Sorry, I tried looking this up as I'm sure it's been posted somewhere on the board before but couldn't find it.
I'm not really sure I have a problem starting or not. Elea just turned one year old Sept 29 and has started startling at wierd things. A loud noise, she fine, but little quiet noises that she doesn't know will make her jump a little like she's startled but then she's right back to normal like it was nothing. I would imagine this from a small pup but at 1 year? This is an example of what I mean, while walking her down the main street in Myrtle Beach during bike week, a motorcycle pulls up along side her and reved his motor (trying to spook her) and she looked at the bike with a look on her face of saying, wow a motorcyle, can I have a ride. Then 10 minutes later a bus goes by and the the air breaks give that little swooshing sound and she jumped, looked at the bus then just kept walking like it was nothing. It just seems wierd that little things spook her for a second when she has nerves of steel for things that I would think should scare the bejeeze out of her.
Thanks for an response.

All three of my GSDs didn't care for the airbrakes on busses etc. I desensitived them by takeing them to my kids bus stop as often as I could with treats and toys. They still don't like it but they don't freak anymore

Well, she didn't freak out, she just jump like someone pinched her hindquarters then went back to being normal. That was just one example, tho. I guess I'm worrying that maybe she has weak nerves, but the things I would think should freak her out, don't seem to bother her in the least.

I would just keep bringing her out around those types of noises and different ones as much as possible. I wouldnt worry too much yet. It's definatley a weird noise and you say she goes right back to normal. I'm sure you are doing this but just keep going as normal when she does it....make it a non issue. Most likely she notices you and your reaction when this happens, so don't give her one. She lookes up to you as Alpha and she will see you going on as if nothing happened, so she will see it is nothing to react about.
Is it just noises at this point? No objects or strange/different situations/environments?

Pat

Mostly the little noises, altho she also spooked the other nite. We had come home from a motorcycle ride and a few people came with us. I let the dog out the front door and one of the guys was getting off his bike and turned and Elea had run over to greet him and he didn't realise she was standing there and he jumped, then she jumped and did the startled look again. She went right up to him and made friends once he was on the porch. It was like they startled each other..lol was kinda funny, big biker turning and startling then the dog reacting the same to him. But again, she went right back to being the normal pet me before I die dog she usually is around people. She gets out around all kinds of people, kids, different races, wheel chairs, have walked her thru a street fair, no problems, walked by a band playing in the park, trying to socialize her very well. She'll even walk pass the pound with all the dogs barking and not respond then go watch the kids play baseball. That's why I was surprised when the startled looks started. It's like she has spooky moments when she's unsure of herself. Oh well, I guess I'll just keep an eye on her and see if it gets worse. And I will keep with the socialization.
Thanks for the response =) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My boy isn't a fan of:

1. Shaking a trash can liner out - I don't know if it's the noise or the big bag being waved around in combination with the noise, he doesn't freak out but he leaves the kitchen anytime you start shaking it.

2. The big storm drains in my neighborhood - he's gotten over this for the most part, he'll stick his nose down there out of curiosity and actually step up onto the curb over a storm drain, he used to freak out pulling the leash around the storm drain to get on the curb.

3. RC cars driving towards him - well, yesterday evening we discovered this is no longer an issue, instead of going into avoidance, he went into attack mode the same way he does with the vacuum cleaner - doing a perfect bark & hold on it, then as soon as it moves he goes in to bite the car and it goes flying, we had to put up the car after he nicked his tongue n bled all over it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Link: RC Car Bark & Hold

With exposure and maturity stupid lil fears like this seem to go away. 1 Year Old is just a big puppy, I sometimes forget that myself.