My German Shepherd puppy is scared of kids and other dogs. Help!

Socialization is key, and that means exposure to everything! Make it a fun game and every time your dog hears or sees something new, praise them and give them a treat when they show interest in it. If he's too scared, move him to a distance where he isn't as startled, and then treat and praise from there until he is more comfortable. If he's very scared, or runs away, taking a break and trying again later is best, as you don't want to force him into it and then turn it into something bad instead of something good. Since Tobi is so young, everything is probably very scary and new right now, and a lot of this will get better with time and practice. I also highly recommend a puppy kindergarten class once he is old enough and vaccinated so that you can practice learning together in a structured environment.

GSD are already very high strung and skittish dogs so you really need to get a handle on this before it gets worse. Most often GSDs will resort to fear biting if they are uncomfortable around people. You need to get a trainer to work with you at your house, in her environment. Behavior issues are not a quick fix - they take a lot of time, training and dedication. There is nothing magical I can tell you over the internet to fix this. With a GSD you need professional intervention with a trainer in your home so they can see how she interacts with people, what her triggers are, etc. Here is a trainer in your area. I am not endorsing her as I do not know her in any way. I suggest you contact her and see if she can help you. If not, maybe she can refer you to someone who can. https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/Debi_Buchholz Hope this helps. Best wishes.

That is a very young age to get a puppy and take it from its mother, which can affect socialization some. I highly recommend enrolling in a puppy kindergarten class together once Jerry is old enough to ensure you both set some ground rules, learn how to communicate with each other, socialize with other puppies, and get started on some basic obedience. It is normal for puppies to bark and be active, but if she is being aggressive, growling, snarling, etc, it is also a good idea to speak with a trainer or behaviorist in your area as this is not normal behavior. A trainer can work with you in person to help make sure Jerry is feeling comfortable instead of fearful, and that you both learn how to work together.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is certainly possible and recommended but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider contacting a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!

It sounds like Sweety is doing well as far as training goes! Socialization is very important for GSD. She should meet other dogs, cats, humans, go for car rides...etc....anything you can think of that she will do as an adult, get her use to now. Make sure the interactions are positive and that she does not become frightened. Also, she is not finished with her vaccines yet so you should still avoid parks or other public areas. She can meet your friend's dogs who are healthy and up to date on vaccines. Puppy classes are another great option (as long as it requires vaccines). In the scenario you described, Sweety has learned that if she barks/whines, you will eventually feed her. You are rewarding the behavior in her mind. You will have to stop giving her to food, otherwise she will continue to do it. Instead of letting her in the kitchen, try to train her to sit in the next room or her bed. You will have to ignore her whining and not feed her. This is all easier said then done, but GSDs are smart and she will learn eventually. Please post again if you have any further questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. In general I find German Shepherd's to be pretty physically tough but every dog is different. For the running - do remember that at 5 months, Sweety is an uncoordinated teenager who's legs are growing faster than she can keep up! It is natural for her to miss her steps sometimes while running and to scuff herself up in the process. I expect this to improve with age. As for the gums, she is about the right age to be losing the last of her puppy teeth which often come out during tug of war games and may have minimal bleeding for a few minutes. I am not very concerned about this. I do find German Shepherds to be a little overrepresented in terms of sensitive skin and stomachs. But regardless of breed, almost every dog who eats mud/rocks is going to vomit and/or have diarrhea. Sometimes this part will improve with age, sometimes the only solution is to prevent her eating those things either by keeping her indoors and under close supervision outside, or by means of something like a basket muzzle. All in all, Sweety sounds about normal for a dog of her age. Best of luck to you both!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear that this has happened. This behavior is certainly concerning as you don't want Boston to cause serious harm to your wife or anyone else for that matter. I would recommend taking Boston to a behaviorist for training and other recommendations. There are trainers that will take Boston for several weeks for the training or trainers that will come to your house for in home training. At 4 months of age, this is easier to correct than when he is 4 years old. Now is the time to take action as it is much easier to train a puppy. I hope this helps and for now, please take the necessary precautions and keep Boston away from anyone until he is appropriately trained.