Bryce t c: German shepherd has started to become afraid of strangers how do i fix it?
My new german shepherd i got about 2 weeks ago has just turned 6 months old. He is of good breed his father is a k9 unit from Czechia (Eastern Europe), and he started out as the confident, curious and protective GSD people look for. But recenlty he has been wary of strangers and after i greet them backs away when they attempt to pet him and wont come when they stand next to me.
Photo Credit: laura271GSD1/Flickr CC
Is there any socializing techniques to solve this problem? or is it too late?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Becky
4-6 months is when the happy-go-lucky stage gives way to adolescence, when a pup may begin to view the world with more suspicion . Things as simple as a trash bin on the street, which may have had no effect before, are suddenly cause for suspicion and careful approach. This can be the make-or-break period for some dogs with an 'edge', to see which way the temperament will go.
It's genetic & has nothing to do with prior socialization/rearing mistakes (neglect/abuse aside). Particularly with working lines (and Czech dogs are well known for being 'civil' or 'sharp'), you're dealing with a higher level of genetic suspicion and aggression than most show or 'pet' lines. Both are desired traits in working dogs, HOWEVER they must be accompanied by strong , stable nerves/social confidence. Without it, suspicion and aggression become a liability rather than an asset.
This is the dilemma when breeding dogs for protection work, as even the most solid, accomplished dogs can produce offspring that 'fall short'. Pups that fall short in suspicion/ aggression can still make excellent, social companion/pet dogs. Those that fall short in nerve strength/confidence rarely do.
Yes, you can absolutely attempt more socialization at this time. Letting them have 'success' with that bad old trash bin, to continue acclimating to environmental stimuli, strangers, dogs, etc, is still quite achievable. But it must be done from a 'neutral' perspective. Meaning, you should ask strangers to act as if your pup isn't even there, totally ignoring him until HE initiates contact. It's just as important to practice good obedience and read his cues in every situation. Never push a dog through an uncomfortable situation, it only makes him more fearful.
Realize that dogs such as this have limitations and shouldn't be expected to be super stranger friendly/social. But many of them can be neutral and obedient.
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It would be wise to have your breeder or a local trainer/schutzhund club help you assess his temperament and bring him along. If he started out as confident & curious, he should have enough balance to work with. A responsible breeder will not want you to keep a dog that may be truly unstable/dangerous, and will offer you a replacement.
I wish you the best of luck with your pup!
Answer by Kaper
Pups go through two fear stages in their development.
The second one can start around the age of 6 months.
I would take the dog to a trainer. Socialization is vitally important with German Shepherd and any bad experiences during this phase can have a lasting affect on future behavior.
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Kim says
Hi, I have a 16-month-old GSD, I got him at 12 weeks old from someone saying they could not cope with him. He has always been skittish around Adults, tolerates a quick fuss and then will be uninterested in them. I have noticed since he was castrated has now developed a random fear reaction to some adults. We can walk through a busy street and he is fine and will even sniff at hands as we walk past, fine at the pub and other social places. He reacts when in places we see people less often – but not to everyone – can be women or man – fat or thin.
Sometimes the reason is obvious. We walked past a woman and he went to nose her hand. The women screamed and visibly startled – she scared me let alone the dog. My dog growled at her and turned all reactive. Another time someone walked up behind us too close in a deserted street in the evening. My dog reacted, I jumped – told him to heal which he did, and then let the lady pet him.
But about once a month he has random reactions without reason to people. I am unable to figure out why, but it means I am less confident with him. This reactiveness without obvious reason is unpredictable and I can not be sure how he will be from one moment to the next.
Your thought are most welcome.
Jacksterman says
My German Shepherd Asia is 7 years old. She up until about a year ago has been very friendly and courageous. She gets along with other dogs well all except aggressive ones where she turns on the heat to be the dominate one when confronted by aggression. She for the last year has become very skittish towards people. She will not allow them to touch her and basically will circle them and avoid them. She will meet people and trust and like them and even lay down by them but then upon a next visit she is a mess again and spooked. We have very many people who visit and she has been very socialized even in a crowd of 20 or more people where she use to just mingle with the crowd. Now years later she is so skittish she backs away very jumpy around people she knows and new people. We just dont get it. She is our pride but this behavior is so out of place and difficult to grasp. Nothing has changed..Our friends all love her and nobody has every done anything for her behavior to change like this. Any suggestions???
Mark says
Changes in behavior are often caused by painful diseases like arthrosis, arthritis, hip dysplasia, etc. The dog is afraid that strangers can cause pain and tries to keep away from them. Especially when the dog is not young.
Margaret Davison says
Hi, my query I have 8month old German shepherd he goes to training sessions (;back to basics) and I have noticed indoor he is sociable but outdoor it’s different kettle of fish he becomes nervous and recently he lunged at two people for coming close, I mentioned this problem to his trainer who has said the dog as always been nervous and if i can’t get him to become calm I would probably be better giving him to either the army or police, I don’t want this to happen and i am willing to try anything to get him to relax, I would appreciate it if you could please give me some advice.
Dora says
If he’s calm indoors and gets nervous only outside there shouldn’t be any serious problems with him. At 8 months he’s still a puppy who fears new people and situations. Socialize him more, take him to the dog park to meet other dog owners who usually know better how to deal with dogs than just passers-by.
Sylvia LoPour says
We have a full blood GSD who is now 1 yr and 4 months old. Even as a 6 month old puppy she is very skittish and will not get near anyone or let anyone get near her. She is very smart and obeys commands perfectly. This last week we had to go out of town and we had a lady and her husband come and tend to our pets. “Delta” would not even attempt to approach them. She darted off the property (which she has never done) and would return until she know they were gone.
We have 2 other dogs that are house dogs, as she is, and they are the best of friends. She does well with other dogs, and our 2 cats. We have had family, friends, come and stay several days at our house and she will not even attempt to approach them. Even when tempted with food, treats, even if she was offered a steak from another person, she will not approach them.
We are a 3 person family and she does wonderful with us. It is very hard since we do not force her to approach them. She will dart away if anyone, other then us, try to approach her. Our son’s friend comes to our house very regularly and he is still not able to win her over.
Any suggestions?
King Les The Lofty says
The main socialising period ends as the 12th week ends, which is why pups SHOULD change homes at 7-9 weeks old. Provided the pup has had time (and reason!) to trust its owner, socialisation can extend through 16 weeks old.
I'm guessing that there is something wrong in the way you (as a household, not necessarily you personally – but it COULD be you yourself) are treating your new pet.
Properly bred-&-reared GSDs do NOT go through "fear periods". But from 13 through 16 weeks all except the best dogs go through a "need security period", and bitches from certain bloodlines become fearful at about 11 months old – decades ago I had one who decided that the plastic-rubbish-bags-on-poles placed in shopping areas were a menace to be avoided.
Focus on PRAISING-&-REWARDING everything good he does, and basically ignoring anything bad (Czech lines have a bad reputation for being touch insensitive, which means that he might not acknowledge light rubs – but he's YOUR dog now and it is over to you to find out what he likes, what he dislikes). When walking him on-lead, forget about Heel – let him have the whole length of the leash so long as he is walking in the direction you want to go and there are no children or dogs or rubbish from which you need to haul him back to heel.
Dogs are NOT like a bike or car that you get the same response from on the first day as you do after 3 years of practise. When a dog obeys it is because it WANTS to obey, to get a reward – whether that be a physical reward you supply or the emotional self-reward of knowing that it is pleasing its pack-leader. So step one is to convince your dog that you ARE a trustworthy pack-leader.
Book yourself into a training club's classes that start 2-4 weeks from now. Those extra weeks should be long enough for you to gain his trust & affection. In the class YOU will be coached to improve your use of "the voices", body language, balance & timing, rewards & reprimands. And at the same time the dog learns to pay attention regardless of what other dogs & people are doing.
Realise that you do NOT need your dog to like everyone (do YOU like EVERYone?), let alone to allow them to touch him (do YOU allow everyone to touch YOU?). But you DO need him to accept your opinion/authority as to whether people are allowed onto your property. And he won't do that until he TRUSTS you. How long would it take YOU to trust your captors, if YOU had been kidnapped by strangers who, although they SEEM to like you & to care for you, are nevertheless your kidnappers?