timid and scared

Question
Well, you are blunt.  However, maybe I misled you somewhat.  Bandit, our dog, spends about 1/2 the time indoors.  He sleeps at the foot of our bed every night.  When we are at home, he spends most of the time in the house with us except when he has found a mud hole to to play in during the day.  He usually wants out every morning to do his business and he usually stays out until we get home from work.  We found a while back that he was very smart because we didn't even have to house train him.  He just lets us know when he needs or wants to go out.  We think he is extremely smart.  We love him immensly and wouldn't do anything to harm him at all.  I mentioned that he gets scared when kids come over.  He gets that way in the house.  In the back yard he's fine and plays with them.  He is very loving to our family and loves to play hide and seek with our kids.  2 years ago we rescued him from a place where he was chained up all the time and even had throat problems because the previous owner didn't bother to loosen his collar as he grew.  We couldn't even play ball with him at first because he was either afaid we were going to punish him if he chewed on the ball or he was afaid we were going to throw it at him.  I thought he may have been punished a lot.  He is completely out of that phase now and likes to fetch.  We have never hit him because he has been such a good dog.  We call him Bandit because out of all the things in my garage he will steal things with our smell on them, like old shoes.  It's fun to watch him do that.  So I always leave him an old pair of my boots to play around with.  Like I said he is in usually in the house when we are home and he behaves perfectly, and we are going to try to keep him in the house more.  We can't take him to work with us but we do take him to things like our kid's softballs/baseball games.  However, even then he seems to get upset and very timid.  Sometimes he just shakes because he is so scared.  Now that you know him better any more suggestions?  I thought maybe getting another German Shepherd to play with would help him out but I don't know.
Thanks,
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Followup To
Question -
My German Shepherd is 3 years and and for a while now we have noticed him acting scared.  He seems fine with the family but when we walk him or other people come over he is very timid and "skiddish".  When kids cover over to visit our kids he is even worse.  We have to put him wherever the kids are not, because he start shaking.  We have never treated him badly and he is very healthy.  We show him lots of love and we let him in the house quite often, so he is always around us.  I would like him to be able to protect and intimidate when my wife and kids are walking with him, not to mention do the same for the house when we are not at home.  What can we do?
thanks,
Rick
Answer -
Hi rick
It sounds like he is mostly kept outdoors which is highly bad for a Shepherd the only breed on earth with the largest brain space of any breed.

He must learn to be a family member and be kept as is the children are inside and taken with u when u leave, when you have people over he is part of it all.  He is not, this is your fault.  If he is kept out and brought in on special occasions, of course he is confused and frightened at new surrroundings than outdoors with the odd nightly sounds, etc.

It is highly cruel to even think of keeping a Shepherd outdoors for what reason to won one>?  GIve me one reason to have this dog if he is mainly outdoors?  He must be a family member and treated as such or find him a home of love and will be a family member, he will be a new dog within a month or less in the right situation.

This breeds bonds to families and when kept outside and brought in sometimes, this is highly WRONG, get him in and keep him in, take him with you when u all leave, expose him to kids at playgrounds, parks, streets, bridges to cross, water to play in in creeks, have fun and let him know he is family or find him a good home where he will be.
Sorry so blunt but all my dogs are for breeding but are brought in to be house broken in case I need to place one and exposed to all things that they fear nothing, protect, but have sound nerves, run together in a pack with ME in control always.

Kind Regards
Patt
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM
visit my site, check out gino on males my stud, litters of my pups I breed and sell, females, playful page how they play together and alot of info to read about this great breed.

Answer
Hi Rick
I am sorry, just my way being to the point in thought.

I love dogs especially Shepherds and mine adore me for they stalk me to death.  Some days I cannot move for them under my feet.  You must know dogs left in shelters are there for a reason, they either outgrew the cutie puppy or had a behavior problem.

If this poor dog was chained up this makes me ill to my stomach, why people get dogs and do this is beyond my comprehension and thinking powers.  Why?  Dogs need freedom as we have, they are animals to be loved and cared for like children.  I get the feeling your doing this for the dog and have brought it a long way, but it might never get over this you must also know.?

Having a pal just might help it overcome this fear.  It would have somebody to run with, look up to as u will bring this one up to have fun without fear.  I feel all dogs should have a friend of their own.  It does not cost much more for two to feed anyhow.  That is a good idea on your part.  Try and find one very fearless, but not hiper with alot of drive.  One to be a mento for this poor dog for all you do might not ever completely overcome some fears instilled in this dog.?

It is a start finding a friend to play with and you thought of it yourself. Let me know if u find one and how it works, For I know if its a good dog this dog will learn from it.  Get a puppy to raise and train your way.  I always buy puppies to raise my way and then I know my dog inside out.  It bonds to me the Leader Here.  All my dogs play together did u see the video on my site?
The best and sorry if I rubbed off the wrong way for I am a good person that just so used to being firm with my dogs that I guess its in my language also.

Kind Regards
Patt
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM
GIVE THE DOGS TONS OF LOVE, HUGS, INSTALL FAITH AND RESPECT FROM THE DOG TO YOU.