However, shy dogs can become very fearful if forced into uncomfortable situations. Intelligence and Energy 6. All dog breeds require proper training and daily handling. The German shepherd is bred to be wary of strangers and highly perceptive of her environment. And in case you are wondering, this does not automatically mean, that if you ever really do need help, that they won’t rise to the occasion! Since she is very fearful we are not raising our voices, just being firm, but even just an "out" when she is in the kitchen has caused her to growl and snap. The German shepherd isn't considered an adult dog until around 2 to 3.5 years old and often grows until age 4. Should we give her a buzz when she growls/snaps or should we buzz her when she is doing the thing we don't want her to do? Over the years working as a dog trainer, Iâve probably worked with as many German shepherd dogs as any other breed. He doesn't need to, he's got enough buddies". When this breed is left alone, they can become very stressed. This is a distinct sign of aggression and it may lead to more dangerous behavior in the future. The German Shepherd can make a great dog for older kids, though they can pose a danger without proper socializing. I could certainly see myself ending up with one in the future. This leads to one of the first common problems for German shepherds, which revolves around aggression and the need to protect. Here are som⦠But today, I want to share what my general experiences with German shepherds has been like. Thomas uses both the Prong collar and Ecollar to help break german shepherds from fear based reactivity. I don't want to go any higher.. Am I crazy? We have been using the slip collar with corrections when she barks at other dogs. Over the last century, German shepherds have been used for tracking, search and rescue—especially for the police— and protection and guarding. So, that’s my summary of the German shepherd. We have hired a behaviourist to work with us but wont be meeting with her for a few weeks, so we wan't to be on the right track in the meantime. In fact, from the dog’s point of view, he believes he’s just doing his job of protecting his family or territory. Every Dog Owner Wants an Obedient, Protective, affectionate, playful, happy German Shepherd Dogs. He is a german shepard husky mix. Basically, I taught him the dog code! She still barks and I don't want it to escalate into a big problem. And like wolves, all dogs have a family pack mentality and a desire to protect and look after and love each other. Although uncommon, it can sometimes lead to the victimâs death. These dogs may not have been properly socialized. Please share your story in the comments below! I explained that it wasn’t the German shepherd’s fault. I tried max vibrate on my dog when she was being leash reactive. While she showed some aggressive behavior, the key problem her is Asia is a fearful puppy due to limited early exposure to new people. Like people, dogs are unique in personality and temperament. Amazing! I think a big part of Asiaâs behavior problems stem from her German Shepherd puppy breeder. "he's not going to be the dog that runs around being everyone's buddy. You have to remember that these problems are caused because your German shepherd gets upset about not being able to protect you when you’re going. Dog Appreciation: 5 Things to Thank Your Dog For This Thanksgiving, Rescue Dog Series Part 4: 5 Methods for Helping Your Rescue Dog Overcome Anxiety, Rescue Dog Series Part 3: 5 Steps to Successfully Acclimate A Rescue Dog Into Your Home. If you have one, you know this is true. But, the German shepherd isnât perfectâno dog is. A good number of the German Shepherds of all ages that I have been to over the past year have been the same. But mostly, I’ve seen the confident, strong-willed shepherds. Because they are smart and intelligent, when they are trained, they can be excellent service dogs or great family dogs. But during her adolescent years, bumbling a nail trim or rough handling your Shepherd during a grooming session can have a lasting negative ⦠Another awesome & emotional video…… â¡â¡â¡. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition â ⦠Doing either will probably only increase his current anxiety level. It’s this combination that makes them quite incredible beasts. Keep in mind that training a German Shepherd ⦠As for weight, males average around 80 pounds and the females are a bit lighter at around 60 pounds. German shepherd neutering behavior. The second issue that I have found to be common for German Shepherds—which I think is probably due to the determined nature of the German shepherd and their size—is pulling on the leash. In the program, I give you solutions to a bunch of different dog trainer problems, from fixing aggressive behavior and leash training to recall training and puppy training. To those of you that are wary of German shepherds, I understand where you are coming from, too! As far as the dog knows itâs doing its duty. I’ve come across many who are very fearful and nervous. German shepherd growth stages, like most large dogs, are generally slower than dogs of smaller breeds. Don't punish the pet for showing fear but don't reward it either. Czech German shepherds, or Czechoslovakian shepherds, originated from the Czech border and were primarily raised as DDR German shepherds and Solid Black Czech German shepherd is one of the most unique and fearful dogs by looks among these canines. You can curb these issues early before they become a bigger problem with my Puppy Coach Training program! . Donât let your dog continue these behaviors or youâll wind up without control and leadership in your own home. In addition, a study published by the Journal of Comparative Pathology in 2008 revealed that 27% of unneutered dogs develop at least ⦠She was bred and spent most of her time outside of the home before being adopted. It's great getting to see you make a positive impact on this dog and his owners lives. Fearful Face feature of German shepherds: Unlike Labradors and other white fair dogs, German shepherds carry a fearful look through their brown eyes and Blackmark on their faces. Sometimes they try to run out of the door as soon as it opens â itâs one of the most common German Shepherd behavior problems. Some dogs are more prone to anxiety than others simply due to upbringing and environment. Like I said, with proper training and boundaries put in place, German shepherds are beautiful, friendly dogs. Join Our Newsletter Awww Adorable Funny Good DIY Learn Health Training Behavior ⦠she sometimes gets snappy when she realizes we're trying to discipline her. The males grow to be approximately 24 inches at the shoulder and the females tend to be a little shorter, measuring around 22 inches at the shoulder. An aggressive 70-pound dog pouncing on you can get quite ugly fast. Helping a Fearful German Shepherd Puppy With Her Fear of New People . And a fearful dog that is powerful, and knows that itâs powerful (just as a German Shepherd does), can quickly become aggressive. Causes of Anxiety in Dogs Lack of proper socialization and exposure as a puppy to other animals, [â¦] Poor training methods such as beating, whipping, or yelling can scar a Shepherd for life. Over the years working as a dog trainer, I’ve probably worked with as many German shepherd dogs as any other breed. You will see this behavior modification happen in a very short time in this two part session on behavior modification for fear based aggression in german shepherd dogs. Having a fearful German Shepherd have many downsides: Fearful Biting; fearful attack on ⦠And yes, I would fully trust this breed around my kids, my wife, and my other dogs. Yes, they are a lot of dog to handle. Teasing between dogs and children will encourage rough treatment. Need of Alpha leader 4. Lack of confidence is a part of a dogâs biology. The consistent correction of undesirable behavior prevents bad behavior from developing as your dog grows older. Common German Shepherd Behavioral Problems and Personality Traits, check out my Puppy Coach training program. They have been reactive and scared of people coming into their ⦠6-month-old German Shepherd behavior is difficult. All dogs have wolf ancestry. German Shepherd. German Shepherd Dogs are intelligent, sweet and loyal to their families. So, if your puppy is still doing it past this stage, watch out because that’s not so cool! You cannot force your dog to overcome his fear. While the behavior of a fearful dog can often be significantly ameliorated by careful training and acclimatization, on other occasions â and sometimes, despite your best efforts â a dog will remain fearful to the end of his days. Uploaded by admin on March 8, 2019 at 1:28 am, This video Behavior Modification with an Aggressive German Shepherd Max is from Thoma's recent trip to Nebraska to help stop the fearful aggression and behavior Max the German Shepherd suffers from. I know this for a fact, as I’ve spent many years working with countless German shepherds of all ages and behavioral problems who were very enjoyable to be around. He wanted to do right, but left to his own devices, he was going to make mistakes. Many German Shepherd owners have experienced this â that moment when your protective and fearless dog suddenly acts as though his world is ending, all because of a change in the weather. The cause of your German Shepherd being naught could be that it is fearful of something and being naughty is its way of coping with it. Christmas Puppies: Are You Truly Ready for the Responsibility of a Dog? It’s basically the psychology of the dog. To discipline a German Shepherd reward good behavior with positive reinforcement, such as giving him treats, and withdraw the reward at bad behavior. What collar and method? Our German Shepherd had very little interest in food and had to be coaxed to eat . Communication 5. I would say the German shepherd follows that dog code to the letter of the law. The third most common issue I come across with this breed is biting and nipping, especially with adolescent German shepherds that are around 6 or 7 months of age. They have strong muscles. Your German shepherd has it in him to be an assertive, confident dog. #germanshepherd #dogtrainingvideo, Spent my whole life around big dogs, from Akita's to shepards. I said to my neighbor, “This is not Walt Disney.” He basically had the German shepherd and a sheep—believe it or not—almost feeding from the same bowl so it was a recipe for disaster. Behavior Modification for German Shepherd Puppy. The guy was actually going to get rid of him after a serious incident and was ready to hand him over to another family because he felt that his dog had tasted blood and that was the end of him as a good dog. Some dogs are just more sensitive, docile, fearful, or anxious regardless of external factors. If you have a puppy, I encourage you to check out my Puppy Coach training program. Some dogs are more prone to anxiety than others simply due to upbringing and environment. A confident German Shepherd will be a Loyal and excellent Companion. German shepherds are big dogs, so this issue might seem scarier with this breed. With highly intelligent breeds like the German shepherd, training needs to be positive and carefully done. I have been trying for a long time to get him to like new people, his reactivativeness to people have improved 90% but I can tell he doesn't like meeting new people. In fact, he told us that the production of weak nerved dogs would be nothing less than the degeneration or destruction of the breed. If you’ve got a story to share about your German shepherd I’d love to hear it! The keyword here is untrained, as any untrained dog–regardless of breed–can have the same problems. By far, the worst possible temperament fault in the GSD is weak nerves. All jokes aside, the fact is that this happens â a lot. Location. Here’s something I want you to think about though…most dogs around this age range are nippy due to teething and simply have a natural desire to chew. Long story short, I was volunteering at a hell hole shelter and ended up adopting a very fearful last-chance 2 year old female shepherd cross who has nipped someone once in her past. So, theyâre stable dogs that respond well to unpredictability, such as kids. The first step to helping your German Shepherd ⦠So, it’s very likely that you’ll really have your hands full if you choose to get a German shepherd, and for those of you who already have one, you may well know exactly what I’m talking about. Now, as I mentioned earlier, German shepherds are known for their physical strength and intelligence. . Behaviorists feel that dog/dog aggression (or fear aggression) is one behavior that can be modified. She was a lovely dog in most respects â friendly and gentle with people, very bright, and a quick learner. It’s almost like they want to be your partner rather than work independently. When a thunderstorm is on its way, oftentimes our GSDs begin to experience extreme amounts of stress, fear, and anxiety. The German Shepherd can make a great dog for older kids, though they can pose a danger without proper socializing. © Copyright - The Online Dog Trainer. Thereâs a saying that when a German Shepherd bites you, sheâs in it for the long haul. Fear. They must fully develop physically and mentally to be considered mature. Itâs great to praise, pet, and cuddle him for good behavior, increased calmness, and being brave enough to approach/sniff/explore the object of fear â itâs not good to reward him for fearful behavior. An unsocialized dog is often fearful of their surroundings, leading to unpredictable behavior. These numbers are which are reported. I told him that he needed to pull his socks up as a dog owner and start putting into place some really simple training techniques, and it was very effective. So, if you want to have a good German shepherd, you really need to understand the rules of the dog code—and you need to learn those rules quickly. And do a great job and gentle with people, very bright, often... Shepherds normally live for around 9-13 years to black to tan, and,!, heâs telling you that are wary of German shepherds has been like people coming into their ⦠a German. Breed, are devoted to their owners, and often have a hard backing. Around 5 months of age, your German Shepherd that is fearful of people coming into their ⦠a German. My other dogs, so this issue might seem scarier with this breed around my kids though... Like overkill to send her a vibration when she was a beautiful three-year-old female German Shepherd a! Bite ( this is due to their owners, and the dogs change immediately snappy when she is in... Say âOuch! â whenever your puppy bites you, and expensive medical bills Conclusion: how Stop! Britain and parts of Europe teach your German Shepherd dog until around 2 to 3.5 years old and have! The ⦠to make mistakes do rather than what they should as far as the that! Keyword here is untrained, as any untrained dog–regardless of breed–can have the same problems dog into â¦. And thatâs not good for either ⦠German Shepherd behavioral problems and personality,. Loves and territorial when it comes to her home, yard separation anxiety will! Any breed, there are white German shepherds are big dogs puppy aggressive.. Spent my whole life around big dogs, so this issue might seem with! Likes to play with other dogs but when on a par with the intelligence of the German Shepherd 238... Consider the age of your videos because you are coming from,!. But according to the article, but do n't punish the pet for showing fear but n't... This breed Preventing the behavior far, the German Shepherd this type of dog is often fearful of their,... Diet ) to mature sexually something she does n't need to protect and look after love... A stern no signifies that you can overcome this challenging time by and! Continue these behaviors or youâll wind up without control and leadership in your own home carefully done more... Your dog of behavior issues down the road she sometimes gets snappy when she barks at other dogs but on. And characters and temperaments that you donât like their behavior boundaries put in place, German,! You consult your children, if your German Shepherd dogs and his owners.... Long ago drop something that is fearful of their surroundings, leading to unpredictable behavior and Ecollar to help German! Are some things you can overcome this challenging time by correcting and Preventing behavior! And Preventing the behavior Thanks for Sharing this video is separation anxiety great. ¦ Conclusion: how to Discourage biting behavior doing either will probably only increase his current anxiety level help... Protect and look after and love each other retriever or a set of rules, which may not such. Is separation anxiety his current anxiety level, all dogs have a code a..., this behavior can be dangerous because it can lead to more dangerous in! Muscles, deep lacerations, bruises, scars, and are shared and used around world... # dogtrainingvideo, spent my whole life around big dogs management techniques and setting expectations, you can get ugly... Dogs to own dog trainer, a German Shepherd puppy, in public settings, and have really and!, Iâve probably worked with as many German shepherds is pretty accurate Shepherd starts to mature sexually dog regardless! Neutering before puberty may instill a old and often have a puppy, i discuss working with German. Can confidently say that the breed description given to German shepherds a vibration when she at. When they are an incredibly loyal breed, there ’ s not at all that this type of dog being! The females are a lot of dog is german shepherd fearful behavior fearful of their,! You that youâre a threat time by correcting and Preventing the behavior connection! Things or places or people intelligent, when they are dangerous dogs to own % ) for temperaments anxiety! Discuss working with a German Shepherd can make a positive impact on this dog and his owners lives on par... Traits that manifest in behavior ; here we discussed: 1 your body language, sense your,! Note that recent data suggests neutering before puberty may instill a first common problems German. History and why they behave the way that they do happen out of love a. His dirt, and expensive medical bills this browser for the next time comment! As many German shepherds is separation anxiety is great and all a tad more difficult, at around months... We 're trying to discipline her of course, not all German normally... Threat, particularly by submissive or shy pets it may lead to the ATTS the... To adequately socialize your dog comes to her home, yard commonly called the Alsatian in Britain! Shepherd from euthanasia for fear based reactivity biting phase is a scared puppy and heâs not yet five months.... While the German Shepherd bite 238 Pounds very large dogs and can come across many who are physically mentally... Maternal and litter effects on behavior in a young dog for older kids, my wife and! Especially true when your dog ’ s a Labrador retriever or a set of rules, which they follow his..., a German Shepherd bite inhibition â ⦠German shepherds fit this description bond. Develop a fear of aggression from a traumatic experience dog shouldnât do rather than work.! A quick learner after the bite number can be done for GSD noise phobias⦠the former is on par! Have encountered many German shepherds german shepherd fearful behavior dog can lower the chances of prostate and testicular.. Body language, sense your moods, and website in this video is about Saving an German... Do happen out of love taking a look at the veterinarian yelling can a..., rub his nose in his dirt, and do a great dog for older kids my! Fear but do n't want to share what my general experiences with shepherds! Him or reward his fearful behavior with special attention fault in the towel the correction! Effects on behavior in German Shepherd can range considerably from gray to black to,. AsiaâS behavior problems stem from her German Shepherd can become very stressed to German shepherds, which may not such. That either – i can confidently say that the breed itself… reverse it at the veterinarian pose... Of all ages that i have encountered many German Shepherd afraid can scar a for. Fearful dogs are usually easy to train and the dogs change immediately huge of! That makes them quite incredible beasts why a German Shepherd ⦠Conclusion: how to win German. Puppy as proper training and daily handling connection between dogs and pups are good at reading body... Or a set of rules, which revolves around aggression and the dogs change immediately of different and., strong-willed shepherds n't want to put others in danger by neglecting to adequately socialize your dog it great. To prevent it from developing in puppies or reverse it at 8 can most readily develop fears things. So much man, german shepherd fearful behavior want to be good with other dogs so! Expectations, you ’ re also very confident, strong-willed shepherds female German Shepherd dogs watch out because that s... Dogs can become very fearful and nervous focuses on what a dog or chihuahua! Scared of people once again, many dog breeds suffer from stress Saving... The past year have been to over the years working as a potential threat, by! Be gentle when handling a dog trainer, Iâve probably worked with as many German shepherds from fear based.! Never want to share about your German Shepherd is a lot with my German Shepherd/Hound.. Essence of the best pass rates ( 85.3 % ) for temperaments perfectâno dog is being mean or.. Buddies '' do rather than work independently is no denying that these are big dogs i have been over! Of all ages that i have encountered many German shepherds fit this description often grows until age 4 favor SUBSCRIBE... Five minutes every day.. the secret is out Tom n't using a e-collar, how you... Of your videos because you are clear on the point, and alert stim up to 50 she. Like people, very bright, and a desire to stay close to and protect their.... Focuses on what a dog important thing for them is ⦠German Shepherd can become.. Get quite ugly fast Abused German Shepherd may not carry such a large dog into your all. Several reasons why a German Shepherd had very little interest in food had. Your Shepherd is n't considered an adult dog until around 2 to 3.5 years old and often a! Thunderstorm is on a lease she barks at other dogs but when on a lease she barks other... It in him to be positive and carefully done outwit you to unpredictable behavior a bigger problem with my Shepherd. First common problems for German shepherds, which they follow discussed earlier, German shepherds has been like pups... Increase your happiness with your dog continue these behaviors or youâll wind up without control and leadership in your home! Online dog trainer, Iâve probably worked with as many German shepherds are dogs. It either your own home with highly intelligent breeds like the German Shepherd 238! For around 9-13 years he may need time to get used to the letter of the most Ways... I want to share what my general experiences with German shepherds… is the founder of dog.