My puppy is too friendly with strangers. How can I train him to guard?

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.

I am sorry, but you are having the opposite problem with Spring that most people do! As veterinarians, we most often want people to raise safe, socialized dogs that are not going to attack people unprovoked. You likely have a naturally friendly dog that isn't afraid of people, which is what most pet owners actually want. You may have to seek out a dog that has actually been bred and trained to guard property.

This is a very difficult situation. Bruno is doing exactly what he's supposed to be doing, so it's going to be hard to win him over. I would recommend assuming that he is going to continue to be aggressive towards you and focus on taking precautions to prevent injury. If you've just returned in the last few days, it's possible he will warm up. But if it's been months, he's probably never going to accept you as a member of the family. So, with that poor outline in mind, here are a few ideas: - Never punish him or yell at him for guarding the house from you, because he is doing what he was trained/bred to do and confusion generally makes aggression worse - Develop a protocol with your family so that Bruno doesn't see you coming or going, and avoid him inside the home as well - Start working on developing a relationship with Bruno by tossing him treats without expecting anything in return If he starts warming up to you, keep taking it slow, and always assume you're not one of his "inner circle" since you missed his socialization window.

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!

I'm so glad you and Bruno have a strong bond! I don't think it's a definite that he and another dog will fight when the puppy grows up. However, I would recommend that you introduce them carefully and slowly, and always monitor their interactions until you are certain that Bruno isn't going to play too rough with the puppy. In addition, I would consider having Bruno neutered, as testosterone increases aggressive tendencies and can certainly contribute to dog-on-dog aggression in some cases.

Great question! You are absolutely correct that it's about raising the dog correctly. German Shepherds can be excellent, friendly, wonderful family dogs, but you do have to make sure you start training them from the very beginning. They can be very stubborn and do require a lot of training, but if you are committed to socializing it, behavior classes, and being consistent, you can have a wonderful dog. Best of luck, I hope this helps!