My 1-year-old GSD is terrified of people after a truck accident.

Your best option is to have a professional trainer come to your home and evaluate her during these situations. They will be able to give you the best advice. Behavior issues are not quick fixes and if you don't know what you are doing you could make the dog worse instead of better. These types of behaviors should be handled by a professional. You need to catch this before she gets worse. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be to rectify (especially in a dog like a German Shepherd). I don't know where you are located so just do a google search for in-home professional dog trainers in your area or you can probably get a reference from your veterinarian. Here are some random ones `i found in India but I don't know if any are close to you: ( http://www.k9school.in/ ) ( http://cochindogtrainingacademy.com/ ) ( http://www.woodstockdogs.com/ )

I suggest you consult with a professional in-home dog trainer. Dogs with separation anxiety are difficult to deal with and you need to train him appropriately now before this gets too far. If you try to do it yourself you may make him worse. This is not a quick fix - it will take time. I like Bark Busters and it appears as though they have a trainer in your area. It is never too young to start them with a professional trainer. ( https://www.barkbusters.com/dog-training-sanfrancisco ) Please, also understand, you have acquired a herding dog and they are not meant to be kenneled or indoors all day. If you are gone for many hours per day you may want to consider taking him to day care or have a dog walker come to take him out during the day. These dogs are bred to herd and have high energy. They are not really meant to be house/lap dogs. They need lots of exercise.

Oh dear, poor Axel! Some dogs have innately anxious and nervous personalities, and German Shepherds (it appears that Axel has a fair amount of Shepherd in him from the pictures!) are known for anxiety issues. Continue gently trying to socialize Axel with new people and surroundings, and offer small treats and gentle encouragement as he is introduced to a new situation. Some dogs also benefit from thunder shirts ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=24037 ) for anxiety, as well as calming pheromone collars or diffusers ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33000 ). If all else fails, consider consulting a veterinary behaviorist to discuss behavioral modifications to try at home, and possible anti-anxiety medication. I hope that all goes well!

I hate to hear you both went through this trauma and unfortunately there is not an easy answer or easy advise to give. Dogs can suffer from PTSD type problems like people and until he has multiple, positive encounters he will not be the same. The other issue as well is that he is a large dog who is barking/growling and strangers are not going to approach him. In Hades brain, he does to want people to approach, so he barks. Of course, people do not approach so in Hades brain, he wins. He is having positive re-enforcement so he keeps doing it. This is a complicated situation that is best dealt with by a professional trainer who understands how dog's brains work. Because there are some aggressive signs already being shown, you need to stop him at this behavior before it escalates. You do not want a dog bite situation. I hope this helps to lead you in the right direction.

At 12 weeks, I highly doubt that Cortes has developed a severe dislike or fear of any particular person since my assumption is that you were his first owner. He may just be a fearful puppy that is going to require a lot more work and patience than the average dog. The other possibility is that there is a physical problem that is causing him discomfort whenever you try to contact him. If he is in some sort of pain for some reason, he may even be anticipating the contact and reacting to it beforehand. GSDs are one of the most dramatic breeds and are much more likely to act like that and do things like that than your average mutt. If you are able to rule out that there is no physical issues for sure, than I think you should consider contacting a trainer right away. Most trainers will work with you as long as your pup is at the very least Rabies vaccinated. I would stay away from puppy classes for the time being, instead using a one-on-one trainer to help you out. In terms of things you can do at home, Cortes needs to be continually rewarded for the behaviors and actions that you desire most. In a case like this, you have to take baby steps. By this, I mean if he even starts to make steps in your direction without a negative reaction, he should be rewarded with praise and treats. A bigger reward should be given for even great accomplishments. I think teaching the touch command in this particular instance would be a great idea. This will allow you to communicate with and play a game with Cortes without actually having so touch him physically. The idea of the game is to have your dog touch his nose to your hand or to an object of your choosing. There should be many different tutorials and videos all over the internet that will show you how best to teach a dog this effectively. I know it's hard and it sounds like Cortes might be harder than others, but don't give up just yet! It's all very new for the both of you. Hope this helps!

Hello. This is a great age to start to introduce Sweety to new experiences. Puppy classes at Petco or another training facility will widen her world to different sights, sounds & people. Overcoming innate fears are a difficult thing to teach a dog on your own, but a professional trainer can guide you to make Sweety a confident & well mannered pet. Take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and Bruno in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a great day!