My dog is shy around strangers and barks. How can I socialize him?

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.

the best way is the keep exposing him to other dogs. If you have a friend that has a well adjusted dog he could meet first would be best. Let them sniff each other on the leash before letting them play. some dogs act completely friendly and normal off the leash around other dogs than they do on the leash. Once he gets comfortable with this interaction you can progress to other dogs. You can try to find a group puppy class that can teach basic obedience and gets them used to other dogs at the same time.

Check out this fantastic website that has tons of free information about how to help socialize your dog and correct unwanted behaviors. This is Dr. Ian Dunbar's site, and he is a very respected veterinarian, dog behaviorist, and dog trainer. dogstardaily.com. Good luck!

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, if your dog hates men it may be a dominance issues. Buddy may feel like men are trying to be the leader of his pack and he wants to challenge them. Or he may just be afraid of them and showing fear. I would socialize him with many men by walking her on a leash and having the man calmly drop a treat in front of him. The more different men who do this, the better. Praise him when he is not barking. Then have them come closer and get down on his level and hand him a treat. Go slow with this and don't have them reach to pet his unless he approaches them. If you're walking Buddy and he starts to bark, get his attention back to you by carrying some treats with you. Stop and have him sit then reward him. Ask the man going by if he would toss a treat to him. Sometimes strangers or neighbors, friends and family are willing to help with this. Good luck, i hope this helps!

Gradually introduce her to one stranger at a time. Begin with very short visits/exposures. Increase the time as she acclimates. Introduce more people as she accepts them. Offer praise and reward after each episode. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar which can be worn when out or the DAP plug in diffuser to be used at home, may decrease any anxiety.