A few months ago I had to leave my male 14 month old gsd at the kennel. My husband had a heart attack and I litteraly had to drop him off and not look back since I had to get back with my husband asap.

We had to go to a larger city to have the operation and our dog was in the kennel for a week.

When I came back and picked him up, he was in the back of the kennel sitting tightly against the wall. The women said he wouldn't come near her but would only follow her outside to go into another yard. I don't really think she had time to interact with him at all. At first, he would smell my hand and retreat. After a few seconds of being with him in the kennel he realized it was me and started acting like the active, happy dog I thought I had left there.

Now I'm going on vacation and wanted to leave him in the kennel so I took him to a different kennel for the day to see how it would go. They had no problem with him on the leash and putting him in the kennel. He would follow the people(in his kennel) when they went inside and outside but would show his teeth when they tried to get in the kennel with him.

I picked him up later that day and he again was happy and running around. He let them pet him and was even giving them kisses.

I've never had an experience like this with any of my other dogs but in the past I've had to leave my dogs at a kennel before they were a year old.

Is there anything I can do to stop the fear.

Thank you for your help

Sue

My advise would be for you to have a relative or someone your dog knows take care of him or her at "your house" so your dog is able to stay in his or her familiar surroundings. This is the best possible thing for your dog and should also give you peace of mind.

Glenn

We get GSDs like that at my kennel. I am a GSD nut and will spend as much time as it takes to break them out of their shell and become comfortable. You have to gain their trust. A couple really tasty treats and time outside of the kennel running around and playing with a ball does the trick.
Many times GSDs that are nervous will show their teeth, growl or bark from behind the fence of the kennel, you have to let them come out to you rather than go in their kennel.
Find a good kennel and stick with them so he is familiar with it when he goes back. Send him to the kennel for the day (tues/wed/thurs are slow kennels days for them to spend more time with him) once and a while and if the kennel has packages to spoil the dog purchase it – lots of activities and treats/snacks are good. It’s a pretty cool vacation for dogs that know their owners are coming back because they always do.
I find you either get GSDs that just love and rule the whole kennel experience or they are shy and keep to themselves but are okay otherwise. Magic, my GSD loves it she doesn’t let me go to work without her.
You should find he gets better overtime it takes practice like everything else.