Hello everyone! It's been about 2 months since my last post to this forum where I got lots of good advice about how to help my GSD, Gus, get over his fear of strangers. I'm happy to report that we have had made some good progress!

For the past 3-ish months I've been taking him to a number of public places (library parking lot, friendly local vet's office, downtown sidewalks) at least 3 times a week and using prise and treats to motivate his good behavior. I keep these "sessions" short with lots of praise for good behavior. It was pretty bumpy for the first month -- a comfortable distance away from strangers for him at the beginning of this process was almost 50 yards away! -- but due to lots of diligence, hard work, focus exercises, bonding, and increased understanding of Gus's "triggers," we have made some good progress.

Gus is now at the point where he can walk by strangers without even blinking. He's still skidish when I have him stop and just observe people walking by, so we're working on that now. Something about the forward motion of walking relaxes him, while just standing or sitting and watching people pass by, even if they're 10 feet away and paying no attention to him, seems to make him start over-analyzing and freak out. He's never barked, growled, or bitten anyone, but rather acts skidish, won't settle or listen to me, and tries to get away. Working on focus exercises has helped, but those only work when we're walking. He has a much harder time with that sitting still.

Usually I make him sit, ignore his skidishness, and give lots of praise for his calm behavior (he does eventually settle down, but even when he's sitting nicely he's still on "high alert," and the calm behavior doesn't last long before he gets nervous again). Does anyone know if this is typical? Any suggestions? Should I not "force" him to sit while people are going by? i.e. is it "good enough" that he's calm while walking?

Also, we had to board him for 2 nights a couple weeks ago (some of you might remember he had a bad boarding experience over Thanksgiving.... we did NOT take him back to that place!). In preparation in the weeks leading up to the trip I would take him to the veterinary office where he was to be boarded and just sit in the lobby and observe, letting him sniff around and get used to the place.

I also talked to the receptionists and handlers and told them all about Gus and how to behave around him. They already knew him since he used to go to Doggie Day Care there, and they were very receptive to both of us. As a result, he had a very good boarding experience there, and they even helped continue his socialization/desensitization while being boarded!

We have also had some house guests on three separate occassions in the past 2 months, and each time we introduced them to Gus in the backyard with his FAVORITE blue ball. Once we got in the house, Gus never even barked at the "strangers".... he just acted aloof, only ever fearful if the person made a sudden move towards him (usually unintentional, but still scary to Gus).

Gussie is VERY smart, and now almost 15 months old. I started doing some basic backyard agility (with random household items!) which he excells at, and I think it boosts his confidence and his bond with me.

We've enrolled in another obedience class with a woman who has lots of experience with shy and fearful dogs. Gus doesn't need it for the obedience training, but we thought it would be a good way to continue the desensitizing and socializing process in a place with distractions. He usually does better with strangers when there are other dogs around (he seems to take his cue from the other dogs), and the class is in a big parking lot, so we can start as far away from the others if we need to, and then slowly work our way into the group.

I know he's still very young.... do I dare hope that we can eventually get to the point where Gus can ever be alert yet relaxed/aloof (or at least not fearful!) when a stranger approaches?

Hope you're all doing well, and are ready for spring!

Liz -- YAY for Gus!! Sounds like you guys are doing GREAT!!!

Regarding the sit when people are around - start with one person and sitting for a short period of time and move your way up in numbers and length of time he sits. As soon as he is calm start moving forward again. Having him sit for an extended period of time is not getting him any release from the pressure/stress. Allowing him to move forward will be his reward for being calm, take 5 steps forward, stop again. Sit, be calm.. and walk again.

If you have to, keep his attention on you the entire time by moving treats/toy, playing look at me in a constant way such as asking for the look the first time.. Gus looks.. "Good Look! Good Look Gus!"(treat/toy reward) andd ask for look again right after giving that reward and just continue with "Look, good look!" praise and reward his attention on YOU. He doesn't need to pay attention to the people walking by, he needs to focus on you. Don't reward when he is whining or showing fear, etc but don't give him the opportunity to focus on the strangers.

Once he is doing well with that and sitting and having a nice series of "looks" for 10 seconds or so, move forward several steps, sit again and more focus work, 10 seconds, move on etc.