Our Dog.
This is our dog Cruz, we got him from a stables we helped out at a few years ago. At the time he'd never been outside of the stables. He lived in an old caravan with two of his brothers. Basically he was left wild and had no training for the first 8 months of his life.
When we took him to our home the first problem we had was with stairs, he could run up them but didn't have a clue how to get back down agaian.
He'd also never had a bone before, but he picked up how to eat them real quick. When it came to other simple things though he struggled. He didn't know what traffic was, busses and lorries terrified him and to a degree still do.
He is a big dozy sod who is scared of many things, it's took 2 years to get him comfatable around people and even now he is nervious around adults, especially men. That is strange as he was got for my wife but chose me as his owner.
We also got a cat, even after a couple of years he still chases her if she moves to go outside by herself. The dog is just a big stupid softy, scared of everything but as loyal as hell.
So this is my shadow, if I move he follows. He is a real coward unless in the home when he is so protective.
So Handsome
German Shepherds are some loyal, protective dogs. I don't have one, but both of my sisters do.
what a beautiful dog! I am so glad he has found such a wonderful, caring family
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Gorgeous boy! Good on you for teaching him how to be a dog. Some of them never get the hang of it. He's young, he'll mellow.
Just a btw, I've had clients (I'm a pet sitter) who've had some success with Dog Appeasing Pheromones related to fear issues. One little gal was terrified of thunder / lightening storms. We used a bandanna sprayed with the the DAP. She still doesn't like them, but she doesn't go into panic mode anymore. It doesn't work for all dogs, but enough that's it's worth a try.
We've worked with him, taking him into situations where he faces what he's scared of and he is getting better. Taking him on the school run has meant he is is much better around traffic and people. still have to work with him around other large dogs but he is learning.
That's the best way to make his life (and yours) more comfortable. Desensitization is a lot of work. I commend your dedication and patience. They do pay off.
He's gorgeous.
Beautiful Shepard. We have one named Boaz. Hes' a big ox that's afraid of his own shadow, and runs at the sight of water. He's definitely my wife Andrea's dog and would protect her till death, but aside from that he's a big baby 130lbs.
People think because they're big the're fearsome but really they're just big babies
It depends on the owners....your dog sounds like a beautiful character :) Love how he interacts with the cat.
Amen!