If I take Gunnar to the park or to be groomed he is usually fine with people. My problem is that everytime I take him outside at home he barks and starts pulling on the leash anytime he sees someone. I live in an apartment so I definitely need to get this corrected because I am sure some of the neighbors are feeling uneasy about his behavior. I tried to socialize him with the neighbors as much as I could when he was younger. He even behaves this way with the neighbors that would speak to him or pet him when he was 2 or 3 months old. Any suggestions on how to correct his behavior would be appreciated.

First, consider whether or not this behavior truly bothers you.

Does it bother you because you see it as some sort of aggression, or because you want people to view your dog as friendly?

Or does it bother you because you don't like the barking? Or because he blows you off and ignores you in that state of mind?

7 months is a funny age. (The title of your post indicates that you suspect age is a factor. You're probably right!) This may well be a stage. There is a very good change that left alone, he'll grow out of it on his own.

The question is, do you WANT a semi-territorial dog that will alert you to potential tresspassers/burglers, or do you want a dog that will unlock the front door and show them where you keep the jewels?

I really don't care what people think about my dog, or if my dog makes them feel uneasy. Nor should you.
Most people are idiots, and their knowledge of dogs is based on little Fluffy and what they learned watching Victoria Stillwell.
Not their dog, not their concern.

They'd do well to keep their ill-advised opinions to themselves.
Don't let them affect the way you train, live with or enjoy your own dog.

My dogs are territorial and like Alyssa, I don't care. I do want them to settle down when I say and then basically ignore strangers after the initial alert.

I always have someone ask "why do you want a dog like that" and my response is cause I like em.

Just make sure your dogs obedience is very reliable. For now, he would be on a leash at all times when outside your apartment. It's all about control through training and him respecting you as pack leader.

Sounds like a GSD doing his job to me.

Best regards,
Debbie

I agree with Alyssa, GSD are what they are, this is what I like about them, they are very smart and they are very protective of their owners and property. Very friendly dogs bore me.

My GSD at 3 months would bark at kids riding bikes, skateboards or playing with toys when we were walking. She'd growl and bark and pull. What I did is make her stop and sit, I get on my knee next to her but my arm around her, rubbing her, and told her "no bark, it's ok" ,in a calm voice until she felt that the situation was ok. I made her sit there and watch the situation with me assurring her it is ok until she calmed down and watched with out barking or going crazy. She is 5 months now and has stopped the pulling on the leash and going crazy when she see kids. She is getting a sense of what situations are ok and what are not.

When we are at home I let her bark at anyone who is outside the house or gate. When I hear her bark I will go and look with her and tell her,"good girl" and if it is ok I will add "it's ok" and walk away and ignor what she is barking at. She then just follows me and forgets about it.

Now people on this site may do this differently, but I have found this system to work great in the long run. Our last GSD came with us, since she was 3 months old, every day to our retail store which was very busy. We had 30 employees going in and out and had a steady stream of customers . She was a typical GSD. Would only tolerated other dogs, aloof with most people and picked and choose who and when she wanted to be friendly to an employee or customer. She listened to no one but me and my husband. She only barked when she knew something was wrong and boy she knew it before us. One time someone came in trying to pull a "money change scheme" on one of my employees at the registar and she came tearing out of the back room (without a word from anyone) and chased that guy out of the store barking and nipping his feet all the way. They just have a good sense about things if you don't drive it out of them.

 Quote: anna anderson

. She listened to no one but me and my husband.

I think it was Will Rogers who said, "If you think you are important, try bossing around someone else's dog.".

Funny.

People are forever attempting to tell Danke what to do.
"Oh what a cute puppy. Sit. Sit. Does she know how to sit?"
Danke just cocks her head to one side, then the other, then does a canine about-face and walks away.

(She actually obeys my four year old better than anyone else on earth, myself included. The boy is a BORN dog trainer.)

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

(She actually obeys my four year old better than anyone else on earth, myself included. The boy is a BORN dog trainer.)

How very bizarre... I wonder where in the world the child would have picked up that genetic quirk???

Well, I am laughing as I write this. Thanks for the good laugh. I can see her now! I am picturing her now thinking....your kidding right? Who the hell are you telling me what to do.... I am leaving now, good bye.

I love this!

Bt the way James. I understand your need to get the dog to listen to you. The dog should not be pulling the leash and being out of control with you (bad habit). My way may not be the best way with a harder or aggressive dog. If no one has an answer for you, try the DVD here on Leerburg with dealing with aggressive dogs (can't remember the exact name) or maybe the Dog Training DVD. I haven't seen either one of these, but I just ordered the Dog Training DVD. Probably the Dog Training DVD is best to start with and then decide if your dog is aggressive or just not trained correctly. I think Leerburg has free ebooks on the subject also. Best to get advise from someone who has trained all different types of dogs and knows the remedy that works all the time.

 Quote: Anna Anderson

Best to get advise from someone who has trained all different types of dogs and knows the remedy that works all the time.

Ah... sadly there is no such thing. Alas, if there was, training would be so much easier. Only one thing to learn.

Dogs, like people, are all unique.

There is no one way to do anything with a dog.

You are deadly accurate about finding trainers who have trained many different types of dogs, though.
They've learned how to evaluate what personality the dog has, through experience, and they've learned different methods and how to adapt them to each dog.