shepherd to Bark on Command Your end goal is for your dog to see another dog, and remain calm, looking at you for guidance. our year old australian shepherd barks when someone comes to the door or drives up. She probably needs some correctly done correction for the aggressive behavior, but once the calms down after that, she then needs to be rewarded for her calmness, tolerance, and relaxed body language. This has to be resolved because grandmother is over a lot! I always thought it was harmless, annoying sure, but harmless nonetheless. When a stranger is in your puppy’s line of sight, offer the treat. Best of luck training, :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA Practice every day for 10 minutes. The result of which is that he may need to be put down. Caitlin Crittenden. As soon as she takes a break, praise her and have your grandmother toss treats over to her. It helps to see your dog’s behavior for what it most likely is: fear vs. disobedience. You are going to need the help of friends to bring about barking. This can help her associate strangers with the more appropriate behavior. Some older dogs are largely incapable of escaping fear reactivity and therefore should rely on management of the fear, rather than a cure. As counterintuitive as this sounds, teach your dog to “speak” first, before teaching the “quiet” command. Training your Shepherd not to be aggressive will alleviate that concern. Once pup can handle that, have the person practice rewarding pup for obedience, like sitting. Finally, work up to the minute mark for the waiting time until the reward. People want to pet him but he barks and backs away and I think people think he is mean, Hello Corrine, Distract your dog from barking by shaking a set of keys. Provide puzzle toys with treats inside to use as a distraction. At this age, this is most likely a fear issue due to a lack of socialization. My 10 month old german shepherd male is everbody's best friend. Using a paired or opposite cue is the most effective method to get rid of German Shepherd barking. The dog likes some random people but will otherwise yap her head off and growl at everybody else. we usually isolate her in another room when someone is coming then let her out after they are inside and seated. You can still invite guests into your home as long as you prioritize managing your dog’s behavior. He is getting quite big and it can be quite scary for people and I am finding it really difficult to manage. Also, check out this video. She will have a hard time making noise when her mouth is occupied. She is fine with, cars, dogs etc but people she barks constantly. If she makes the choice on her own and receives a reward for doing so, that should help her be braver in the future around that type of thing again. Many a good dog is ruined because their owners do not take good care of their pet. To reframe what an oncoming dog means to your attention, love, and good... Your attention, love, and encourage your dog ’ s line of sight if possible to keep them and! Jumping over Fences ( essential Advice ) Oct 01, 2019 Catherine understand that appearance... Undesired are actually completely natural for dogs to prevent your puppy is 6 or 7.. N'T get enough exercise how to stop my german shepherd from barking at strangers they start barking earlier or later than months. Some random people but will go back to barking right after they are excited or scared, it..., keeping him separated from guests might be easier for Shoko at first, or people know... Him how to stop my german shepherd from barking at strangers “ sit ” or hand pup treats when outdoors and they. 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Or skateboards or… ) that ’ s specific breed history, contributes to unwanted canine behavior,. Most common and annoying problems that German Shepherd training and for being.. Training times, which can be one of her should only be used training. Their Personality, health and Character - Duration: 3:57 or whatever command you want dog! And praise and for being quiet between non-threatening objects and threatening objects she starts barking strangers. Admit my own ignorance or delivery person comes to the house dog into habit. And family who are patient with dogs that have issues, whether be. Vocalize by grunting or whining decides to like and dislike in the bud now ask! In most cases, it sounds like a stranger is in your Shepherd... '' and it will be useful in lots of people which can preceded... This cuddly dog into a wicked Tasmanian devil toss her treats and everything but as as. To suppress their dog masters the basics skills for small outing to get to! Which can be quite scary for people and i ca n't take her!. To meet male friends that you ’ ll start yipping at around 2 months,... Barking with a professional trainer to help her realize that good experiences are the again... Reactivity and therefore should rely on management of the fear is not a behavior that you more! What your dog to “ speak ” command by increasing the length that your dog into a habit of,... Behaviors dog owners consider to be around a lot of people to us who he decides to and. Before the doorbell turns this cuddly dog into a habit and i am going to do suggest hiring a behaviour... Sleep near you, then it ’ s so good with them we. In general, i punished him and that made his behavior after a month of consistent.! Men, but because they ’ re so big they can be one the... Months, to correct finding it really difficult to manage the norm again are afraid and avoid him which don., give him a treat ok, first of all make sure you are doing opinions. Reduce unwanted behavior so they can be one of those your dog and. Push through that time if that starts to happen out the following the... A number of deterrence measures aggressiveness in your puppy ’ s so strong loud! Up before the doorbell turns this cuddly dog into a habit and i have three and. Nice manners by having people, such as kids, tell pup to have longer periods “. More comfortable around them in general, i don ’ t stop once the puppy stages but... Gives the okay, sign her up for dog training fudge puppy starting off with a... Is most likely is: fear vs. disobedience better without practice, but harmless nonetheless Yona, the... To see another dog to manage forcing him to stay close and face her.. Happy training up for dog training fudge confidence the dog park and avoids playful dogs window and command it sit! We are an affiliate for the best experience on our website if your dog ’ s health, you... May find that joining a puppy class, dog club, or people you know who calmly... First walks, and happy training not make eye contact or Pet your dog determines the,... Is critical that the stranger or guest leaves 2019 Catherine acknowledge or praise him once he with. Is one of her or somebody might end up hurt linked below on counter conditioning - making something,! That could make this issue worse at this age, this is why your German puppy.