How to Train a Barking Anxious German Shepherd Dog with a Prong Collar 

I appreciate that you do this explaining and training without shaming the dog or the owner.

I have spent my entire life around animals, mostly dogs. You are a very realistic, talented young dude. Much respect to you. You're communication is solid. Great videos.

What a change in behaviour. Wow. I don't even have a dog and watched the whole video. I do have a sweet spot for German Shepherds 😊

This video, with a female GSD that looks like mine, was so helpful. Luna too had the reactivity with other dogs. That is until I watched Tom’s videos. I have now implemented the “tune up” every time we walk out the door or when she gets out the car to 1) get her engaged and 2) it helps calm her down because she learns to depend on me to handle anything. May I stress. This is a process. The more you do this the better your dog will get. Luna is not perfect but with taking her different places I am now calm (which makes the biggest difference) and confident I can handle her in any situation. I’m 65 years old and people look at me crazy because I control such a big dog.

Good video, my dog used to be very reactive but I invested hours to my dog everyday, I took him to swim, to run, to long hikes, to play with dogs turn out to be his best friends now, I teach him to fetch and retrieve just as I teach him to sit/ down and place, in my experience the key to have a balance dog is providing him with exercise, walking new trails every weekend, stimulate his curiosity. For my GSD only walking on the street, and having a backyard would make him crazy, I think they are complex and need a life, a rutine, were they work with you, play , have friends and such, that create the link and communication that makes your dog obedient coz they thrive in the attention you provide, the more attention you spent with them the more balance dog you get. I use in my dog a harness from Sporn and easy I can control him with a hand and my dog is 70lb 1 year old. I hope ppl know that having a dog is a compromise and theres not quick fix, all is time and benn patient.

Watching that dog was like looking at my own she acts the exact same way

I love these videos where you work with reactive dogs there a pleasure to watch & its very rewarding to watch an anxious dog start to engage & focus... well done Tom for having the skills & tools to turn around dogs that would probably end up being put to sleep in the wrong hands ...

I like your style of training. Its very blunt and to yhe point without making the owner feel even worse.

This guy's methods have a lot of gold wisdom and techniques. If I had watched these after training my first dog (happy go lucky totally opposite of aggressive Aussie Kelpie mix who I trained with Cesar Milan methods and did great) I would've thought this guy was too harsh. But 8 years later our newly adopted half GSD and Border Collie pup has much different characteristics, intelligence level and breed drive (protection) and the lunging and barking began 2 wks ago. Since then his videos make so much more sense and have equipped me with intensive behavior training and socialization and it's been making a big difference. Love this guys video and that he uses multiple methods and deals almost exclusively with GSD agression issues. So helpful and I'm a firm believer in all life issues of fixing the core vs. pacifying with a non effective temporary solution which he is all about. This is super helpful. Thanks man!!

Literally this video is what I needed for my Belgian/Shepard 3 year male boy. He barks when anxious out in public and completely disconnects but at home he focus driven and does commands like no tomorrow. This video was a great explanation. You got me to order the prong collar to try on him.

Wow, this dog literally looks just like my GSD and acts just like her too.

Every video I watch from you has helped me with some struggles I’ve had with my 6 month old GSD. I sometimes watch the several times to make sure I got it. Thanks for sharing your gift with training dogs.

There are tons of videos about how to train a dog. I've yet to find anything about what to do when you encounter an untrained dog. After watching many of your videos, aggresion can mean a lot of things in a dog. I think a video on what to do when you unexpectedly encounter an aggressive dog would be helpful.

I really respect the way you not only train the dog but the owner as well

Hands down the bestest dog training YT channel. So knowledgeable.

Another great video Tom! Immediate correction for bad behavior is so critical. You taught me how to be quick with the snap with the leash on the prong and it helped immensely with my GSD, Greta. Had her in a place and lay while another dog was just feet away and she actually didn't react. She was following my directives and looking at me for praise... I can't thank you enough.. Kudos to the best dog training- relationship building channel on You tube.

As so often with your videos, super-helpful for me to understand my own pup better. Thanks so much, Tom!

I have a 3 month old German Shepherd puppy and your videos have really helped me a lot! Thanks for your amazing channel

I'm going through the same exact thing at the moment. I appreciate your videos!!! Thank you

I know not many people will understand this but when u pulled out the tennis ball, the timing of that made my heart happy - immediately triggered a smile like, yep... friggen PERFECT. Gonna try to come back up to shadow in spring. Miss being around people who “get it” ☺️

I am so glad I found you, finally someone who makes sense. Subscribed!

It's a real shame how much ignorance surrounds (correct) prong collar use, sick to death of being told I'm evil. All the while my dog thinks I'm the greatest guy on earth, we have an amazing relationship.

He's smart he uses Psychology in his training.

You are a great teacher and thoroughly explain what your teaching and why you teach it. I know the dog owner on this video finally feels there is hope after being in the PP only game.

You explain things to the owners so well Tom. Great stuff,thanks : )

Wow this was amazing! My 9 month old gsd Ax looks just like this one and he is really reactive on the leash. I take him to daycare and he loves to play with any dog big or small so I know he’s not aggressive. I will definitely incorporate this into my training and hopefully we can get him to behave soon. Again love this video and all of them!!!!

Thank you Tom for your fantastic videos and your compassion with the dogs and their owners too and we are getting a German Shepard pup soon

Lol yes i was waiting for new content; ive almost cycled thru all your previous videos. Im running out of stuff to learn from. Keep up the awesome work and like always peace and love sent your way.

This is exactly what happened with my boy Charlie. He would lunge and be very anxious. He would try to nip. The trainer here explained it very well. I was against the prong collar for a very long time but the constant positive training with treats worked well inside but dud the direct opposite outside. My Golden Retriever/Lab Mix would spit out the treat. A prong collar was definitely needed and indeed a life saver.

This dog and mine are anxious twins loll (mine is also a German Sheperd). I will try to train my dog with this collar, since we tried everything with treats, as our canin educator recommanded. Those videos and these informations give me so much hope! Thank you soooo much!

Great Job Tom, so important to explain the collars and how they work..and how to fix the bad behavior.. 👏

As always Tom a fantastic video and I love ❤️ your work with all the dogs 🐕

What i have learned through personal experience that sometimes it is the relationship you have with your dog also that creates this anxiety to be worse. Combine the collar with you relationship an amazing results can happen.

My gsd is exactly the same as this I've bought her a prong collar and omg it's a dream she walks amazingly on it I live in the uk and these are really frowned upon. As soon as she sees another dog she goes crazy although she has no aggression towards other dogs as shes been to doggy daycare and we have other dogs in the family what she plays with gona try these techniques fingers crossed it will work walks will be so much more enjoyable

I have a giant mutt-puppy, 1 year old, about 90 pounds of insanity. She is super strong and can pull me down my front steps if she sees another dog or person she wants to see. Not aggressive at all, just SUPER enthusiastic. I know she needs more activity, but without a fenced yard it is exhausting. You have given me hope to try again. I remember we used a prong collar with our Irish Setter growing up and it was amazing. I am definitely going to get one and commit to daily walks. Thanks Tom.

Another great instructional video for me and my GSD to practice before we see you in Mid-August. i am working on correcting the same dog reactivity issues.

Beautiful work, as always, Tom. Thank you!

My GSD is Exactly like that! Thank You for the Video!

It’s nice to have other dogs to train with. Makes the process so much easier.

Good job, balanced, realistic, logic, loving.

You understand dogs so well. Mastery 😊

Wow, that was great! I have the same dog, same age. Learned a lot! Thank you!

BRO! amazing. your videos give me hope with my 6 month GSD. Thanks

Love your videos. My dog acts the same . Really helpful info!. I will start training tomorrow.

So helpful in training my GSD. Thank you!

Thank you once again. Understanding the relationship building part of training. Will bring my dog's tug toy to see if that will help me with his reactivity.

Thanks for this video! Very inspiring! I'm working on this kind of issue with my 18months GSD, it's getting better and better...

I wish I was closer to you. I could use the help with my 4.5 month old GSD. You are so good at what you do

Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

Another awesome video!! Love the way you explain things so a regular dog owner can easily understand and follow. Thank you!!! P.S. I responded to marshmallow's comment about prongs being bad...

Love the process ~ thank you

Watching this video is so beautiful, the way you interact with the dog. I heard a prong collar the first time and thought it was bad for the dog, but seeing you use it in this manner makes it very clear you aren't hurting the dog! Beautiful!

Thank you this was a awsome upload and I learned a lot 🔥👍

GREAT video (as always)!! I have a friend who’s shepherd does this same thing! This video is going to help her so much!!

Terrific Tom strikes again

13:49 that line hit me like a ton of bricks...thank you for everything you do.

Holy crap this guy is so good!!!

Oh I need this!! Thanks TOM

This is gold!!

This is 100 percent my dog 😢 she is coming up on a year, German shepherd our trainer only did positive reinforcement. I’ve been watching your video for a couple months and have been trying to apply the things to my pup Skye. I emailed you guys hopefully I can save up for board and train! It’s not fair for her to always be so anxious! Hopes that I can apply your suggestions and make some progress in the mean time.

Very impressive work by the way it’s interesting to see how much the owner has to do with the dogs behavior

You are a great trainer!

Thanks a lot. I have a black gsd with exactly same behaviour on leash

Good job, I like the way you explain what the root cause of the problem is.

Thank you!! This was so helpful!! Would you use the same tactics when my dog is aggressively barking at a dog walking past our house?

Amazing video!!!

Hello and thank you for your amazing videos! So much useful information; I love how you prove theory with practice, how you balance correction with rewards. Now, we have a GSD ourselves from working lines. She is a lovely girl, whom after being attached while on leash developed some severe reactivity. We´ve mostly been able to work this off - however she may lunge towards rude dogs if they come to close to my baby. I am not worried with anything but what you mention here; that a slip collar may do her a lot of harm. She does not put a lot of force into it but I worry about her neck and throat. We do train with professionals. She was trained 100% positive, however this demands a lot of environmental control with no mistakes (you know all about this I bet), and she did pick up a few bad habits those four weeks she was dogsat after I had my child. So we do need some corrections now- four weeks in and she is doing much better. I do train with a group of friends and we all compete in obedience and search/rescue :) Your videos are such a great help, your explanations so good. I really appreciate you taking your time in making them. Should I swap from a slip collar to a harness for her lunges? I worry about her now that you mentioned the risks. Prong collars are illegal in Norway; I also do feel I lack the experience to use one anyway. Kind greetings from Me and Yuna :)

Again a great video !

My dog is the same but towards people, like he will bark but only if they pass by close, if they are about 10 meters away he will just stare and not bark but as soon as they approach he will bark and bark louder

Spot on!!!!

Same here with mine, so aggravating!

so great thanks!

I wish you were closer to us (say, in Florida!). My poor baby does this. He is always fighting our "fights" for us. he is a 7 year old GSD. I am looking to properly "socialize" him now. Subscribed to your channel. Hoping to learn how to give my Zeus a better life than he has now.

Amazing!

Bringing a toy or ball is great idea. With treats my dog nips my fingers and the focus goes back to the other dog.

Thank you. I read in the Sprenger web site that they recommend the 2.25 mm prong collar for dogs up to 20 kg. They have the 3.2 mm one for dogs up to 40 kg. Is there a special reason why you prefer the 2.25 mm for the 63 lb dog in the video.

8:54 That was a hard cut lol

Good job looks like. My gsd just got a prong today she just wants to play thanks hope it helps my wife with her on the lead lovely dogs

you sir are A boss!

Just found your channel and I'm loving your videos. Do you specialize in German Shepherds? It seems that most of your videos are about them.

Thank you for this video. My 7 month old GSD acts like his age sometimes and I really needed some tips. Any tips for fence re-activity? My guy reacts when the neighbors are in their fence…

My German Shephard literally started barking at the dog in this video... No issues over here!

Great video! I have two smaller dogs with pretty big anxiety (younger one did not start this way). When we walk on Leash, the younger one pulls so hard and barks like a maniac that I’m afraid she’s going to really damage her trachea. Yes see other people/ dogs walk by and when people come to our house. One climbed the icy garage roof and jumped outside of gate the other day! I know it’s our fault but just don’t know what to do. Looked into board and train a few years ago but was outside of our budget.

Dam good work and very impressive.

These videos are great! Any tips for rewarding a dog that is not food motivated when we go on walks?

So, lack of leadership / relationship on the owners part, yes? Plus, as you said, wrong collar and the dog had never had any sort of correction in the past. Another great video, Thomas. Thank you~

My quick question, which prong collar do you recommend for a 5 month old male German Shepherd. My male puppy german shepherd is great with my two beagles and my 5 children and humans, but will display the same behavior with dogs like the dog in this video. I believe not aggressively, because he gets along with my neighbors dog. With dogs at the vets office, he gets very anxious and very nervous and starts to bark. This behavior is quite new and trying to socialize him and walking him has been hard. I have learned so much from all of your awesome and informative videos on German Shepherds. I Have also sought out locally in my neck of the woods in South Florida for training, but found it quickly it's quite expensive. =( Looking at your videos, it's been quite helpful. Do you recommend that a person with no experience not using a "prong collar" (like myself) buy it without a dog trainer training the owner? Thank you in advance for your time and response. Thank you for being so kind and generous with all your videos. They have been a confidence builder to me as a 1st time owner of a German Shepherd.

This is exactly how my German Shepard Knox is.

I wondered what josh klinghoffer was up to after the peppers.

I think this is fantastic, Tom. I'm using a micro-prong with my vizsla mix who's leash reactive and she's been doing wonderful. However, she's more likely to react when not in heel (work mode) and I'm not in continuous communication with her. How should I handle that?

We have a dog (10 yrs old) that does what this Shepard does, but only with dogs (or any animal) larger than him. We've known him since he was abt 18 months, owned by husband's uncle who didn't do more than hollar as disipline. He's smart, listens well to my husband. Looking for a tool to help ease his anxiety. He's part husky, part catahoula leopard dog, very dense coat.

My 4 year old german shephard is very similar to this female GSD. She pulls constantly. She will sometimes bark at other dogs or people.

such a good clever girl

My 6 month old German shepherd is very nervous around people and barking. Out of control when I try to take him walking in public. So your videos are very very useful!

This gsd reminds me of my aussie (16 months) very, very reactive

Max's prong collar is coming tomorrow. The e-collar works, but I am trying to prong collar as an alternative way to get him in line. Max is 10x more aggressive towards other dogs than this GHS is - he has a "shark-like" intensity. Unless the e-collar is set to kill (rather than stun as on Star Trek) he is off to the races. I've had him for 1.5 years and he has improved, but I know he has more goodness in him, and so I am really hoping this helps.

Great videos and advice, please keep your stories short. It's like you go into a long story about short and simple points. Thanks for what you do.

My 5 month old German Shepherd is great at home great with kids and great with other dogs but barks I think anxiously at other adults besides the ones he was around as a pup will this work for that too?

would you use a 2.25 with a 70 pound Dutch/GSD or the 3.25 herm?

We just recently rescued a almost 4 month old husky german shepherd mix and i have been watching alot of your videos to get an idea on how to train and handle her i noticed alot of your training videos are how to train your dogs behavior on leashs. do you have any pointers about some behaviors off leash in the home our pup sadie is constantly jumping on every one and everything all the time and mouthing everyone all the time i know this is typical puppy stuff but i want to get it under control sooner rather than later and all the other puppy training videos i have watched and advice from others have so far not worked