You look so forward to taking your German Shepherd for a walk, but when you do, he’s often a loud, barking mess! It can be embarrassing for you and you may want to stop walking him all together. The good news, we can help him to stop!
German Shepherds are well known for their loud and fierce bark, as they were bred to be strong and courageous and even alert us of potential danger. At a decibel level of 85 or more, they certainly do not go unnoticed while trying to express themselves to either alert us of something in the environment or to just get our attention.
While fierce and powerful and capable of incredible tasks, German Shepherds can experience fear, pain, and anxiety and will bark to alert us of this. As owners, it’s important for us to determine why he’s barking in order to help him to stop.
Why is my German Shepherd barking at everyone?
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 dog 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 dog may be experiencing anxiety due to pain, discomfort, a traumatic event or even neurological issues stemming as far back as birth. 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.
Alarmed/startled
Sometimes people will “pop up out of nowhere” and can cause some alarm. A startle response is often exhibited with a loud “HEY! Where did you come from?!” bark.
Vocal greeting
German Shepherds are great at having loud conversations with us, new people and with each other when they’re saying hello. This vocalization is typically due to heightened arousal/excitement.
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 fool around. This is known as “barrier frustration” when they are denied access to that person/animal they’d like to get closer to.
Playing
all species can be loud when they’re having a good time! Our GSDs are no different.
Seeking attention and engagement
Dogs do what works. If barking at someone resulted in getting attention (good or bad) even once, chances are it’s going to work again so the behavior continues.
Are there different kinds of barks in dogs?
According to the American Kennel Club, “a dog can vary the pitch of his bark, the number of barks in a row, and the space between barks in order to change the bark’s meaning”. In terms of pitch, the lower the bark, the more serious the dog.
A dog enjoying playtime will tend to have a higher-pitched bark than one that is warning off intruders or disciplining a rude companion.”
For example, see this video of a German Shepherd barking at something on the other side of the window. This dog is not aggressive – pay close attention to his body language (low tail, evenly distributed weight on all four feet, soft muzzle). As the video continues, the pitch and intensity change into more of a frustration bark.
How do I stop my German Shepherd from barking at everyone?
German Shepherds are not afraid to use their voice and when it becomes excessive, especially around other people, we struggle to find ways to make it stop without making it worse.
Dos
Do begin taking notes in a “doggy diary”
Taking of anything and everything you see as it can help to make sense of why the barking is occurring. Record the times that your GSD barks/barks excessively. Identify the antecedents (triggers) clearly so that we know exactly what is going on.
Here are the things you might want to take note on:
- Adults or children or both? Are any of them wearing hats, costumes or carrying/using objects like umbrellas or canes?
- Only while on leash or off leash or both?
- Only in the dark or daylight or both?
- After or before a meal or both?
- Is there a dog with the person each time or never? If there is a dog present, how large and what color/breed is the dog?
- Where is the barking occurring? Backyard, front window, in the car or particular room of the house?
- What kind of bark (high pitched or low) and are there any other signs of stress that accompany it? You’re looking for body language such as piloerection (hackling), tail high, ears back, full weight on the front feet, mouth in a “c” shape, etc.
For more information on more subtle body language and stress, signs see this video:
Do work on desensitization and counter-conditioning
Once the antecedents 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’re far enough away that he feels safe
b) He gets his favorite treats and toys when he sees them
To learn more about desensitization and counter-conditioning, see the video below. This protocol is great for dogs who struggle with reactivity due to stress, excitement or frustration!
Don’ts
Don’t use aversive tools
Tools such as shock (e-collar, stim collar), prong, choke or anything that can cause pain, discomfort or fear. Dogs can easily pair stimulus together (respondent conditioning) just like we do – if each time your GSD sees a man with a hat and barks at him and you leash pop or press the button on the shock collar, men with hats will soon become a prediction for pain.
These tools DO HURT (you may try them for yourself). Often that prediction will transfer to all men and even to all people and it can happen after only one time. This is known as “single-event learning”.
Don’t yell, hit or use physical force
Respondent conditioning is always at work. Working with your GSD in this manner can also be detrimental to his relationship with you. Trust is paramount between a GSD and his guardian and we don’t want to damage that.
Will taking my German Shepherd to see more people help?
Yes and no. If your GSD is struggling with people so much so that you haven’t been able to safely take him anywhere even at a distance, it’s possible that there may be more underlying issues at play than we know. At this point, it would be best to visit your veterinarian to ensure that he is healthy, first.
If you are able to identify a safe distance for your GSD where he does feel safe, plan outings where people are nearby BUT you always have an escape route. Short, small exposures to people paired with space to feel safe and some super tasty treats can go a long way when he trusts you to help him out.
Can I train my GSD NOT to bark?
Yes, but you want to be careful of how and why you’d want to teach that. Barking is an integral part of a GSD’s communication and we don’t want to lose it. We can certainly train a more appropriate time and place to bark but he doesn’t know English – he needs to speak in his language, on his terms.
Can I train my GSD to bark on command?
Yes! You just want to be sure that your GSD is not barking due to stress, anxiety, fear, pain or discomfort first. Barking on cue can be helpful for those “appropriate barking moments” where speak means bark and quiet means stop – but again, be sure about WHY he’s barking first. See Zak George’s take on How to Teach Dog to Bark and STOP BARKING! in this video below:
Does a prong or shock collar help?
Aversive tools such as prong and shock (e-collar, stim collar) will “work”, but no they will not help – these tools are manufactured for the sole purpose of causing pain/discomfort to stop “unwanted” behavior. BUT.
With that comes potential negative behavior fallout where people (or whatever he was barking at) now predict pain. The barking can either get worse OR a new complex behavior may pop up in place of it. The potential risk of causing such stress and anxiety is never worth it.
Can using a muzzle stop the barking?
Basket-style (open) muzzles are a fantastic tool if conditioned properly for many reasons, however, barking is not one of them. Closed-style muzzles keep a dog’s mouth shut – but imagine needing to speak and your best friend slaps duct tape on your mouth.
How do you feel about your friend now and how are you going to communicate what it was you wanted to say? Chances are, you’re going to be even more upset/frustrated.
Does my German Shepherd need anti-anxiety medication?
If your GSD is exhibiting excessive barking behaviors and you’re struggling with his day-to-day life in general, it is best to visit with your veterinarian to rule out any possible underlying medical issues.
If they can give you a clean bill of health, then you will want to speak to them (or to a veterinary behaviorist) about the use of an SSRI medication such as Fluoxetine (Prozac) or Clomicalm (as examples).
Denying or delaying your GSD help for anxiety is no different than denying it to a human family member. Sometimes we all need some extra help.
When should I seek professional help?
When you begin to struggle with what to do and how to do it or you feel like things are getting worse, it’s time to reach out to a qualified behavior consultant for help. Behavior consultants are educated in behavior specifically where a trainer will not be. Be sure to ask the professional that you’re considering hiring, questions about their methods and credentials.
Where to seek professional help on excessive barking?
The following links are great places to search for a professional who will either work with you remotely or in person.
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.
Conclusion
Your dog is barking at people for a reason, even when it seems like he’s just trying to make you crazy! Once you’re able to identify WHY we can begin to work on the HOW to help him to stop. This may mean needing a vet visit, training new cues, using a desensitization protocol, or needing medication. Most importantly, be patient and kind while working with your dog.
Further Questions
Are there any quick fixes to make my GSD stop barking at people?
Yes, but unfortunately those quick fixes typically involve the use of aversives. The barking may stop for a while but it’s only a bandaid to your problem. It’s best to take the time to determine WHY so that we can properly work on HOW without any risk of negative behavior fallout or risk to your relationship with your German Shepherd.
Can I send my GSD to a Board and Train Program to stop him from barking at people?
Board and Train Programs, if run by an educated force-free professional, can be helpful for teaching basic skills like recall, sit, stay, down, etc. Some programs can help with reactivity concerns, but not only are you not present for the training so you don’t know what’s happening during their sessions, but you’re also missing out on the bonding and trust that’s built during those learning moments
