Anyone have a GSD?

[cackilacky]

We recently adopted a stray dog from the animal shelter. She is mostly German Shepherd, by the looks of her. She is very sweet with us, but it has become a hassle when we have visitors. She barks and growls loudly, sometimes settling after a bit, sometimes not. We now keep her in a crate when we have guests. A dog trainer told us to give a positive association with visitors (i.e. hot dogs), but we've had limited success with this. The problem with our home is that we don't have a good place to set up her crate where she can't see people as they come and go. Does anyone have any experience with a problem like this? I could use some advice!

 

[Southernbelle]

We have a shepherd mix we just got from our local shelter and we haven't had her long enough, but she seems to love everyone she meets. It sounds like your dog may have developed some issues from her previous life.

I had a Boston Terrier that I adopted from Boston Terrier rescue association and he didn't do well with strangers. He belonged to an elderly alcoholic woman who neglected him and she had a boyfriend that would abuse the dogs in the house. I got him when he was 1 and he died at 12. All his life he had some issues: he would sneak food off of plates, even getting up on the table when our backs were turned even though he had a dish of dog food 24/7. He loved my husband, but hated men with facial hair and would bark and growl at them, so repairmen with facial hair were greeting with 20# of loud and angry dog. I would just crate him or put him outside when they were here. He gradually got used to friends of ours and eventually grew to love them. Taz would go absolutely crazy if you used a spray bottle in the room (even though I never aimed it at him), if my husband took his belt off when he was undressing or if you rolled up a newspaper to swat a fly - so it wasn't hard to figure out what must've happened to him. He never tried to hurt us, he would just bark and get all angry barking at the newspaper or whatever we were holding. So we just made sure he wasn't around before we used the Febreeze and use a flyswatter instead of a newspaper and never left dishes around. We just had to find ways to manage his issues and he was definately worth it. I still miss him!

 

[debilorrah]

How sad Belle!!!! I do believe that shelter dogs have the chance that they were abused in the past. Especially with obvious behavior like that.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

we've got two great GSD's - they can be a handful but well trained, they are invaluable.

the best advice i received was to watch a lot of The Dog Whisperer (its on hulu) and then be the boss of your dog. also check out the Monks of New Skete book on how to be your dogs best friend.

good luck!

 

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
The saddest part is he never, ever completely put those issues behind him even though we had him for over 11 years. It was quite a surprise the first time I rolled up a newspaper to swat a fly and he went nuts jumping and barking at the newspaper from the other side of the room. I swatted the fly and dropped the paper and as soon as I dropped it, he was all smiles and tail-wagging, so I petted and fussed over him and he was fine.

Our new dog doesn't seem to have any issues. The kids can come running up to her full tilt and she just wags her tail at them - our Boston Terrier would've gone crazy. Layla begs for food and jumps up on people, but those are both easy fixes.

 

[cackilacky]

Our dog also seems to have been mistreated. If the kids are playing with sticks, toy swords, anything like that, she barks. She is also very submissive. This has slowly gotten better since we've had her, and I'm encouraged to hear about your dog's progress. I love the Dog Whisperer, but haven't actually watched since we've had a dog! Good tip that it's on hulu. We do get some free obedience classes from the animal shelter, so as soon as time permits we'll do that. I've heard German Shepherds especially need a task that challenges them. She does love to "help" me check on the chickens.

 

[gritsar]

I learned this from a BYC member who also happens to be an excellent dog trainer. I don't think she'll mind if I repeat her instructions here. It's worked excellent for us. I hope I don't mangle her instructions too bad.
We had a problem with Jax going crazy and forgetting all of his training and commands whenever my DSDs and the GS would come for a visit. They are his favorite beings. He would be jumping around like crazy and barking; though it is his happy bark; not his danger bark.
Start by downing him at your feet for 45 minutes a night. Put him on leash and don't let him get up for those 45 minutes. Reinforce the command and correct him if he tries to get up. No treats for this and not listening is not an option. Jax is put on the leash each night in the house, usually when we are sitting watching TV or in the evenings when I am cooking and waiting for DH to get home. If I have to get up for something I take his leash, have him walk to the kitchen with me and tell him to down again. (We actually use a different word, but only because we have taught Jax his commands in german, but that doesn't matter). Down him before you open the car door to let him get in, before he eats, before he goes out to potty, before you put the leash on for something, randomly while out on walks, anytime you think about it.
Get the dog used to going into the down position. Then when you are expecting visitors, put the leash on and have the dog down by you. If he forgets, we grab the leash close to the collar, tug and tell him down again. Laying down is a more stable position for the dog to be in then just sitting. They can't jump on someone from a laying down position as quick as they can while sitting.
Now all we have to do is say "platz!" (down) and Jax goes automatically into the laying down position.
For the barking/growling, try using a quick snap of the leash with a command "quiet!" or "enough". If that alone doesn't stop it, try the snap combined with a shake can and the command. You can make a shake can by partially filling a soda can with pebbles or pennies and then wrapping it completely in duct tape. If that still doesn't work, try a pop on the head with the shake can, GSDs have hard heads, so no harm done and the command.
There is nothing a german shepherd can't learn. When Jax learned words we didn't necessarily want him to hear - like bye-bye and cookie - we started spelling the words. Now he knows how to spell them.

Super intelligent dogs.
By the way, I used the pronoun "he" even though I know you said your dog is female; otherwise I'd confuse myself.

 

[cackilacky]

Thanks for the advice. I might give this a try. We definitely could do more work with her on the leash and also work on down and other obedience commands. BTW, here's her pic. She's a pretty girl.

 

[gritsar]

Pretty dog. Could very well have shepherd in her. GSDs require a firm (but gentle!) hand or before you know it they'll be running the show.

 

[equine623]

I have to agree with Gritsar on this, GSD's need a firm hand and to have a clear idea of what is expected of them. Obedience training, trick training, anything that gives the dog a chance to be successful and reinforces that listening to you is the right thing to do will help. Also keep in mind she is still new, not sure of her place in the house and the first few days to weeks can be the honeymoon period, where the dog is unsure and as they get more comfortable you will see more of her real personality come through. Depending on her background, she may just be feeling like its her job to protect you because she feels strongly that you are her safety zone.

Does she play with toys? Does she have an absolute favorite toy? If so make that the one that only comes out when visitors are there. For some dogs, food works great and for others it adds another dimension of something they feel they need to protect. (I know, toys can be the same way but not as much as food usually)

Is it a wire crate or a vari kennel type? Sometimes the more enclosed vari kennel type has a more calming effect, if its a wire crate you can try covering it with a heavy blanket to give her a more closed in feeling if she likes that.

A tired dog is a good dog, so if possible have an exercise session prior to guests and/or work on training to get her focused on you and a little tired.

Finally, my last piece of advice - do not ever punish a dog for barking or growling. Those are the early warning signals, if you eliminate those you *may* end up with a dog who goes right to biting. A correction followed by distraction with a command is one thing, but don't overdo it. She feels uncomfortable, you can't know her background and better safe than sorry.

FYI I'm going off 15 yrs experience with animals, a year of working with The Seeing Eye in their breeding facility, plus vet hospitals, dog grooming, teaching puppy classes, assisting a breeder of imported GSD's and 3 yrs as a part time zoo keeper. I'm not an expert, but I'm no beginner either.

Good luck

Please feel free to PM me if you have questions.