Table of Contents
How do I stop my dog being reactive to other dogs?
6 Ways to Calm Your Reactive Dog
- Set Up a Routine. It’s not something dog owners think of very often or are even aware of, but dogs absolutely crave routine.
- Get Essential Equipment.
- Counter Conditioning.
- Household Changes.
- Body Language.
- Sign Up for a Behavior Rehab Class.
Can a 1 year old German Shepherd be socialized?
Give Them Proper Socialization. The first step to training your 1-year-old German Shepherd is proper socialization. You must take things slowly when socializing. Keep your dog at a safe distance from new animals or people and reward him as he pays attention to you rather than the other people or pets.
How to Socialize an Older Dog
- Take your dog for frequent walks. Daily walks are great opportunities to expose your dog to new sights, sounds, smells, humans and other animals.
- Have people over.
- Slowly work your way up to a dog park.
- Monitor your attitude.
- Turn to professionals.
How do I get my 1 year old German Shepherd to like other dogs?
Start by rewarding your dog for not showing aggression when it sees other dogs, and gradually build up to rewarding your dog for getting closer to other dogs. You must reward your German Shepherd for displaying good behavior before they have a chance to become aggressive or attack another dog.
How do I get my dog to be nice to other dogs?
Allow your dog to meet the other, calm and friendly dog. You should approach the other dog from the side with the friendly dog remaining stationary in a sit or calm stand. Try to keep the leash slack and remain calm yourself. Repeat this introduction with a variety of dogs to build positive associations.
Is it too late to socialize my German Shepherd?
Experts agree that the socialization window for puppies is fairly short, and begins to close around 15 weeks. But sensitive breeds such as German Shepherds need careful introductions to new people and places, and plenty of positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior, until 2-3 years of age.
Tips for Helping an Unsocialized Dog
- Connect with a certified professional.
- Work at your dog’s pace, whatever that may be.
- Keep practicing social distancing with your dog!
- Be aware that your dog may not reach the level of socialization you envision – and that’s totally okay!
- Keep the end goals in mind.
How do you raise a friendly German shepherd?
To make him relaxed and friendly around people, it can be useful to have a different person each day feed him his meals. Have neighbors, friends and family come over a different day each day for a week to feed him. This will all help socialize him. It is important you deter any signs of aggression.