How to stop my 10-month-old German Shepherd from barking on walks?

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.

I forgot to mention the use of a pheromone product such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser. These may decrease anxiety or aggression. You can also consider a consultation with another Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach expert, Dr. Jennifer Summerfield. In addition to being an experienced trainer, she is a member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB).

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! German Shepherds are highly intelligent an highly trainable dogs. I recommend hiring a trainer and nipping this in the bud now. German Shepherds are also very large and can be aggressive to strangers as adults so being able to control Bentley is very important. I would start with sit, stay, and leave it. Purchase the gentle leader harness that goes on the muzzle. Use that for all walks. Bring treats on the walk and when he tries to jump have him sit. Once he sits he gets a treat. Jumping is unacceptable in a dog his size and is one of the hardest bad habits to break. He should not be allowed to jump on people. The gentle leader allows great control of the head. I hope this helps and I wish you the very best!

See your veterinarian to help rule out any medical cause for Miss Petunia’s barking, and if none is found, seek the advice of a dog trainer who uses positive reinforcement techniques to help curb this behavior. In the meantime, see the following links for information on controlling barking: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=107&A=876&S=1, http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=107&A=1378&S=1

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.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Although puppies will want to chew and bite, this behavior should be corrected with a little training. Keeping your hands away (placing them behind your back or folded) when he tries to go for a play bite will help eliminate the behavior. Also, making sure he has plenty of tactile toys around he enjoys to chew on will help as well. Lastly, a German Shepard needs PLENTY of exercise, so I would make sure he gets walked at least once daily (more is better). All of these behavioral tips can help decrease and eliminate the biting behavior. I hope this helps!

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.