Michele McAtee Webboard User Reg: 02-05-2006
Posts: 1121
Loc: Iowa City, Iowa
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My suggestion is to nip this now, as 4 months (from my experience) is nothing compared to size and attitude of 6 to 7 months or older, barking, lunging, etc. UGH!
Does he have a focus on you command? Watch? If so, command that, jump around, make silly noises, squeaky toy, *whatever* you have to do to get his attention on YOU, then treat with TASTy treat the second he looks at you. Finally, walk on, matter of factly, or keep in sit with attention *to you*, again, matter of factly. And I agree with Sandy, "NO" if he barks again.
Timing is everything here and is is ESSENTIAL he focus on you IMO. The dog may likely, literally take control if you don't and it's not fun.
On an additional note, working on *approaches* to strangers with the dog is something I wish I would have done more of when he was younger. It's different for the dog to actually greet and then settle while you talk with someone.
Ok, I really do not have any commands for him to focus on me so I will try the watch me command with food and see if it helps. I don't think the funny noises will work because he is in another zone at that point. The pup barks at strangers walking on the sidewalk when we are standing at the front door and he also barks at a man that works right next to where I live. We basically have to walk right by each other on the way to work every morning. I will give the guy more food to give to the pup, which I have done on two occasions.
The pup was barking at the man today when the man was standing in front of me. The dog actually turned his back to the man and took food from him later on. I am not sure what it all means. After the pup took the food he still growled. Is a leash correction needed for this?
Michele McAtee Webboard User Reg: 02-05-2006
Posts: 1121
Loc: Iowa City, Iowa
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Try to teach focus in a distraction free zone first.
Also, it is your job to be on the look out (for strangers, etc, whatever he's barking at) and get the pup's attention prior to him flipping. (in your case, at this point, barking...) Put him in a sit, what ever it takes to get his eyes on you. IMO, it is too soon for correction, teach him it is ok first.
Good things come to him when his attention stays on you and you are the one to let him know it is ok to be around strangers.
Another command that may help is "quiet" or "no bark" or something to that effect. GSD's can be very vocal. I read somewhere that if you teach them to "speak" first, it's much easier to teach them "quiet". (for the record though, I did teach my pup to speak first, and he does like to bark, loud, and sometimes still does even with the "quiet" command...albeiet a rorarrorrrrhorrrurughhh, roruuuruuhgh ruurrr, playing sound...)
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4 month old pup barking at people walking by
#155862 - 09/20/2007 09:47 PM 
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