Training your German Shepherd to stop barking at strangers can seem like a daunting task. He may have just begun to exhibit this behavior or perhaps he’s been doing this since he was a puppy. Either way, by following these easy-to-follow tips, you can train him to stop barking at strangers!
The German Shepherd Dog is highly intelligent and always ready to work. In order to train a GSD to stop barking at strangers we have to be both patient and consistent. All triggers must be identified and a training plan best suited to his needs, followed by the entire family. Your GSD will appreciate your dedication to following these steps.
If a German Shepherd’s bark is so important, why would we want to stop it and how is it even possible? Once we identify why he’s barking at strangers, we can then help him to stop before it becomes a problem.
Can I train a German Shepherd not to bark at strangers?
Yes, you can train your German Shepherd to not bark at strangers. First, we need to determine why it’s happening, then take the appropriate steps to help him to stop. There could be many reasons why your GSD is barking at strangers, so let’s try to break that down!
Why is my German Shepherd barking at strangers?
Your GSD, although it may seem like it, is not barking just to hear his own voice. He may be experiencing fear or stress – or maybe he’s just really excited! It is important to know why so that we can take the right steps to help him out.
Fear
Your GSD may be afraid of people due to lack of proper exposure as a puppy/adolescent or perhaps he had an unpleasant experience with someone in the past.
Perceived threat
Even when the person approaching or walking by is a known neighbor or friend to you, he may be unknown to your GSD. He will bark to alert you that the person nearby is not someone he associates with feeling safe.
Anxiety
Your GSD may be experiencing anxiety due to pain, discomfort, a traumatic event or even neurological issues stemming as far back as birth (genetics). Just like people, anxiety can be debilitating for your GSD and is best diagnosed first by a veterinarian to rule out any medical concerns, then by a qualified behavior consultant and/or a veterinary behaviorist.
Frustration
When a GSD is behind a fence, window or on a leash and the person/animal they want to investigate or greet is on the other side or being kept at a distance, we can see all kinds of exaggerated barking and fooling around. This is known as “barrier frustration” when they are denied access to that person/animal they’d like to get closer to.
Excitement
Dogs don’t speak English, so they bark instead! Sometimes they become so excited, they express themselves with loud, high-pitched barks.
Six steps to train your GSD to stop barking at strangers
Fear and anxiety in German Shepherds can look like aggression. A fearful or anxious GSD is not necessarily aggressive, but reactive instead. What do we mean by the word “reactivity”? Basically, it means that your dog is reacting to someone or something in his environment. He will offer ritualized signals (threat behavior) to force a perceived threat from his space.
For more information on this: Dog Word of the Day: Ritualized Aggression
Here are the six steps you can follow:
Step 1: Understanding what your dog is trying to convey
What’s most important, before you even begin to think of how to train your German Shepherd, is to understand what it is he’s trying to say by learning about canine stress signs and body language.
This is a great video from Kristin Crestejo Understanding Dog Body Language – Learn how to read dogs’ behavior better
Begin to take note of the stress signs you see in your GSD and when they occur. Write these findings down in a “doggy diary” for yourself so that after several days, you can review them to make possible connections.
Your note may look like this:
“Every Monday when the garbage gets picked up, Fido barks, spins and starts to excessively lick his feet and chase his tail.”
“Every Wednesday when I have to work late and the school bus stops out front of our house while he’s alone, he has diarrhea.”
Sometimes even the most insignificant note you’ve made for yourself can help piece the puzzle together.
Step 2: Make sure that your GSD is in good health
Vet visit – has your GSD been to see his veterinarian lately? Are all possible medical conditions ruled out? If so, proceed to step 3. If not, further veterinary assistance may be required. Medical issues will always trump behavior so it’s important that this is confirmed first before proceeding.
Step 3: Make some simple changes
With the help of your note-taking, look at your GSDs regular environment. Are there specific triggers in his life that you can make changes to? Is there a different route you could take on your walk that isn’t so busy with strangers, just to give him a break from feeling anxious or fearful? What are your German Shepherd triggers?
Step 4: Start training
Once the antecedents (triggers) are clear, begin to desensitize and counter-condition your GSD to them. Begin with determining what kind of food (or toys/games) your German Shepherd really enjoys and have them ready. Slowly, from a distance that your dog is comfortable, begin to expose him to his trigger.
When he looks at a person with a hat from across the street without barking, for example, pop a tasty treat into his mouth or offer him his favorite tug toy.
Show him that the scary guy in the hat isn’t so scary, because:
a) You are far enough away that he feels safe.
b) He gets his favorite treats and toys when he sees them.
Step 5: Take your time
You will have good and bad days and that’s ok! Your GSD is working through some complex emotions – fear and anxiety is just as difficult for them as it is for us, if not more so. We can speak English and ask for help much easier than they can. Remember that your GSD is not giving you a hard time, he’s having a hard time.
Step 6: Ask for help
IF your German Shepherd is still struggling and you are not seeing any positive progress, it may be time to seek help from a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant or Veterinary Behaviorist.
How do I train my GSD to stop barking at strangers if he’s frustrated or excited?
A frustrated or excited German Shepherd can look an awful lot like a fearful, anxious, or aggressive one! “Hyperarousal” is very common, especially in adolescent dogs and it can seem extra frustrating when meeting new people.
Step 1: Understand what your German Shepherd is communicating
Just like in step one above, it’s paramount to learn what your GSD is saying! Become fluent in “dog speak” so that we know how to proceed in helping him. Some very typical “hyperarousal” signs include:
- Panting
- Penis crowning (lipstick showing in males)
- Excessive friendliness
- Mouthing
- Jumping up
- Unable to focus
- Snatching treats
- High pitched barking
- Mounting
Step 2: What are your German Shepherd’s triggers
GSDs can become very frustrated/excited when on a leash, behind a window/gate or simply just kept from something they want to go and check out. Determine what his triggers are and when the behaviors are occurring:
- On leash, off leash or both?
- Does he bark at strange dogs too or just people?
- In the car?
- In the backyard?
- Etc
This is a video that helps to explain “barrier frustration” and is a valid proof of “dogs don’t really want to fight.”
Step 3: Start training
Once you’re able to determine what it is that is causing the frustration/excitement, you can begin to make some changes to your routine, training methods, tools, strategies, etc.
- Leash frustration – consider using a longer leash than you are now. Sometimes our GSD just needs a few extra feet away from us to explore the environment more. Being stuck to us in a heel position can become very irritating. A long line “sniffari” in a safe area can be great fun! Also be sure that whatever your GSD is wearing, he’s comfortable. Swap out his old collar for a comfortable harness.
- Car window visual barriers – sun shades on the windows or even crating your GSD while in the car so that he can’t see everything going by, can help to prevent excessive barking. Sometimes simple management of the environment can go a long way.
- Fence visual barriers – if the backyard is a problem area, consider a privacy screen that can be easily mounted to the fence to prevent your GSD from being able to see everything going on outside of your yard. Planting extra trees along the fence line can help too.
- Home window visual barriers – a little wax paper on the window can go a long way, especially if that window faces a busy street. The less your GSD can practice the behavior (barking at people through the window) the sooner it can stop.
- New people entering the house – ask guests to alert you before they come over so that you can have Fido in another room, behind a baby gate or outside (depending on the situation). Many dogs feel better about greeting strangers when they are in a seated position, some prefer to meet them outside and walk in together. You can also condition him to enter into his crate or into another room/behind a baby gate/onto a bed at the sound of the doorbell.
Watch this video to see work it works:
How do I train my GSD to stop barking at strangers if I think he’s aggressive?
The term “aggressive” has different meanings depending on who you ask. Kim Brophy CDBC, CPDT-KA best describes aggression as “full physical engagement of an altercation”. That full physical engagement is expensive in terms of behavioral economy. In other words, it’s too much work to fight – all of that energy is best spent elsewhere.
In most cases, a dog will offer “ritualized aggression/ritualized signaling” to avoid such conflict. These behaviors can include growling, staring, teeth-baring, barking, etc.
The best way to train your GSD to stop barking at strangers if you think he’s truly aggressive is to seek assistance from a professional right away. A truly aggressive dog is one who will not make an attempt to avoid a conflict but will engage in “expensive” full altercations instead. Truly aggressive GSDs, considering their size and abilities, can turn from companion to liability quickly.
How do I find the right professional to help me and what do I ask them?
The dog world is completely unregulated – this means that anyone can claim to be a professional and cause more harm than good. Consider searching for a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant in your area, from any of these organizations that have strict regulations for their members:
Pet Professional Accreditation Board
PPAB offers the only Accredited Training Technician and Professional Canine Trainer certification for professionals who believe there is no place for shock, choke, prong, fear or intimidation in canine training and behavior practices. You can find a trainer base on your location.
The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
IAABC members work to minimize the use of aversive stimuli and maximize the effective use of reinforcers to modify animal behavior. Members agree to adhere to the LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) and the IAABC Code of Ethics principle upon joining.
The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers® (CCPDT®)
The CCPDT is on a mission to establish and maintain humane standards of competence for dog training and behavior professionals through criteria based on experience, standardized testing, skills, and continuing education. You can find certified trainers by country, or zip code.
Do ask whomever you’re looking to hire, to prove their certifications. Ask them to explain to you what their methods are and how they plan to help you. If they offer any kind of “guarantee” or promise, look elsewhere.
Behavior modification is not something that anyone can guarantee and it would be highly unethical to do so.
Conclusion
Before you begin to train your dog to stop barking at strangers, it is very important that you understand why he’s barking at strangers. Once we know the reasons, we can follow these specific steps to help him to stop.
