Unruley Puppy

Hey, new to this thing and new to training a puppy ...... Well I've got a 17/18 week old German Shep puppy and she seems to be very unruley ....
When we take her for a walk she barks at people and won't allow anyone to stroke or touch her, but while she is barking at people her tail is wagging and the fur on her neck stands up on end. She also doesn't like anyone coming in the house ... i.e family and friends as she barks all the time at them.

We have tried the stones in the bottle, smacking, the clicker, the newspaper and telling her no ... while in the house.
When walking we are constantly telling her no and pulling her back on the lead, and using the clicker but nothing seems to stop her.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to train her to stop doing this??
Thanks.

[Lucy]

To me it seems your trying to many thinkgs, are you giving these a chance to work like the clicker does she respond to it normally, do the basics?

yeah we are giving her time to get used to the methods we are using but they are not working at all, she thinks it is a game.

We have had so many different pieces of advice to use they conflict with each other.

Originally Posted by Kami2020

Hey, new to this thing and new to training a puppy ...... Well I've got a 17/18 week old German Shep puppy and she seems to be very unruley ....
When we take her for a walk she barks at people and won't allow anyone to stroke or touch her, but while she is barking at people her tail is wagging and the fur on her neck stands up on end. She also doesn't like anyone coming in the house ... i.e family and friends as she barks all the time at them.

We have tried the stones in the bottle, smacking, the clicker, the newspaper and telling her no ... while in the house.
When walking we are constantly telling her no and pulling her back on the lead, and using the clicker but nothing seems to stop her.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to train her to stop doing this??
Thanks.

Is this post for real? Assuming i don't smell a troll... Yes I can give you some advice but you won't like it...

Smacking? Newspaper? You've a lovely intelligent companion looking to you for everything, you're her world, and you hit her? You'll just make her fearful of you and other humans.

Have a look on t'interweb at positive dog training, books etc, and if you're still clueless get a dog trainer who uses such methods to help you. It's you that needs training!

Properly trained, man can be a dog's best friend.

Originally Posted by Anni

Is this post for real? Assuming i don't smell a troll... Yes I can give you some advice but you won't like it...

Smacking? Newspaper? You've a lovely intelligent companion looking to you for everything, you're her world, and you hit her? You'll just make her fearful of you and other humans.

Have a look on t'interweb at positive dog training, books etc, and if you're still clueless get a dog trainer who uses such methods to help you. It's you that needs training!

Properly trained, man can be a dog's best friend.

Yes this post is for real .... well my bf grandparents told us to use the newspaper method cause they have brought up GS all their life, so we was going by exp, but that has not worked with my puppy.
She is loyal to me, my bf and his mom just no one else.

First time having a GS puppy and it is hard considering we have had Collies to train and they are alot easier.

Yes I agree that i might need training in how to train my GS puppy but that is why i came on here for advice because i dont want to do the wrong thing, cause she will either really hurt someone and have to be put down or she will hate everyone that she comes into contact with.

[Sophie]

It sounds like your pup is fairly high drive, and will probably be quite protective of you and your home as she gets older.

My last pup was just like this at the same age. One thing you have to do when training a pup is think logically. Think what your puppy is thinking. He is a little baby and can only learn from what you teach him.
It can be a difficult, long and sometimes tedious journey but putting in the ground work from a young age is important. (I'm by no means saying I'm an expert- just giving my opinions from my own experiences).
I got last pup completely obsessed with a ball on a rope. It was always MY toy. He wasn't allowed to play with it by himself except if he 'won' the toy. It would then be taken away. Short, sharp play sessions of tug with it. A few minutes maximum. The dog gets so obsessed with it, they focus on it. It is really useful to have a toy like this when training to heel and going on walks. It's the same concept as training with food- reward for good behaviour.
When out walking, he would bark etc at people, cars, dogs, anything. I was told by an experienced chap that the best you can do is completely ignore it- keep on walking. If you stop, talk to him, pat him, coo at him and tell him it's ok, then he takes that as a positive sign and thinks that his behaviour is good. If you just keep on walking, he will think "Oh. Mummy's not bothered. It must be ok!" and when he calms down and keeps walking, you can fuss him lots and give him his ball on rope.
It's really important for your dog to be well socialised, with people and other animals. Pubs are brilliant. Maverick comes with me to the pub all the time. Your pup needs to learn that being petted and stroked is a nice thing and makes him a good boy. Introduce him slowly to people- it is sometimes overwhelming when a pup goes out and they've suddenly got people going 'ahhhhhh, oooooooo' and shoving their hands towards pup's head for a stroke. Get friends to help with training. Get puppy sat down, nice and calm, stroking him yourself and telling him he's a good boy because he's calm. Slowly introduce a friend and they can join in with the 'good booyyyyyy' etc.
I tend to follow to rules of 'ignore the bad behaviour, praise the good' with things like this (common sense applies!)
I hope some of this helps- please don't take this as gospel as everyone has their own methods, I'm not a dog trainer! As Anni says, there's loads of info and books available on t'interweb and it's definitely worth reading a few.


(And pleeaaaaaase pleaaaaaaaase pleaaaaaaaaase don't hit your dog... Any naughty behaviour is lack of training and he doesn't deserve a smack for your mistakes. Only a little rant )

[kita]

Originally Posted by Kami2020

When we take her for a walk she barks at people and won't allow anyone to stroke or touch her, but while she is barking at people her tail is wagging and the fur on her neck stands up on end. She also doesn't like anyone coming in the house ... i.e family and friends as she barks all the time at them.

We have tried the stones in the bottle, smacking, the clicker, the newspaper and telling her no ... while in the house.
When walking we are constantly telling her no and pulling her back on the lead, and using the clicker but nothing seems to stop her.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to train her to stop doing this??
Thanks.

Please do not use the stones in the bottle or smack her (either with your hands or a newspaper), both are negative and could wind her up or excite her even more than she already is. If you use your hands to smack her she could well end up becoming hand shy and biting.

How do you use the clicker? Are you clicking to tell her good girl? Or are you clicking to tell her 'no, bad girl'?

It seems to me that you are constantly telling her 'no' and she does not know why.

When she pulls on the lead, stop, turn and walk in the opposite direction. She will soon realise that she gets nowhere by pulling.

Another alternative is have a toy/treat in your hand to encourage her to stay close on a loose lead. Then LOTS of praise when she does.

This explains in more detail how to achieve loose leash walking using a clicker:

ClickerSolutions Training Articles -- Loose Leash Walking: The Total Picture

What type of collar do you use (normal flat collar, head collar, choke/check chain)?

When people come to your house, put her in another room whilst they come in and sit down. Then when they are settled, bring her in on a lead. When she is calm, with all four feet on the ground, allow her to greet the visitors. As long as she is calm they can give her a stroke or even a treat. Then get her to settle down next to you (still on the lead if necessary). Give lots of praise when she is quiet.

Is she always on a lead when she is out? Are the dogs she is barking at on lead or off?

This is a good article to read about training young dogs:

Calming Signals Community

Sue

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by Kami2020

Yes this post is for real .... well my bf grandparents told us to use the newspaper method cause they have brought up GS all their life, so we was going by exp, but that has not worked with my puppy.
She is loyal to me, my bf and his mom just no one else.

First time having a GS puppy and it is hard considering we have had Collies to train and they are alot easier.

Yes I agree that i might need training in how to train my GS puppy but that is why i came on here for advice because i dont want to do the wrong thing, cause she will either really hurt someone and have to be put down or she will hate everyone that she comes into contact with.

You've done the right thing by joining this forum, + welcome by the way.

You'll get a lot of good advice on here, from people whose dogs are their lives. You've got a gorgeous lil baby woofa, + that's what it is at 18 weeks, a baby.

Please, no smacking/newspapers/etc, just lots of devotion to training + loving your bubba + you'll have the most devoted mate anyone could ever wish for.

Take each thing you want help with, + post it on here, + you'll get all the help you want/need + more

People want to help you + will x

[Bonniesmummy]

Hi and welcome

Your baby sounds just like Bonnie, she was and still can be a right wee Madame!!! I'm still working on the barking but consistency, being firm and fair and hard work are the key! I sooo know how you feel, I was at my wits end but I soon found the it was ME that needed training as much as she did. When I relaxed, took a breath and thought about it logically I realised I wasn't giving ONE method a chance before trying something else.... Be patient and give it time, it can take up to a few weeks for them to get the message don't expect instant results, I know I did! and it's frustrating which doesn't help if your stressed about it.

You have made the 1st and best step by joining the forum, don't take some things as a personal attack everyone wants to help and are giving advice in the best interests of your woofer

Good luck x

[gloriab]

Originally Posted by Kami2020

Hey, new to this thing and new to training a puppy ...... Can anyone give me some advice on how to train her to stop doing this?? Thanks.

Hi There and welcome.
NO smacking... at all - only praise for the good things your pup does and as hard as it sounds - ignore pup for bad behaviour. You need some help with the barking etc at people, but pup is young enough to learn methinks

Whereabouts are you ?

Sounds to me like puppy class would be great for you both
Let us know where you are and I am sure someone can put you in touch with a puppy training class - well worth it cos it will help you to help your pup cos they will advise you... and it will also help in your pup's socialising.
Gloria
xx