How strange have no pearls of wisdom Rach but will watch as Baxter has been know to do this but only to strangers and when he's on his own with me :?

 

Hi Rachel,

Remind me how old Danny is now?

Just because without wanting to worry you this is how we started to have some problems with Joey.

When he got to about 18months he started getting a bit territorial with dogs when he is on lead near our house, and with some men that he seems wary of.

Our behaviourist advised us to get the men to ignore him unless he is comfortable around them, which really works for us. Apparently men are a lot more confrontational in their body language than women and can scare dogs more.

If I can sense he looks worried by a man I just ignore the man and Joey, and if the man wants to approach I ask him to not make eye contact at first and ignore him until Joey is relaxed. We are also supposed to be getting men into the house so he gets more used to them - ha ha ha!

 

I have no pearls of wisdom either Rach....Just to say I know what you mean, Mojo has a fear of certain people and sometimes it is with no rhymn or reason. There is one lad, as friend of my eldest boy, who she is absolutely terrified of...she won't even take a treat from him 8O , yet he has only ever been here when I have been in and he hasn't done anything to her.....She is so scared of him if she hears his voice outside she hides under the table, shakes and growls under her breath. :roll: I just ignore her but it is pitiful to see .

Mojo doesn't like some Non Doggy people...I think they smell all wrong and their body language is all wrong too. She used to bark but now she has a tendancy to run away unless she has no option, then she does her best big fierce woowoowooowooowoo and sticks her hackles up for good measure...I try my damndest not to put her in those situations though and I always have one eye on her watching her reactions, so I can step in.

I have tried just about everything barring "control" collars and I am loathed to go down that route with an already fearful dog.

 

It sounds to me as if Danny is just jealous, that Jake is being fussed before him. But i could be wrong.

Since looking after other peoples dogs, Lucy barks when i fuss the other dog and when i say 'come here silly' she will just stay the distance and bark not continuously but a few woofs and tail wagging. I then go towards her and she goes all silly tail wagging and rollies for a fuss. She will do the same process to most other people, who fuss the other dog before her or don't fuss her for very long before moving to the other dog.

Lucy isn't a demanding dog either far from it, i'm not worried too much about the barking although if i feel shes had enough stroking and just attention seeking then i say quiet and ignore. But most of the time i just say come her silly girl and cuddle both doggies although it does take some persuading for her to come to me.

Reading back it could be protecton of Jake but probably a bit more to do with Danny wants his stroke first. Do most people go to Jake because hes the baby?

 

Remind me how old Danny is now?

He's 21 months old Nic (lovely to see you btw )

 

I would say a lot of it is age related. I would bet (and hope!) that he will grow out of it. What I have learned with Doobs is tell the male to ignore him - especially no eye contact - and Doobs ALWAYS comes around as he hates being ignored! If that isnt possible, then give a command. This gives him something to think about. Its like when a dog jumps up - tell it to sit as it cant do both at the same time!

As I mentioned about it being age related, Doobs came to us at 14 months and it had just begun then, peaking at around 2. He is soooo much better now though but I know that if I had handled it properly then I may have had a dog who is 100% by now. Which he isnt.