Dog escape artist

Spiritedly

Spiritedly

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I have a lovely, but neurotic gsd. She's as good as gold with people she knows but very vocal if she doesn't, she's also quite aggressive seeming with strange dogs.....I say seeming as she barks, shows teeth but doesnt actually attack......she's also an escape artist! I've just had some local kids knocking to tell me she got out again! We have to make sure to lock front and back doors as she can open them and the garden is a nightmare. We've fenced off the fences so she can't get near them but she still escapes! If you watch her when you let her out she won't go to the toilet ...she even checks for faces at windows!......but if you don't watch her you can't guarantee she'll be there when you go back. She has to go out the garden as she won't go to the toilet if she's on the lead and I can't let her off if there's strange dogs about. I've reached the stage where I don't know what to do, I worry if she barks at the wrong person I will get a pts order but I don't know how to keep her in! Ideas anyone? Please?:(
 
Get a dog run with a roof on it. You can get relatively cheap flat-pack ones delivered and assembled.
Get her into a good training class to address her issues. PM me your location and I will try to suggest a good one.
Gobbiness in young GSDs is common especially if they have not been properly socialised, try not to panic. Make sure you are using a good training lead and a half check collar or head collar so you can keep good control of her.
How much/what kind of exercise does she get and what age is she?
What is she fed?
 
Thankyou I hadn't thought of an enclosed run :). She will be 2 at the end of this month and has Skinners field and trial and occasionally raw, I did try a completely raw diet but it upset her tummy! I did try to social her well as as a puppy as I know GSDs can be funny, my grandfather always had them, Inused to carry her places before she had her vaccinations then walked her after, she even got her KC puppy award and was the star of the class, unfortunately it then went downhill :(

She is walked to the the horses twice a day, a mile each way with the return trip being up a steep hill, whilst we're there she runs and plays with my other dog, I can let her off there as its private land. She is walked in a canny collar with a double ended lead attached to that and her normal collar, I only use the part of the lead attached to the canny collar if she starts lunging at other dogs otherwise it is kept loose as she walks to heel nicely. I've tried distracting her when before she sees other dogs but unfortunately the distraction doesn't work once she's caught sight of them, she's not very food or toy orientated.
 
I've sent you a PM, I bet a fresh pair of eyes will help, with the best will in the world, and I have been there myself, our handling and body language can be a big factor in how they react to other dogs. You can build ball and food drive and a trainer can tell you how.
Young sheps need a firm (not cruel!) hand and they need guidelines and boundaries - they do not deal well with ambiguity, a lot will slot into a defensive/protective role if they do not get leadership/direction and again a good trainer will help with that :)
 
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