Stranger Wary German Shepherd

My GSD, Heidi is my first female, but my fourth GSD in my adult life.  Heidi was a very difficult puppy.  It wasn't until she turned about 2 years old did we finally reach an agreement as to who is the one who makes the rules around here.  She is a very willful, independent girl.  And, in all honesty, we had battles of wills, she and I for a while.

My previous GSDs were couch potatoes for the most part.  She is extremely high energy and has a hard temperment.

Heidi and I took a training class together when she was 7 months old.  This helped ME greatly to understand what I needed to do to get her under control as well as to bond with her. 

Its extremely important for your neighbor to be consistent with daily training sessions with their dog.  Really, it doesn't matter what breed.  The dog needs to understand what is appropriate behavior.  And, the only way he will learn is by daily, consistent, constant training.  This is a very important age, especially if the dog didn't get the proper socialization as a younger puppy.

Your neighbors will want to listen and learn from the trainer.  This person can help them...but they MUST abide by the trainers advice.

This dog needs NILIF.  I'll bet the trainer talked about that.  If not, ask the trainer to help with that.  Basically, it means the dog gets nothing in life for free.  In other words...the dog must do something (like sit, for example) before anything.  Before meals.  Before play.  Before walks.

Also....it might be that this dog is just not right for this family.  If they do not have the time or the energy or the desire to consistently, constantly train....it might be best to rehome.

Hopefully others will chime in here with other advice.

 Piper is the first dog I've had that went through a formal training program.  Puppy, Obedience 1 and 2.  I've had other dogs that were good dogs, but the difference in behavior and obedience levels is amazing.  If their GSD is able to participate in a program, thats what I would recommend.

Of course, that means the owners would have to work with the dog on a regular basis.

Not a GSD person but isn't wariness kind of the point of the breed? Suspicion of people needs to be there for a dog to be able to be trained to watch property or items yes? Even sheep really...notice, bark, approach, chase?

I would think the dog is at the age where they lose confidence a bit and get awkward and teenagerish. Maybe some general confidence building experiences would help...taking the dog places like parks and working on the focus of the dog on YOU vs distractions? less crowded at first then working your way up. Watch me, and other things that keep the dog focused on the handler and not other people?

I don't think GSD are people dogs in the sense that they will EVER be fine with strangers just approaching and handling them, as a general concept, but they really want to please their owners so perhaps the focus should not be so much on "getting the dog to like strangers" as much as "getting the dog to ignore strangers and be civil, focused, and in control when they are around"

rwbeagles

Not a GSD person but isn't wariness kind of the point of the breed? Suspicion of people needs to be there for a dog to be able to be trained to watch property or items yes?

True, but the dog the OP is talking about is barking and lunging at adults and kids.  Not the same, IMO. 

rwbeagles

the focus should not be so much on "getting the dog to like strangers" as much as "getting the dog to ignore strangers and be civil, focused, and in control when they are around"

Yes, this is what I would encourage and train toward. 

GabbyG isn't a dog who likes strangers but she doesn't fear or show aggression towards them.  She's indifferent to most people until she gets to know them.  She was well socialized to all sorts of people of all ages, it's just her nature.  :)

To the OP, give them plenty of encouragement because this can be overcome with the right training but this isn't something that will be "fixed" in a few weeks.  It will take a big time committment and effort on their part.  Patricia McConnell is a well respected dog trainer and she has a booklet called 'The Cautious Canine'.  It's only $6.95 and can be ordered from her website.  You could suggest they get that and give it a read. 

I've had many GSD's in class over the years, and while NILIF is the concept that some people adopt, they normally do it because they either want to prevent or retrain a dog that they perceive to be trying to dominate them.  Often, just having that mindset leads to dealing with the dog in ways that are counterproductive when dealing with an undersocialized dog that is NOT responding out of dominance, but out of fear.  The best possible thing these folks could do is to FIRST establish proper communication with the dog in a non-distracting venue.  So, some individual sessions to get the dog understanding what his people want...he should know sit, down, wait/stay, leave it, and come before he goes much further.  Step 2 would be to take him to a Rowdy Rover or Feisty Fido class at a positive training facility.  (Ask your trainer, or have the family Google "Truly Dog Friendly" or "KPCT" to find trainers who do it.  If they have no other resources, Emma Parsons' book "Click to Calm" is a nice easy to follow protocol.  I totally agree with the trainer that this dog is not ready for strangers.  The crate is a good idea.  Also, if the dog plays with the family outdoors in a fenced yard, it should be solid fencing, not see-through, and in a location away from heavy foot traffic.  GSD's can develop barrier aggression or frustration very easily, and it usually results in problems if there's ever a breach in the fence.  How very sad that they had this dog from puppy hood and failed to socialize him.