Behavior Problems

Question
Hi There,
My wife and I are currently living in Kampala, Uganda, East Africa and will be returning to the States in July.  We purchased a pure bred German Sheperd about a year and a half ago mainly for the purpose of security, but she's also our pet.  We have done some training with her, but probably not enough and need help concerning agressiveness. When she is in the house she is an angel, but get her into our yard or at the main gate where cars enter and she becomes very agitated. She'll only calm down if I grab her by the collar, but catching her can be difficult. ANY suggestions would be of great help! Thanks!

Answer
Hello Scott

She has become very territoral.  Are you socializing this dog daily with dogs, people, kids?  IF not, better start to take walks to the parks, playgrounds, streets, etc.  Cross bridges if there are any.  Play in water with others, expose this dog to everything you can find and when or if she acts up, grab a handful of hair on each side of her head, below the ears and shake her head back and forth hard and loudly yell, NO NO!!

Be very firm with her in any discipline.  You can even roll her over on her back, keep her down with your knee until she submits to you.  Then pet and praise.  No Treats for dogs live to please.

Shock collars are great training aid.  I have three of them I do not need to use now, just on the first two Shepherds I bought and raised together, they kept wanting to visit the next door neighbor boy.  My dogs love kids and we have plenty of them, so this stopped them in five minutes.  Not to be over used, not to be left on the dog without supervision, they are great to stop bad things.

Have some people take out their dogs on leash and yours also.  Walk together, do not let her get out of hand.  Have people come to the door with a treat this time.  Put her in the SIT command.  Keep on a leash, have the friend stoop to her and scratch her chest, then pet and praise have the friend give the treat only when she does perfect.  Practice this until she knows its ok to bark, but not to attack.  Firm punishment will take place, preferably the shock collar.

If u need further help, let me know.

Kind Regards
Patt
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