My dog has a growling/Barking Problem

I'm guessing that she is a recent addition to your home?  It sounds to non-expert me as if she is fearful.  A trainer could help a great deal with this problem.

Dogs will often wag their tails even when they are truly ticked and ready to bite.  NEVER trust a wagging tail.  Their are good wags, and not so good wags, and really BAD wags.

Please don't jerk the lead.  You could cause neck/trachea injuries.

You might try turning around and walking away the instant you see the trigger, and you MUST see it first.  Keep talking to her and do an abrupt about face.

dogs, like children, go through a fear phase. Have you tried letting her sniff the strange object? when she sniffs - give her a really good treat (one she ONLY gets when interacting with scary things).

Yanking a pup can have a very negative affect - she's now learning that scary objects also inflict pain .....

ETA: there's a book called Click to Calm. I can't remember who it's by - but that might be a good tool for you to use

My 9 month old mixed pup is going through a very similar stage.  He is very fearful especially toward new people.  He will NOT allow new people to pet him.  He barks and moves backwards away from them.  I take him to training anyway for Rally Obedience so I have been getting some private lessons from my trainer and it has helped tremendously.  She has been able to help me give him some alternative behaviors  to work away from the fear.  I would suggest a behaviorist, it won't be cheap, but it will be worth it.  Good luck!

Daffodil_Lament

If i walk away isnt that kind of helping with the antisocialness?

In my non-expert opinion, no it won't add to any antisocialness.  It is doing two things...removing her from a situation that is making her very uncomfortable, and also letting her know that her behavior isn't appropriate.  She does not get rewarded by greeting a person or dog whom she is greeting inappropriately.

How is she with other dogs when not on walks?  Is she okay in those situations?  If so, can you set up playdates to help her have social time with other dogs?

I'd be less worried about her growling at inanimate objects than her doing it to living things.  Erica's advice about the treats will help her make a positive association with the trash cans, etc.

Also, I'd be very wary of putting my hands anywhere near the mouth of a dog displaying fearful behavior.  It's a good way to get bitten.  JMHO.

Good luck!!  I hope you can find something that works.

Oh, almost forgot.  A good book to read is Click to Calm by Emma Parsons.  You can buy it online, maybe even check it out from your local library.

I would train a good solid "look" behavior and an equally good "leave it".  Both are very helpful in dealing with reactive dogs.  You have to act first and give a "look" command and if needed a "leave it" command.  Keep your dog's attention on you and reward ignoring whatever is causing the reaction.  The fewer negative encounters she has, until you have these two behaviors on cue, the better.

Have you had her eyes checked?  Just a random thought but you might make sure.  It could also be some underlying termperment problem or issue that would be hard to advise on a forum.  A Vet check would be a good place to start with this dog. 

I would train a good solid "look" behavior and an equally good "leave it". Both are very helpful in dealing with reactive dogs. You have to act first and give a "look" command and if needed a "leave it" command. Keep your dog's attention on you and reward ignoring whatever is causing the reaction. The fewer negative encounters she has, until you have these two behaviors on cue, the better. Have you had her eyes checked? Just a random thought but you might make sure. It could also be some underlying termperment problem or issue that would be hard to advise on a forum. A Vet check would be a good place to start with this dog.

Daffodil_Lament

If i walk away isnt that kind of helping with the antisocialness?

Yes it is, if you walk away you are not fixing anything and you are just avoiding the problem. If another trigger appears at the other side you will end up doing circles and nowhere to go.

I would not recommend leash corrections because even when i used them (and my dog's neck is totally fime) it seems that your timing is well off and you will be just wasting your time

I think you need someone IN PERSON to tell you exactly what to look for and why. Yes you cant afford a trainer right now but probably you can save a dollar a day and by the end of 2 or 3 months you will have enough to have a consultation or even enroll your dog in a class

DL,

I wonder if I'm even qualified to comment on the problem, other than to emphasize with you.  But maybe I can offer something.

I think that one thing is obvious, that being that you're not getting your animal's attention well enough.  It's important that you capture that attention, then issue the appropriate order (do or don't do/good or bad dog) like that.  In your continuing effort to control, it's possible that you have confused it, by trying to get it's attention an such a variety of ways.  Ya got to find one thing/action, which is absolute, and it make take quite a while, to find/establish that "command" (pay attention to ME NOW) !

Jerking a leash and holding it's muzzle apparently aren't working.  I hesitate, but still offer, that for my Yorkie, reaching down and tapping him on his neck, makes him "listen".  That modest tactic seems so insignificant, but, such may be just what yours needs, to make it focus on what you want.  Come up with something different, special, just for such an event.

Have a good Day !

S.W.

When you turn and walk away you ARE removing the dog from a frightening stimulus.  This is a good thing and it teaches your dog that you are in control.

When I was still fostering, I got a good many adolescent dogs who were afraid of everything and often displayed this same type of behavior.  Treats, absolutely, special treats for objects, and desensitization for the people and dogs.

When I'm working with a foster, or with a new pup, I never shut up.  Even know when I'm out with my dogs, there is a constant stream of chatter.  I am the most fascinating thing on those walks, because I *might* say something good, like "cookie" or I might want to turn, or allow a run and no one wants to miss what Mom has to say.  I often walk multiple gsds, sometimes all 6 of them together, and it's just a matter of training, expectations and interacting with the dogs.

When a dog is fearful, I'm in the camp of slowly teaching him/her that the feared object/person/critter, is not to be feared.  This is where I turn around, without a word about the "thing" and walk the other way.  And I always want to SEE whatever before my dog does.....I want to be the one in control of the situation and I can't be if I'm not always watching around us.

Do try increasing you chatter with your dog. That is usually very soothing and engaging for them.  With a fearful dog I even point out birds and butterflies.....anything to keep that constant vocal connection.

There are a number of "bends" in training.  Many of us here swear by positive reinforcement.  Some are BIG fans of the older training methods.  That's where much of the disagreement arises.  Do a search for spiritdogs.  Anne is a +R trainer with a whole lot of stuff after her name, so she knows what she's doing, IMHO.  Shoot her an email and I'm sure she can offer suggestions for you.

Here's a site that spiritdogs posted a while back that might offer you some ideas.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=158&A=1597&S=0