Why does my German Shepherd bark at strangers on walks? Is it normal?

There is a reason German Shepherds have been chosen as guard and military dogs for ages. They do tend to be protective of their owners and some do not do as well near other dogs. Serious training (and occasionally behavior modification medication) is needed to overcome this in some animals. Neutering also helps reduce protective or aggressive urges in male dogs. Best of luck to you and Bruno!

If you are seeking a dog specifically to bark at strangers, your best bet would be not to introduce him to others outside of your immediate family. If you allow him to mingle with lots of other animals and people, he will likely become a well adjusted dog that gets along with most people. German Shepherds are definitely known for their protectiveness, especially towards their family and property. Unfortunately they are also known for their neurotic behavior and destructiveness when not given an appropriate job. Because of their high level of intelligence, German Shepherds tend to do better when they have a purpose. Oscar might benefit from some training in some type of dog related activity. German Shepherds are known for their acumen in Schutzhund. I would suggest you watch some videos online about this, and see if it is something you are interested in pursuing with your dog.

It may be due to the fact that Daisy is getting older. It could also be due to a fearful experience with a stranger and now Daisy thinks that will happen again. Most German Shepherds are not known to be overly friendly like a Labrador. Most German Shepherds are somewhat disinterested or even wary of strangers or individuals who do not have close contact with them. You can try to keep her behavior towards strangers more eager or positive by asking them to give her a high value treat (when appropriate obviously). A training class is an excellent opportunity for this. You should also do some reading about the breed as you may get some very valuable information. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The key to giving a dog confidence is good basic training. Get her used to the concept that you are the boss and make her listen to you when you meet strangers. Take her lots of places that she can socialise but ignore her when she is barking and interact with her and the strangers when she is settled. If you are having trouble with socialization I would recommend puppy classes or a dog trainer.

Bruno will continue to be friendly towards strangers if he is introduced to them on a regular basis. If you truly are using him to be a guard dog rather than a companion or family pet, having him spend time with lots of strangers is not going to make him effective at performing his job. This will make him well-socialized and ultimately a friendly well adjusted dog. If you haven't already considered it, I would recommend looking into Schutzhund training. There is a ton of literature and media on this available, which will demonstrate how to train Bruno into being a good protector. German Shepherds are generally better dogs when they have a job do, and this type of training will provide just that type of stimulation.

Sounds like he is attempting to herd the children. That is normal for this breed but yes, this can progress to aggression. GSDs are bred to be herding dogs and they need a lot to do. You need to get him some training now before this gets out of hand. I would recommend a professional in-home dog trainer like BarkBusters. They have a trainer in your area and they do a free consult. You need to be very diligent with training this breed or you are going to end up with a lot of problems. ( https://www.barkbusters.com/dog-training-eggharbor-voorhees )

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!