Difference in personality - Page 1

I have a female that I'm really starting to get concerned about.  She is just over a year old, and has a totally different personality when we take her out places.

At home, she is a wonderful, loving little girl.  She has nice drive, and loves to play ball and "search" when we run and hide.  when someone comes to the house, she barks like crazy and does not back down.  When we tell her "it's ok", she's "watchful", but will warm up to people.  Almost everything one could want in a GSD.

When we take her out to the park, firehouse, whatever...she is a totally different dog.  She's shy, hides behind us when people approach, and acts afraid of her own shadow.  She does eventually warm up to people, but it takes her longer when she is off her own property.

Any suggestions on how to encourage her when we are out.  She has NEVER attempted to bite or snap at anyone, but then again, we have never pushed her either.  I don't want to do something that is going to hurt her or anyone else.  I will say that she is the only one out of the litter like this (litter of 11, of which we still have 5 left here). 

I realize this is only a short example of what she is doing...so any questions anyone has will be answered, as long as they are tastefully asked!

Thanks,

Christine

mabe take her out more often my female is 10 mos old was having the same problem with her you dont nessarily let everyone pet her but socilizer around people so she isnt insecure. I had a few people give her hot dogs i did this for a few months she pulled right through your dog is still young ive found out they go through some weird stages

GSDs often you through a fear period at this age.  Is she kept alone or with the others?  In the house or kennel?  Was she socialised as a young pup?  Is she due to start her season?  Whats her 'place' in the pack heirarchy? Have you checked her ears and eyes?  All these things can make a difference. 

Keep all experiences very positive, no pressure to mix or go to difficult environments until she comes out of this.  If you don't do so already, explore clicker training and use positive reinforcement for the correct responses.  Other people are often the problem in the way they approach dogs, especially GSDs and a sensitive dog can pick up this wariness.  A good clicker game is touch the spooky object. 

Jo

In India where there are multitudes of people we could handle this very easily. In India I would take your dog to the Railway Station or Market where there are multitudes of people and a few stray dogs too. Once in a while a train rolls in or should i say rumbles in. Within a week your  female would be ship shape or almost so.

Therefore my advice would be to socialise her in crowded places

And while I am in these places I would also continously reassure her with words that she associates with affection. I have done this with 2-3 dogs n always been successful.

I think that socalizing is good but over doing and flooding can be bad.  Flooding a dog only works if the dog has enough nerve to handle it.  If the dog has weak nerves then flooding will do more damage than good. 

Thank you all for your responses.

Jo - she is kept with the other dogs, atleast most of them.  Remember, I still have 5 out of this litter (1m/3 other Females).  She gets along great with my older male and female (her mother), and her brother and one other sister.   She was kept in the house until about 2 months ago, and had the run of the yard during the day.  Now she is in an outdoor kennel, but still has over 3 acres to run and play on.  I do not work, therefore, I have the time to let them out in groups to run and play together.  They have all been socialized.  Unfortunately, not as much as I would like.  Dealing with 5 of them, it's difficult to do.  I take one of them out to the park, firehouse, outlet mall, whereever I can, once a week.  I don't want to neglect the others, but I'm going to start taking her 2 or 3 times a week.  I did check her today, and no signs of her coming into heat.  I have called my vet to have her ears (which have flopped back down again) and her eyes checked.  She doesn't seem to have any problems with them, but one never knows.  Like I said, at home...she is a typically GSD, very alert, loves to chase the ball, outgoing and positive with me and my daughters.  Her place in the pack??  Well, she's definatley not the leader of the pups, but she's not the lowest on the pole either.  I can tell she is an instagator, which is why we have had to seperate her from one of her sisters.  She like to run up on them, "puff" up like she is getting ready to dominate or try to, and when the other dogs come running in, she backs off and lets the others take over. 

We have always used positive reinforcement, but never the clicker.  I have started to carry treats with me when we take her out, and let other people give them to her when they stop to comment on her.  But she is still really slow to take them.  I don't push her at all, but tell her she's a good girl with every step forward that she takes.  Is that good or bad?

It's common for them to go through a fear period around a year of age and it could last about 6 months but it does get better if that is what it is.  Tiger makes a great point about not doing too much too fast as you may overwhelm her and make her insecurity into a bigger fear.  Instead I would suggest bringing her to a Schutzhund club or somewhere else where you can get dog-friendly strangers to play ball with her.  If she is ball crazy, it may work better than the food does for her, especially if you put the ball up for a day or two beforehand and at this time only have strangers play ball with her.  Most importantly, whatever you do do not promote her fears by being nervous yourself or comforting her thus reinforcing them.  Best of luck!