Why does my young German Shepherd puppy bark at me so much, help!

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like people, some puppies tend to be more friendly than others. So it sounds like good news that Oscar is a social and happy puppy! Best of luck to you and Oscar!

Dogs may bark for a variety of reasons, but in most cases the reason is quite simple: your dog is demanding you to do something (i.e. feed him). This seemingly pushy behavior is generally known as "demand barking" or "nuisance barking," and it's pretty common. After all, barking is one of the main ways dogs have to communicate with us, so expect your canine companion to bark at you from time to time if he's not getting his way!

Hello. We would like to offer you some assistance however, we need more information. If you would like to post again and give more specifics as to what kind of behavior he is exhibiting that would be more beneficial. You could always consult a dog trainer in your area to help you with Oscar's issues. Thank you!

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.

German Shepherd Dogs are one of the guarding breeds, but Bruno should only go into protection mode when there is an actual threat to you. A benign stranger passing by is most likely not a threat. He needs some training in leash walking and ignoring non-threats. I would enroll him in a good obedience class as soon as possible. I would not recommend your getting another puppy until you have Bruno under control.

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Nala. Many dogs develop issues with fear aggression or reactivity around 12-18 months of age, so this is a fairly typical time to see a problem like this pop up. It's unlikely that it has anything to do with her coming into heat, or being spayed - more likely that it's just her age. Advice for addressing this issue would depend on knowing more about the specific situations that cause her to bark - does she do it when she's home alone? When she hears noises outside? When she sees people or dogs she doesn't know? Etc. In general, treatment for excessive barking is based on identifying what triggers it and using reward-based training to teach the dog a different response. To give more details on how to do this, we would need more information about what she barks at. Feel free to post another question with more details, or request a one-on-one consultation for a more in-depth conversation if you prefer. We would be happy to try and help.

He may be barking because he is bored, excited or stimulated by noises/sights. Excessive baring may be difficult to control. Here are some links with some information you may not have read about: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-stop-excessive-barking-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-barking-a-common-behavior-problem/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain/ I hope this helps.