Personality, unpredictable

Question
I have a 9month old female GSD fixed. She is a very loving dog but when people come over she whines and seems to be worried. I have my friends give her treats and she licks them but practically sits or lays on them. The problem is she is fine and licking then all of a sudden she gets a strange look in her eye and tries to snap at them and growl/bark...She doesn't furiously attack, but does a one time lounge. I take her to dog parks and she licks people and runs around having fun..I also take her to day camp occasionally and have her around people. I just don't understand why she is so unpredictable..she's licking them and then another time she can snap..Does she sense something or is she like the other gsd you talked about in the forum that could have some kind of serious issues..Dont know what to do. I had her in training as a young pup and she did good.

Answer
That is puzzling behavior.  It does sound like she isn't relying on you as leader, but feels she must manage the stranger herself.  I can only make my usual suggestion you work on leadership.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  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.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

It is possible a private trainer might see something in her behavior I am not getting out of your description.