Suggestions wanted for our weak nerved 8 month old GSD.

[Elaine]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

And again, that is only one person's opinion, while many others with tons of experience say otherwise.


I have yet to figure this out.
Do tell, what do you own, if not "pets"?

Extremely well trained, well behaved, and happy dogs.

[Sunflowers]

Originally Posted by Elaine

Extremely well trained, well behaved, and happy dogs.

Good to hear your dogs are happy.

[Liesje]

The car thing....I guess I don't really see the problem? My dogs don't act like that but they are in the car a LOT (we travel hours each way for training and regular competitions/tournaments, plus visiting in-laws, dogs coming to work, etc) but I know many GSDs that bark at people and other dogs while in the car but are very well trained, safe, well behaved dogs otherwise. Several of my dog-friends have dogs that will go off at me from in their car and I just tell them to shut it (I could open the door/crate and get them out no problem). I would agree with getting a crate, so the dog isn't damaging the car, but I guess to me just barking in the car isn't necessarily indicative of bad nerves, but maybe there's more to it... These are GSDs, they should be somewhat territorial and protective.

Can you elaborate on this "he gets stressed, and has to be put away"? What behaviors is he doing? How does he act once he's "put away"?

[ChiliD]

In my haste I forgot to mention a couple of things, and our hike today reminded me of one.

Normally when we are out, away from home or the cars, he pretty much ignores people, even in close proximity. However, when they are young kids, he barks at them and his hackles go up. It frightens them and us, and we don't understand it.

The other thing (although today he hasn't done it-maybe a turning point?) is he barks at the t.v. and the computer. He'll run up to either while we are watching something and bark his butt off. Animals, people, doesn't matter. We don't want to have to put him up while we are all relaxing watching a movie. In my mind, it defeats the purpose of having a family dog. Thanks again, CD

[Blanketback]

Have you taught him "quiet" and to settle down in a specific spot, like giving him a dog bed in the room that you watch tv/use the computer? My year-old can be loud at times too, usually he's just being demanding about more playtime. He's told to be quiet, and to go lie down on his bed. He's good about it for the most part, but he also knows what, "You're going to have to be put in your crate" means too, lol, his last chance to behave - which he now does, with a big sigh to go with it.

[Sunflowers]

Have these behaviors begun recently, or was this a slow buildup?

Do you correct him for this, and if so, how?

[llombardo]

Originally Posted by ChiliD

Exercise, or the lack of it is definitely not the problem. My guy get tons of it, mainly hikes in the forest near me, and I don't lollygag in the woods. My wife also takes him around the neighborhood on leash. Not a day goes by where he isn't exercised. Sometimes I question whether it is too much at his age. I don't run him yet, though he runs a lot on his own, it is fast hiking through very hilly terrain.

.

What about mental exercise? Some dogs require more mental exercise then physical exercise. Its a different balance for each dog, you just have to find it.

[DJEtzel]

Originally Posted by Elaine

No, dogs do not go through fear stages. Pet people like to call them fear stages as an excuse for poor training, poor socialization, or poor nerves.

Oh, I didn't know weak nerves could come and go?

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

A lot of time it's barrier frustration for the car thing - it's like they are when they fence fight. And it can be fear based too/combo. That way no one will come near me eek. I had a dog who LOVED to do this - loved to pop up and scare the bejeepers out of people. When I was in the car with him, I could stop it, but not when I wasn't. So I am not sure how much reinforcing he was doing on his own - it seems like it happened more when I was nearby.

I did a lot of reinforcing of what I DID want him to do, after starting with corrections, which he just blew off - and it's not easy to do corrections while driving but easier to toss some treats back. When he got old, I'd let him do it. He loved it.

The crate should help.

For the home stuff, the kid stuff, I would talk to a behaviorist. I like to recommend Suzanne Clothier type trainers, or positive based trainers who might use a clicker - which smart dogs seem to really pick up on. I feel for you on the kid thing, that is too bad, given the research, etc.

[jocoyn]

I think he is a bit young but, honestly, I have no issues with a bark collar on an adult dog in a car crate. Several of our high drive SAR dogs go ballistic about their crates even though they are fine animals with no agression issues. The bark collar, we have found, actually helps keep the dogs from getting worked up in the vehicle and keeps them mellow all the way around.

Like I said, these are adult dogs. Not sure I wouldn't try other approaches with a puppy. Beau has been in his crate in the truck most Saturday mornings since he was a puppy and he actually puts his face against the side of it for my teammates to scratch because he has very nice associations with people and his truck. So even though he barks at the fence in my backyard, the truck is not something he feels any need to defend.