Fear aggression in neutered male German Shepherd

Question
QUESTION: Hi. I have a 1 1/2 year old German Shepherd male who is very fear aggressive towards human strangers. He's never bitten but has his hackles up and barks and barks. He is ok if people keep moving, but if the focus is ever on him he barks at the person. Sometimes his aggressive sounding barking is mixed with yelping like hes not sure if hes meant to be agressive or not. We have always put him at the bottom of the heirarchy at home (feeding last, making him sit stay in the hall away from us if we need him to etc.) He is very quick to learn and very obedient at home but his fear seems SO huge that little we do seems to stop it around strangers. Sometimes we can persuade him to lick stranger's hands etc but it is always in a very fearful way and the next time he sees a stranger, hes right back to the fear barking again.  He was SO petrified at the vet he didnt get his vaccinations in the end as he wouldnt let the vet near - barking aggressively at him and even with a muzzle on the vet couldnt subdue him. Can you recommend any medication we could try? He causes me so much stress as I didnt bring him up to be like that (socialised him from the start etc, always discouraged any aggressive behaviour).

ANSWER: I don't believe in medication as a first resort. In all honesty, I don't believe in it as a last resort either LOL.
And if ever I think it should be used it's only as a temporary aid while training to relieve the problem
I know this sounds nuts, but do you walk your dog?
Power walking your dog at LEAST once per day for forty five minutes at heel with a loose lead is a MUST for his attitude to change. YOu won't believe how much of a difference it will honestly make. Also if you haven't had him neutered, do so. Enroll him in an obedience class to build his confidence and give his mind and body a job.
Make sure at least three times a week he works (plays) until he drops. Whether it's fetch, running with a bike or skateboard, or even a treadmill. It sounds like you are and have been trying to do all the right things, but maybe with just not quite enough information as to what those things should be. Any kind of reaction other than a correction when he behaves that way is reinforcing his behavior. And having him lick a strangers hand is pointless. First you must change your attitude and stop expecting him to behave that way. Secondly you MUST exercise him the way I've detailed. Thirdly you must socialize him around strangers (have friends and other people help you) and COMPLETELY ignore him, have them do the same. Have him at heel walking him and meet up with someone, stop, talk to them, etc for a few minutes and move on. If he begins his behavior give him a sharp (not painful ) tug on his leash to get his attention NEVER looking at him and make a loud CHH noise. Do this OFTEN OFTEN OFTEN and use as many different people as you can corral into helping you. Fourth and NOT least, type alpha boot camp into your webbrowser and implement all the suggestions and techniques you find there to establish and maintain pack order in your home. Once he is comfortable with your position as leader, and his as follower you will see a HUGE change in his behavior. Just the walking will accomplish more than you can imagine.
Good luck
Cindi

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

QUESTION: That's the trouble. I don't know enough people to do all the mock up training he needs. Ideally I'd like to have people who know the training I'm doing with him, come round to the house on a regular basis as strangers, have us all behave completely confidently, ignoring him until he settles etc, and set up mock situations where people pass the house again and again until he gets used to it plus other people handling him. But I just haven't got that many people in my life and I'm too scared to go up to the locals who pass by and ask them to get involved in his training :( Re the alpha thing. I am the alpha person in our household (or I hope so!!) I correct him, ignore him, have everything on my terms, speak strongly to him, make him do everything I want first, everything he wants last. My partner is softer with him but I remind him to be stronger etc. We both (partner and I) make him sit, down roll over before he even gets his dinner. Hes great at home (submissive-wise), its just the stranger thing (and people who are 'acquaintances'), that he just gets beside himself. We have a 'shaker' (pebbles in a plastic container) that we shake at him and growl every time he shows aggressive behaviour but it doesn't seem to be enough without the constant exposure I feel he needs. We've had him go to a kennels lady 2x a week to break his routine, he goes out regularly - last weekend he met a group of children and was behaving aggressively when he was still on the lead and they all focussed on him. I let him free to "escape" the focus and he was fine, milling around and even swimming with them (not 'happy' exactly, but not worried until they tried to focus on him. I got them to call him by his name with "Good boy good boy etc" letting him sniff them and gradually with the movement of it all he was ok.  It's stuff like that he needs SO MUCH of but I feel I can't expect every stranger to be as confident and pursuing it like those kids were. Maybe agility again would be good. He's been through the first couple of stages of the local club seasons. I'd like to be able to have him practice being handled by strangers, bit by bit, that its safe. The 'real' alpha people u really notice don't you? He met this guy who owned the kennels he stayed in at Xmas and as the man (huge man) approached down the kennels driveway I was convinced Bruin would go off. But he acted like the guy wasn't even there!! He just had that presence. He's neutered

Answer
I understand. I think walking him every single day and getting him into an obedience class as I suggested will help immensely. I also think that it would help a great deal if you go to the website I suggested. I'm not of the school who believe in the alpha roll, or in growling at a dog as a way of correction. You're very involved with your boy and very determined to see this through, so I have a feeling that all will be well in the end.  His role in the pack extends to outside the home, not just to inside it where he is familiar. Insecurity is treated the same way regardless of where and how it presents itself.
Good luck and please keep me updated
Cindi