siadwell Posted February 25, 2007 Report Share Posted February 25, 2007 (edited) We have a 3 month old puppy, Barry, who is a Whippet/Bull Mastiff/Doberman x. The problem is he is very nervous and aggresive when people come into the house and when we are out on walks. He runs around and plays happily with the other 2 grown up dogs and is very affectionate and playful with his immediate family. However, he barks and growls at regular visitors and we are very concerned that this behaviour may escalate. Sociallising him with new surrondings, people and dogs doesn't seem to be reducing his anxiety. We have never had a puppy who has behaved like this (in the last 25 years) and would be very grateful if you have any insight/advice that would help us... Edited to say he responds very well to training, i.e. sit, down, paw, and is totally housetrained, sleeps through the night, brilliant apart from the above... Edited February 25, 2007 by siadwell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanda72 Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Does he go to puppy classes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K9Fran Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Do your visitors want to make a fuss of him? Maybe they're pushing him a little faster than he's ready to go (and it's quite normal, doesn't mean he'll grow up agressive IF you take the right steps now) A good puppy class will help - I'm currently taking booking for April, so don't leave it as the good ones get booked up quickly - and go and see a class before signing up, they do vary considerably. You don't want one that lets the puppies play willy nilly - look for carefully chosen combinations so that bully puppys don't learn to bully more, and shy puppies don't learn to get agressive to get their space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 Tilly is very nervous when she meets new people either at home or outside, I get them to ignore her completely until she has settled then she approaches them in her time. She has made a lot of progress with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie No Dots Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 As people come in, ignore pup and walk around dropping treats behind them. Pup will soon learn strangers = nice things. Same on walks. Get some stooge umans to approach ignoring him and dropping treats as they walk past progressing to stopping and talking to you and then to the point where he can be stroked. At 3 mths hes going thro a typical "big scary world"phase. Would def get him into puppy classes too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 See www.puppyschool.co.uk and www.apdt.co.uk for pup trainers near you - go to a class first to watch if you want, and don't leave it too long as every week really counts at this stage. Lotsa luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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