19 week old GSD pup

Question
QUESTION: My GSD pup gets, what seems to be, separation anxiety.  "Anxious" is the best word that I can think of to describe her behavior.  If we are walking her and one of our kids darts ahead she yanks on the leash and barks really high pitched and lunges like she wants to get to them.  When we were in obedience class today, I told her trainer about it, so she said she wanted to see it.  I had the kids leave the room and she went ballistic.  If we are all walking together she heels beautifully.  But I know that distractions are the true test to how well behaved she is.  

2nd question:  When we walk, I take every opportunity for her to meet people and other dogs.  Sometimes (usually w/ men) if they move their hand to fast or try to pet her on top of her head she barks.  I just wondered what would be the appropriate way to handle this.  Our trainer recommends taking treats on the walk and if someone wants to pet her to give them a treat to offer her.  Thank you!

ANSWER: How old are the kids, old enough to walk her and drill her in her commands?  With somebody the right age in the family, 4-H dog training is a great idea. In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year. Even many urban areas have 4-H. For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices. Ask specifically about a dog or canine club. The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. She must learn the children outrank her and are allowed to forge ahead of her.  

When she pulls on the leash, pull her back is sort of a figure 8 and don't proceed until the leash is slack.  As long as the leash is taunt, she will keep gettingpulled further and further back.  

As for meeting other people, the trainers suggestion of the treats is a good one.  Discourage peopled from petting her head.  Many people fail to realize that dogs don't like that even though well trained ones tolerate it.  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: In regards to the figure 8, can you please explain that in a little more detail?  Do I move her in a figure 8?  Do you recommend a harness type collar or just a regular buckle collar?  I just wondered if it could hurt her neck when she is pulling so hard on the leash.

Thanks for the 4-H idea!

Answer
I don't think the type of collar makes too much difference as long as you are gentle with your corrections.  Still, you may want to switch to a head collar. The leading brands are Promise, Haltie, and Gentle Leader. They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle. They work by pulling the dogs head around. No other way gives you such great control with so little force. The prong collar is now a dangerous relic of value only for its macho looks. Do not consider using one without hands on instruction from somebody with plenty of experience with them.

As soon as the dog starts to take the slack out of the leash, pull it back turning it around.  Then allow it to turn around and resume going in the direction you were going in, giving it the command ''Heel''.