I was just wondering if anyone could suggest what I should do. My 10 1/2 month old German Sheppard mix is now barking alot. Not inside really but say if we are on walks and someone walks by, she will bark at them, she has been barking at other dogs aswell. It isn't everyone that she barks at though. So far it has only been people who own dogs. I even had some people come over to my house and she wouldn't stop barking at them. So they walked closer to try and pet her and she jumped back. It is like she is scared of them. It is really weird because she hasn't done this before. She also sometimes barks at kids, like up to 2 years old ish. What should I do to try and stop this or to help so she won't bark anymore. I think some people are afraid she will hurt them but I know she wont. Help?

can anyone help?

[AuntieDale]

Hi! What do you do when she barks on a walk? Just trying to get more info to see if I can help!

Does she have any dog friends? And when she barked at your friends in your house, did you discipline her somehow?

She might just need to know how to react (that is more acceptable to you, her human!) - it sounds like she's acting like a German Shepard!!

When I get your answers, perhaps I can suggest a thing or two...:-)

Well when we are walking I stop walking, tell her no and don't go again till she stops. I try to get her to pay attention to me, but it is hard, she wont always listen. She has all her attention on the other dog. It isn't all dogs or people, which is weird. Yesterday I tried taking her to the park and the bigger dogs she didn't bark at but the little dogs she would and she didn't bark at people. In the house it isn't everyone either but it is for some people, the ones that have dogs(they don't have them with them). She will bark when they knock on the door, and if they come closer to me she hides behinds me and barks more. If she doesn't stop after I tell her know and I try to show her it is okay, I either put her outside or in her crate.

[AuntieDale]

Sounds like you're doing some good things already...! Here are my humble suggestions!

When walking, you stop & wait until she stops barking, but is she paying attention to you at this point? Or is she just peeking around you to stare at the other dog??!! You say it's hard to get her to pay attention to you sometimes, but I think this is important. If she's ignoring you, try making your 'NO' command quite firm (really mean it, but not angrily) - you can try stepping towards her, make her back up a bit - this sometimes makes distracted dogs pay attention to me, I have found. When she looks at you, you know you have got her attention. Once you've got her attention, you also tend to get her respect.

Hope this helps - let me know if you try it and what happens!

I shall try that. Should I take her somewhere for training?

[AuntieDale]

Well, if you have never had training, I highly recommend it! I felt it was more for me than for my dog when I took him, and I learned alot.

Does she obey other commands well? I think, especially with a strong dog like yours, the more you practice discipline, the better! She'll respect you and you'll feel more comfortable with her, everywhere.

Once again, just my humble opinion - anyone else out there have comments??

She sits, comes etc. Yah, I wanted to take her for training, trouble is finding a place to go

I no of a collar that you put round the dogs neck with a device on them that lets off a spray into the dogs face, you can either have one that is self controled by remote or one that goes off every time the dog barks they can also be used to call your dog back if they are not responding to your call. some of these brands that we sell are, Aboistop, jetcare etc.

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