I've got a 17/18 week old German Shep puppy and she seems to be very unruley ....
When we take her for a walk she barks at people and won't allow anyone to stroke or touch her, but while she is barking at people her tail is wagging and the fur on her neck stands up on end. She also doesn't like anyone coming in the house ... i.e family and friends as she barks all the time at them.

We have tried the stones in the bottle, smacking, the clicker, the newspaper and telling her no ... while in the house.
When walking we are constantly telling her no and pulling her back on the lead, and using the clicker but nothing seems to stop her.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to train her to stop doing this??
Thanks

Find a training class Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme dog training clubs in your local area - The Kennel Club

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I certainly wouldnt try smacking or using the newspaper. Praise and treat when she stops barking. Ignore the bad and praise the good. Elsie barks when she wants attention. She only gets that attention when she is quiet. When people come into the house keep her on the lead or put her in another room. She only comes out when she is calm. As for other dogs when you are out, get her attention with a treat and make her focus on you until the dog passes.

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maizie0_0 :

How did you use the clicker?

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Pups go through major mental and emotional developement at this age. You have 8/11 weeks, Fear Impact a pre set preprogrammed fearfullness
any bad experiences will become fixed in the dogs memory. 12/16 weeks. Seniority Classification A pup will put humans to the test to see what they can get away with. Flight instinct 4/8 months usually co-incides with teething Pups will push at boundaries and ones that came before on recall wont now they will assert their freedom. Fear of the unknown 6 to 14 months.
Puppies react to sites sounds and situations again with fear. Reprimanding or scolding will heighten the fear. Obviously time frames differ from pup to pup and breed to breed and are only approx. They go through other stages before this too and It depends on genetic makeup and handling and early socialisation by breeder and when in their new homes as to whether it will be got through easily without impact on the temprement or not.

Do Not use a Rattle bottle, smacking, or any other "punishment" as you can see from the above stages you will make a pup more fearful, make it noise sensitive/phobic and ruin association and bonding.

A GSD is a guarding breed as you know, without seeing her it is heard to tell whether the behaviour and barking at people is fear based or unruly or guarding behaviour. It is probably very likely it is fear based defence barking especially as she also doesnt want to be touched. It sounds she could be nervous and unsure of people. This would be made worse by the "punishment techniques" Fear based problems can be the hardest to "treat" and take the longest time. Clicker training is only any good with the right timing and backed up by treats at the right time. As you seem out of your depth. The best method would be to get a qualified behaviourist to assess why she is doing the behaviour and give you a programme thats tailor made to rectify it.
I would contact your vet and ask if they have reccommended qualified behaviourists they can give you. You have a large guarding breed that needs the right training.

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