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About Labman
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housebreaking, feeding, training, grooming PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet. Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.

Experience

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I have been around the net a long time answering questions including the general dog area of All Experts. I recently discovered a lack of good experts under many specific breeds. I don't have as extensive experience with the GSD as Labs, but still can give good answers to most questions. I try to base my answers on carefully proven methods confirmed by my own experience. Much of what I know about dogs, I have learned raising a puppy every year since 1991 for a large dog guide school. I am familiar with several similar programs. Nobody is in a better position to know dogs, need ones with long, active life, and share what they know, than the service dog schools. In addition I have done extensive reading. My answers have much more to back them than the limited experience any one dog owner can have.

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German Shepherds - rescue dog fearful at night

Expert: Labman - 11/5/2009

Question
My husband and I got a 3 year old white shepherd from a shelter in Mexico. She was turned in by her former family when they could no longer afford to care for her. She is a great dog, calm temperment and smart. Not overly affectionate or quick to warm but seems to be bonding to us.

The problem: she demonstrates a fear of certain noises, sometimes loud but more of a quality of popping or sudden noises, even if very faint (examples: very faint bongo drums in the distance, snapping a tupperware lid closed or closing a cabinet door). These may remind her of fireworks.

The problem is her fear seems to be more pronounced at night and seems to be getting worse. She sleeps outside but comes inside to spend time with us when we are awake in the day and evening. At first she was fine with this arrangement, but now she just wants to go outside and hide in her doghouse as soon as it's night. Should we let her do that, or is it best to keep her inside with us so that she gets used to being with the pack and acclimates to whatever is making her nervous?

Right now we are making her come inside, giving her commands and praise when she follows them, having her lie down where we are for a couple of hours, then letting her go out to her doghouse. Also wondering if it would help to make an indoor space where she can feel enclosed and safe like the dog house, but closer to us. I would like her to feel comfortable inside with us, but don't want to make the problem worse.

thanks,
Melanie

Answer
Work at building the dog's confidence up. Start with obedience training. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Don't use harsh, negative methods to show your leadership. You want to be like an old fashioned, strict, but loving parent, not a drill sargent.

Play tug of war with the dog and lose. However at the end of the game, take the rope or toy and put it up, less the dog becomes confused about who is top dog. Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds. Ones I made lasted much better. Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the foot. Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope. Melt the ends, and tie knots in it. Get them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer. Watch carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.

An inside den is a good idea. One of the plastic crates should work very well. You may want to leave the door off. The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

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