My 11 wk GSD gets nervous when we take him on a walk past our drive way. In the yard he is fine and is sniffing and chewing on everything. He is on a 6 foot lead in the yard and on walks. When we go to take him on a walk to get him tired out a little he gets apprehensive and needs to be coaxed along with food for the first 200 meters. Then once on the walk he seems nervous and will try to get picked up by climbing up our legs if he can get in front of us. He is walking relatively well once we are actually going but still seems nervous. When we start getting close to home again he starts wanting to pull ahead so I am coaxing him back to me or blocking him from going ahead. I was considering stopping walking him for a few days or a week and trying to just exercise him in the back yard. Is this a good idea?

Also he seems pretty scared sometimes when he sees someone new, even at a distance, he starts to bark and gets very focused. This would be fine if it was only in my yard but it is happening while I am walking through the neighborhood or when I take him on walks in parks. Should I be trying to correct this? If so how? We are raising him as a house dog and while we do want him to provide some protection if need be, I am more concerned with him just alerting me and giving me time to reach my firearm.

Thanks in advance.

Mr. Thorp,

11 weeks... About 1.5 yrs. old, in human years.

"In the yard he is fine and is sniffing and chewing on everything."

So, work with his confidence in the yard. Play and exercise. He doesn't need to take the walks to greet the world yet.

I think it is easy to reinforce unwanted behavior by continuing to do the stuff that stimulates the unwanted behavior.

So, your inclination is right - yard. Patience is often well rewarded.

If you want a house dog, keep him around the house - at least until he is more ready to greet the great big world beyond your yard.

He is just a puppy. Gently work with him. Play with him. Enjoy being with him. Any frustration and anxiety you feel and demonstrate is not lost on the puppy. Your schedule for dog development may not be his.

Pump; 12. ga.; 18" barrel; 000.

Two cents.