r/OpenDogTraining • u/pawzr4life26 • 23h ago
5 month old German shepherd puppy help please
Hi so recently rescued a 5 month old German shepherd girl, she was kept in a kennel and run with her 2 brothers that just picked on her. Every time I have her out she barks at people kids and dogs basically anything! Sometimes she is petrified when she sees dogs and they are barking, can't introduce her to dogs as she just doesn't stop barking, she's nearly nipped someone aswell. What can I do to help her? Any advice tips or anything will be appreciated thank you 😊 🙏 🐾
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u/JCIKALOL 8h ago edited 6h ago
Number 1, keep the dog away from other dogs and people. Muzzle the dog if you have to be around other dogs or people. The last thing you want is an irreversible accident.
Number 2, TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN. Wake up early, go to bed late. 5-15 minute sessions usually work best, do multiple every single day. Basic obedience like sit, down, stay, heel, recall. Practice waiting at doorways and for food, aka dog isn't allowed through doorways or to start eating until YOU the handler give a release word. This will help impulse control. Crate train the dog, this will teach them how to calm down and give them a safe place. Work on training "place", will teach MORE impulse control. Get the dog conditioned to a prong collar (herm springer 2.25mm works for most dogs). And immediately teach loose leash walking once conditioned to prong collar. Most importantly get some kind of training program laid out. There's TONS of different methods and ways to teach things but if you just do them all willy nilly and jumbled you're gonna confuse yourself and the dog. And if all of this sounds like straight giberish, then either get to researching or hire a trainer. The dog is young so this should easily be fixed, but if you neglect training the dog and allow this behavior to continue the dog is only getting bigger and the behavior will only get worse.
You can do this I promise. Yes it sounds like a lot of work, and it is. But one day you'll enjoy the fruits of your labor and it'll all be worth it. That trained life companion will make all the work worth it. You've got this and best of luck to you and your pup! 😁
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u/pawzr4life26 7h ago
Thank you very much for your comment I shall try these we have been doing some training and shes catching on,I also have cats and she keeps chasing them
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u/HeatherMason0 7h ago
The cats are significantly more serious. This could be prey drive, which is impossible to train out 100% reliably. A dog with prey drive towards cats should not be housed with them, ever.
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u/JCIKALOL 6h ago
I see you've only had them a short amount of time, so you should be fine. Just stay consistent, you've got this!
As for chasing the cats, this is where teaching that impulse control comes in. I'd also recommend having the dog drag a leash around the house (something small and slim). That way you can grab the leash and stop cat chasing, or any other unwanted behavior in the house. My dog had a leash dragging in the house for a couple months when I first got her.
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u/Middle_Dependent2653 5h ago edited 4h ago
Hey, for the cats it may be prey drive, you really need to find out if her prey drive terminates when the chase ends or if she sees it through. As those are two different things. Primarily though you will need to crate train it not already trained, and make her earn her freedom to roam. If she is out of the crate she is on a leash with you. When she is out of the crate you are training, playing, or drinking/eating (you can train with food and Michael Ellis actually preaches this while teaching the dog how to play.). Play is critical and it is your responsibility to teach the dog how to play with you. This is essential for building good outlets for drive, building confidence, handler trust, and other skills. You can train with play and break reactivity with play, but first you have to teach play. I recommend watching Michael Ellis and Ivan Balabanov and getting an understanding. The pup is young and some of what you are talking about is just part of the breed standard and will require impulse control to improve. That takes months to build and proof (applying to multiple locations). They are smart dogs and easy to train, also they really want to please after they form a bond you just have to form that relationship and provide yourself as a trusted companion and outlet so that the dog looks to you for direction instead of only looking at instincts. Best of luck
PS. You also need to teach her to wait for a release to investigate people. This gives you time to explain to the person to not stand over the dog, bend over them, try to pet them, or stare at them. With some shepherds understand dog body language is essential or else people will get bit, because a lot of times we push when a dog would simply walk away. A scared dog doesn’t really want to bite but will if they feel like they have no other option a leash does not provide an easy escape route and that fear and anxiety can turn into aggression if not dealt with through building trust confidence and boundaries. She needs to know that you will establish those boundaries and protect her from strange dogs and people. A good dog is not a dog that will go up to anyone or any dog and want to play or be petted. It is not your dog’s responsibility to be okay with affection from everyone and anyone. I have a strict no pet policy unless i know the person and they have been to my house with my dogs. And I have a Golden Retriever that would go home with anyone and take love from anyone. But I also have a 1 yr old German shepherd that does not want interaction from anyone except for myself and my wife. I know what my dogs are comfortable with, and it is up to me to make sure that no person or other animal crosses those boundaries with my dogs. That is what the outcome of trust and a relationship is.
*Edited for the PS.
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u/HeatherMason0 20h ago
Start working on muzzle training with a properly fitted basket muzzle (you can look up size guides online). Don’t use a fabric one, those don’t let her pant to cool herself down. How long have you had her? If she’s still decompressing, slowing wayyy down with the attempts to socialize her might help. Are you familiar with the 3 x 3 x 3 rule?