I bought a male GSD from a breeder that imported him as a puppy. I Am the second owner I got him at 16 months he is now 19 months. He is sometimes skidish over noises and objects. However he has fantastic ball drive and prey drive. Sometimes he pees when you look at him wrong. He has never been corrected harshly since I have had him. On the other hand when he hears the door or hears a noise upstairs when we are in the basement he heads right out barking all the way. I love this guy how can I get him past some of the scaredy cat things. Sorry if this rambles any advice is helpful

Some temperament or possible negative experience issues can be greatly improved with obedience.

Watch and competition heeling are wonderful to focus the dog's attention on the handler rather than environment, also help some more shy dogs deal with eye contact.

Into my arms and place commands give the dog safe places near and away from the handler.

Coming into heel, back and about turns help control a dog that has just behaved skitishly (like jumping to the side) and is confused.

If the issue is temperament, good diet that includes soluble fiber and chronic exercise are very beneficial.

If the issue is previous experience, working on good groundwork, consistent and predicable training and play (I'm thinking prey drive building) will over time teach the dog to trust and respect.

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This is only my experience dealing with fear of objects, noises and such. I don't presume to know enough to give advice re: other issues of training, etc. I got an 18-mo-old female GSD from rescue and had no history on her. At first, she was scared of almost everything - crumpling plastic, loud noises, trucks/buses passing, a parked motorcycle, someone's front yard Halloween decorations, etc. The few time she wasn't flat out scared, she'd react aggressively.

My main method of dealing with this was a lot of limited, controlled exposure (at first) to these things and a lot of long walks (still done today.) In the beginning, I'd allow her an instant of panic - no coddling or soothing talk - and then just move forward as if these things were normal. After the early stages, I just increased the exposure and lessen any reaction I might have had to the distraction.

In time, she got to where she is now and accepts all those things as something that can be encountered but nothing to freak out about. Most of the time, she appears to be oblivious to them. I feel it centers around being the pack leader - showing the dog that you're the leader but will still act to protect them from something threatening.