Fearful puppy at 4 months

Question
QUESTION: We bought a White GSD from a breeder. We met both parents with my 9 yr old son and both were very pleasant.  We took our female home around 8 weeks old.  She is not fearful of the immediate family or my sister and her kids.  However, when we take her for walks she pulls to get away from people and other dogs.  When we take her to the dog park she will run with the other dogs until they chase her and she will run to us.  If people come over to our house she hides under the table and refuses to come out.  She is in puppy classes right now, but we aren't noticing any changes.  Should we be concerned?


ANSWER: This could be a problem if you failed to expose her to enough people before she was 12 weeks old.  Undoing the damage will be tough and slow.  Keep things positive.  Don't let it stress you.  She will sense your stress and be even more afraid.  Don't coddle her, that rewards her for showing fear.  Instead, greet people as warmly as is reasonable.  Have them avoid smiling, looking her in the eye, petting her head, or bending over her.  Instead, they should give her treats.  In time she should accept people better.  

Try to visit the dog park when it is less crowded.  She may do better with only one or 2 other dogs at a time.  You may also try to give her some time with the same dog or dogs and let her get to know a few dogs better.  Talk to some of the others in the class and try to set up play dates.  

Many people advise keeping a young puppy at home and away from people and dogs until it is older to avoid disease.  That can lead to the very problems she is having.  They need to get out, but you must carefully choose where.

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QUESTION: Since we had her at 8 weeks, we constantly had her around people.  I would take her to the park on a leash just to expose her.  She takes very well to all children and some female adults.  However, dogs that are her size or larger and adults seem to be her problem.  Do you think this is inherited?  The breeder and her family said that as a puppy she was very loving and always giving the males a hard time.  She was the smallest of the litter but by vet check appt she had caught up and was able to come home with us. Is there a certain collar or training collar that might help us during walks so that she will not pull.  We have tried the Choker one.  It worked in the beginning now she doesn't mind it.  Your help is so appreciated.

Answer
If it was just the same few people, she still may not do well with strangers.  Of course, being suspecious of strangers is bred in to the herding breeds.  

While you can get the job done with a slip collar, it may be easier 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.