dog barks agrily at strangers - Page 3

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This dog.  But for ANY dog, the importance of solid training is the same.

here...


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 Strong fences make good neighbors

Good training makes good dogs into great dogs

If a dog is acting true to his/her genetics... it is the owners responsibility to train and set up their lifestyle such that the dogs behaviors are to everyones advantage.

Ravi Iyer

You're not literally telling her "don't bark at the stranger" are you as the command? When she's barking at them is she doing it looking out the window/door? Or are you in person outdoors or wherever?

she barks at them looking out the window and fence. she also barks at them when i walk her or when somebody comes inside the house

Puppies go through many stages/phases, just like human kids do, and fear is a part of that with puppies often fearing things they hadn't before. Your pup may have a tendency to be sharp in her genetic background and that's how she will act if she preceives a threat.  "Generally" they will out-grow these stages and if it were about slick floors or something else minor, I would say just to wait it out, BUT with it being towards people it is a big deal and better to deal with it now then when she's bigger, her defense drive is stronger, and she's less adaptable to new/frightening things. 

Don't punish her barking as she'll likely associate it with the strangers, but rather try to have her more involved with strangers and make sure it's fun... not overwhelming as that's counterproductive as well.  Skip a meal when you expect to have company, then have them feed her table scraps or something that is a special treat, lots of very small pieces.  After they leave, the treats stop.  Keep doing this and give her time to see if she begins to look forward to strangers visiting.  Then take it out of the home, same thing, no rush... if you push her too fast you are right in that she may just bite and it should not come to that.  If she likes walks or toys, ask friends and family to come over and play with or walk her without you or the other dog around (may be a crutch). 

For her it's likely you will have to continue doing this (yes a lot of dedication) for years, until she is fully mature, as you don't want her behavior to regress.  Better over-socialized then fearful or a liability.  And, if you don't feel you can read her well enough or physically control her, get a muzzle to cover your butt in public.

thanks for all the advices guys. i dont think that her barking is out of fear or nervousness as she is one confident girl. i think its more of genetics and also when she was growing up with my cousin over there in the states, maybe she wasn't used to seeing very many people around.

 Just tell her to shut up if there isn't a threat. She's being a good alert, you are the one with the brains that decides.

i have a 6month old black german shepherd which arrived over a month ago. she is a really nice, smart dog that has a super ball drive. she learns quickly but the only thing i cant make her to do is to stop barking at other people other than us in the household. i mean she really barks at strangers angrily and i think if given the chance, she would bite. she is only a puppy at 6 mos, but why do you think she acts this way? here is she . 


Socialize her with as many people and in as many places as possible and she will calm down. She acts that way because of her genetics and she's sharp.

Alrighty, doing some thinking............................. dog is 6 mos. old, you've had him for a little longer than a month..... No idea what ob or anything from 8 wks to when you received him. He could've been doing whatever he wanted to and possibly doing the same now? If you have had him for over a month has he always barked since the beginning? If so he was allowed and didn't realize he was doing anything wrong or that you disliked him doing it.

One of my immediate commands is "NO". And that can cover a vast of undesirable actions. And once the dog understands the command and acknowledges the command, "NO" means exactly that. no to horse playing, no to trying to jump up on whatever, no to trying to eat poop, etc., etc. 

Now for me: does he hear someone then go to the window? Or is he waiting at the window? Like a ritual? ( I can't wait till I see those people!) If he's been doing it since day one he doesn't know any better/he's being doing it and no one said anything before. Is it really a "I'm going to get you/tear you up" bark ? I would attempt to find out why, but if it is like always and appears for no reason I would concentrate on "no". Does he understand/know the command "no"? I'd put a leash/line on him, (not no 20/25' line but something you can control without being right next to him). As long as he understands "no" and if he didn't obey the command I would give him a correction. Without seeing him do this, the reason, if there is intensity it possibly could be as simple as master never told him that it wasn't alright to do. 

Depending on what you want the dog to do/be Having others/? strangers(company) feeding him in my eyes is a double edged sword. Everything comes from me. No one else feeds my dogs, period. And I want all three as a pack or individually to bark at strangers, strange vehicles or to be cautious of them. If the "angry" barking is towards persons that are already in the house with you, (those should be friends) then there should be no reason to bark. I would crate him but I would not separate him from the group. Say out in the LR and he's with everyone. Now if he's trying to get out/climb up the crate because of these persons then yes off to another room. This can't just be a once a month thing. You're going to need some friends, hopefully dog people and they'll understand what you're attempting to accomplish. I would concentrate on one before trying both, so say concentrate on the "indoors" and be constant yet firm! He will realize what you expect and realize hey if I behave I can come out and see people when they come to visit.