My Female Caucasian Shepherd Puppy Is Becoming Too Aggressive Toward Strangers

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice or shared experiences. My female Caucasian Shepherd puppy is about 7 months old now, and over the last few weeks, she’s started showing some serious aggression toward strangers—growling, barking, even lunging when people get close. It’s mostly when we’re at home or on walks near our property. I understand this breed is naturally protective, but I’m worried this is escalating into something more serious.

We’ve been working on basic obedience since she was young, and she’s great with family and people she knows. But when it comes to new faces, especially men, it’s like a switch flips. I’m not sure if it’s fear-based, territorial, or just a phase.

If anyone has gone through this with their Caucasian Shepherd, I’d really appreciate any insight—what worked, what didn’t, and whether this gets better with age and training. Also found this while digging around for options:
https://www.brownbook.net/business/53993051/vets-and-care/

Really hoping to get this under control before it becomes unmanageable. She’s a great dog otherwise, and I’d hate to see her behavior limit her or cause problems down the line.

Thanks in advance!