Ok, I'll start at the beginning.
Last september my sister rehomed Rosie, an ex-breeding westie. Since the beginning, Rosie has been afraid of my 18 year old nephew Jamie, but is fine with my sister, my neice, my mum and well any other women.
If Jamie enters a room, Rosie leaves (she does venture back in after a while). If he gets up from sitting, she shakes, spins and hides. If he goes upstairs, she barks like mad and spins.
Jamie is away at university during the week and is home every week-end. Rosie settles down again by tuesday, then starts getting anxious thursday evening. She knows he's coming back friday!
Jamie was home for a month over Christmas and Rosie got worse. He tried to walk her, but she just froze and wouldn't walk. She won't take food from him and if he puts her food down, she'll wait for him to leave the room before eating it.
Jamie is a big lad, he's over 6' a bit gangly and clumsy (not to the point of treading on the dog though). He also moves quickly, jumps up, flops down, is loud etc. typical teenager really. He's tried to be calmer around Rosie, tried ignoring her etc, but nothing is helping. Jamie is starting to dread coming home as he hates the way it's affecting Rosie. He feels like he's being cruel by just being there! Jamie has also started to avoid playing with Boo and Gyp, both of whom he adores as he's afraid that they may change towards him.
It really does seem to be men in general that Rosie is afraid of. She won't come near me either, but isn't quite so terrrified.
Any idea on how to deal with this situation will be more than welcome.
My sister has emailed the rescue behaviourist and is currnetly awaiting a response.