My male GSD has started barking (seemingly viciously) at other dogs and sometimes children when I have him on a leash and we're out. He will lunge on the leash and go up on his hind legs. I know he just wants to play and he isn't at all upset...but it makes it very hard to socialize him with other kids and dogs when their parents/owners thinks he's going to maul them to death.

he will also go crazy and bark at other dogs on TV, he just loses it.

In the pet store today someone had a tiny lab puppy in their arms and brought to down for Axel to meet, Axel licked the little guy all over but it was scaring the puppy so she carried him around the corner...that's when Axel started barking...because his play mate was takin a way...

What steps should I make to curb this behavior while he's still young?

First, what does "socializing" mean to you?

Second, what do you do when he lunges?

Socializing to me means exposing him to new people and animals. Such as having random people I might run into pet him and hand him treats. Or let him rub noses with a known friendly dog. I also bring him out to the ranch and let him look at the cattle and horses.

When he lunges I pull back, and try to make him wait. if he continues I turn and walk the opposite direction. he only lunges if we are in very close proximity...but will bark if the disturbance is hundreds of feet a way.

Pulling back is what I do to make my dog want to go forward that much more Cory. How about keeping him at a distance that he's comfortable with from other dogs,kids, and any distractions really while you work on his obedience. I'm not going to try and figure out the reasons for him reacting to the dogs and kids but I do think it would be better if you didnt put him in situations where he will act poorly and give him the chance to do well.

It sounds like you're really setting your pup up for failure.

Clearly, you have his best interests at heart. I don't doubt that in the least.

However, 4 months old is very young. You're putting him in a lot of stressful situations that he doesn't know how to put into context. Socialization doesn't happen overnight. It happens with a slightly more mature dog, that is confident in his handler's willingness and ability to protect him from dangerous, stressful situations.

Instead, you have let other dogs get in his face: let him rub noses with a known friendly dog.
In the canine world, that's an extremely rude and stressful way for two dogs to meet. There is absolutely NO need to introduce your very young dog to other dogs.

I would stop taking this pup for walks, and focus on nice games of fetch in the yard as a source of exercise.
I would strongly recommend Leerburgs "Training with Markers" DVDs. Start doing fun marker training with the pup, to build a strong bond and being forming a training relationship with him.

Use the Marker training (and perhaps "Building Drive and Focus" as well) to start training your pup to walk calmly on a loose leash, in the backyard, with no pressure.

Your dog has the rest of his life to "socialize". The first six months should be about creating a bond with your pup. That bond is what instills your dog with confidence to go forward as an older dog and face the world.

Forcing him into stressful, scary situations is only eroding the trust your dog has in you.

 Quote: alyssa myracle

It sounds like you're really setting your pup up for failure.

Clearly, you have his best interests at heart. I don't doubt that in the least.

However, 4 months old is very young. You're putting him in a lot of stressful situations that he doesn't know how to put into context. Socialization doesn't happen overnight. It happens with a slightly more mature dog, that is confident in his handler's willingness and ability to protect him from dangerous, stressful situations.

Instead, you have let other dogs get in his face: let him rub noses with a known friendly dog.
In the canine world, that's an extremely rude and stressful way for two dogs to meet. There is absolutely NO need to introduce your very young dog to other dogs.

I would stop taking this pup for walks, and focus on nice games of fetch in the yard as a source of exercise.
I would strongly recommend Leerburgs "Training with Markers" DVDs. Start doing fun marker training with the pup, to build a strong bond and being forming a training relationship with him.

Use the Marker training (and perhaps "Building Drive and Focus" as well) to start training your pup to walk calmly on a loose leash, in the backyard, with no pressure.

Your dog has the rest of his life to "socialize". The first six months should be about creating a bond with your pup. That bond is what instills your dog with confidence to go forward as an older dog and face the world.

Forcing him into stressful, scary situations is only eroding the trust your dog has in you.

I have his 8 weeks to 8 months video and he strongly advocated taking your puppy out on walks to socialize it with people.

I think you guys are also misunderstanding his reactions...he's not stressed, and not upset...he just wants to go play but can't because I'm holding him back. In the pet store he would try to run up to everyone and happily jump on them...and only barked when the puppy was taken a way form him...not when it was presented.

Why do you think he's friendly and just wants to play? If his reactions are 'seemingly vicious'?

I'm not saying he is being vicious, just trying to understand exactly how he is reacting.

Also, I think Steve and Alyssa gave you some good advice re: setting your pup up for success/not giving it the chance to exhibit poor behaviour and bonding it to you. My french ring trainer with respect to my pup had no problem socializing Neb around strange people, but that does not necessarily translate to socializing with strange people. The idea being the puppy learns how to behave politely when among people, but it isn't being handled/interacting with those outside of it's pack.

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

Why do you think he's friendly and just wants to play? If his reactions are 'seemingly vicious'?

I'm not saying he is being vicious, just trying to understand exactly how he is reacting.

Also, I think Steve and Alyssa gave you some good advice re: setting your pup up for success/not giving it the chance to exhibit poor behaviour and bonding it to you. My french ring trainer with respect to my pup had no problem socializing Neb around strange people, but that does not necessarily translate to socializing with strange people. The idea being the puppy learns how to behave politely when among people, but it isn't being handled/interacting with those outside of it's pack.

I meant it seems vicious to the other people. If the person he was barking at walks up to him he wags his tail and licks their hand and maybe tried to jump up on them.

If he was barking at a dog and I walk him over to the dog he does the same thing, maybe licks him in the face or jumps up throwing his legs over the other dogs head in play. he has never shown any aggression what so ever.

Hi, my pup( who just turned 5 months) has the same reactions when I take her for car rides to town.
On day she only barked at an ambulance, and a little girl in pink( around 3 yrs old). My daughter was with me and said " What a great dog, she protects us from the young and the sick."

I am not forcing introductions to anyone and I don't introduce her to other dogs, we are just letting her see what goes on in the world. I feel she will become less reactive with more exposure.

 Quote: cory simpson

 Quote: alyssa myracle

It sounds like you're really setting your pup up for failure.

Clearly, you have his best interests at heart. I don't doubt that in the least.

However, 4 months old is very young. You're putting him in a lot of stressful situations that he doesn't know how to put into context. Socialization doesn't happen overnight. It happens with a slightly more mature dog, that is confident in his handler's willingness and ability to protect him from dangerous, stressful situations.

Instead, you have let other dogs get in his face: let him rub noses with a known friendly dog.
In the canine world, that's an extremely rude and stressful way for two dogs to meet. There is absolutely NO need to introduce your very young dog to other dogs.

I would stop taking this pup for walks, and focus on nice games of fetch in the yard as a source of exercise.
I would strongly recommend Leerburgs "Training with Markers" DVDs. Start doing fun marker training with the pup, to build a strong bond and being forming a training relationship with him.

Use the Marker training (and perhaps "Building Drive and Focus" as well) to start training your pup to walk calmly on a loose leash, in the backyard, with no pressure.

Your dog has the rest of his life to "socialize". The first six months should be about creating a bond with your pup. That bond is what instills your dog with confidence to go forward as an older dog and face the world.

Forcing him into stressful, scary situations is only eroding the trust your dog has in you.

I have his 8 weeks to 8 months video and he strongly advocated taking your puppy out on walks to socialize it with people.

I think you guys are also misunderstanding his reactions...he's not stressed, and not upset...he just wants to go play but can't because I'm holding him back. In the pet store he would try to run up to everyone and happily jump on them...and only barked when the puppy was taken a way form him...not when it was presented.

Are you sure your not misunderstanding Ed's definition of socialize?