Overly Stressed Shepherd

[Anrienna]

My family and I recently adopted a male GSD. He has been with us for about four months now and he is the sweetest dog but he seems to have some paranoia? He is terrified of most noises. He spends most of the day pacing back and forth in front of the window and barks at everything that moves.

God help us if someone comes near the house and rings the bell or knocks. He will be stressed for the rest of the day. He becomes very stressed when we take him to the vet or groomer and they have to muzzle him usually. We have tried organic medicine to try to calm his nerves but they do not help at all.

Any suggestions? He does not have an abusive background. He was being trained as a police dog and when the owner got divorced, he and his sister were picked up by a shelter project and placed in a foster home. We adopted both him and his rottweiler sister because they were a "package deal".

His sister is perfectly fine with us and everyone who is invited in. She does not have any of the paranoia issues that her brother has and adjusted almost instantly. I realize that they are two totally different dogs but I thought it would help give some context to the situation.

[BlackPuppy]

Did you try crating him during the day? Maybe he's not certain of his new role in your household and is stressing out under the uncertainty. Yes, this really can happen.

Work on some obedience with him and have him sit and stay when people come over.

[hunterisgreat]

Personal dogs are not generally trained for police work, and the police likely won't spend the time to train a dog and then let someone's personal problems short them their huge investment.

Anyway, how old? Working line dogs can be a little more high strung. My male never stops his sentry work around the house, my females never stop moving.

[Anrienna]

The owner was a policemen, hence the training. In any case, he never completed it due to the divorce.

He is 6 years old so he's not terribly young. We tried crating him once and will never do it again. He destroyed the crate quite literally. It definately stressed him out way more then being out and in the house.

[onyx'girl]

What are you doing to work his mind? He may need an outlet for his anxiety.
Tracking is very easy to do, free and is a calm way for you to further your bond with him.
Make sure you aren't re-enforcing his behavior by soothing him when he is afraid. Ignore it, don't correct or coddle him.

By practicing NILIF it will show him that he doesn't have to feel in control, because you are instead. Sometimes dogs are anxious because they think they need to 'handle' everything. If they can give that up to their owner, a weight is lifted and they can relax.
Try to build his confidence thru obedience training, or if you can get him into a group class that is fairly low key would be best.
I sure wish training clubs would offer more classes for dogs that are fearful.

This book may be of help: Scaredy dog by Ali Brown and bowwowflix has some dvds on behavior modification worth checking out. BowWowFlix.com : Behavior | Rent Dog Dvds | Dog DVD Rentals