Greetings,

I have been reviewing the puppy bitework video, as well as Building drive and Focus, but I still have a couple questions about my 4 month old GSD puppies behaviors (mostly I'm wondering what is healthy in a young pup)

She has TONS of prey drive when I bring out the rag to do bitework. I have no doubt about the prey drive and how to encourage her in that area. However, whenever strangers approach us in a parking lot or outside of the home she tufts up the hair on her back and barks at them while I attempts to sooth her with long calm stroking motions across her back. My ultimate goal is to work her in protection and I've been trying to "neutralize" her (according to Ed's technique in 'raising a working puppy') So what should I do in these types of situations.
When she barks at approaching people/dogs is it because she has a good balance of defense drives, or is it because I'm not doing a good enough job neutralizing her. If it is because she has healthy defense drives, what training techniques should I use with her (does she need to be calmed down in her defense drives, or should I be putting her in situations that encourage these drives)
If it isn't defense drives peeking through, is it aggression that is causing these reactions to people/dogs. If so what do you suggest I do with her.
She currently lives with another 3 year old GSD and has lots of positive "neutralizing" encounters with other people/dogs outside of the home where I'm controlling most of the variables (it's just when random people/dogs are approaching us that she displays these traits).

Thanks

I am by no means an expert on PPDs, so I won't touch that part. The thing that jumped out at me, though, is stroking her on the back to sooth her; this, IMO, is just going to reinforce that behavior. You're encouraging that by comforting her when she does it, I think. I always try not to coddle a dog that's behaving badly by trying to reassure it. I either ignore it, depending on the behavior and cause, or I correct, again depending on seriousness of offense. A PPD doesn't need to be raising hackles at every stranger, and you can socialize/neutralize a dog without letting everyone/anyone pet him/her. Wow, that was a lot of backslashes...anyway, I think you see what I'm trying to say. Defensive drive should not be ruined by correcting, or at least not encouraging, unwarranted hostile behavior. I hope the PPD people jump in and add their $.02.

You might want to go read Helmut Raisers book " Der Schutzhund " . I got my copy here off of Ed, best book IMHO on working dogs and their drives ( or pseudo drives ) for protection. Go to Schutzhund village site read Armin Winklers articles. I think you are making a bit of todo over a baby , 4 months old ???

I don't think you should comfort or praise this barking, it will reinforce the behaviour, she is a young pup and a bit unsure let her investigate what is upsetting her if you can,
Except strange dogs,(even if people say it is ok to)Dogs can be unpredictable and you don't want her to have a negative experience,otherwise ignore the behaviour,if you can take her away and try and get her to focus on her toy, or food that you carry with you.