advice please - barking/lunging at people & other dogs

[sketcher]

Hey all

Well, i just got back from an afternoon walk to the park with Jazz and she just did something completely out of character and scared me to the point of shaking.....

She's always been a gobby dog, occasionally barks when she see's other dogs fluffs herself up and kinda lunges but after a couple of barks she stops and calms down...

But today I hadnt even got off our estate when a little girl who had been cuddling her a couple of days ago came out of her house and bent down to stroke her... Jazz was maybe a metre and a half away when she suddenly fluffed herself up and did her lunging barking bounce at this poor little girl and scared the life out of her (and me!) she did it so quick i had a delayed reaction and pulled her back to a short lead and told her No and then sit. I then said say hello which she did, nice and calm.

I said sorry to the little girl who gave Jazz a bit of a cuddle and then we went on our way, got about 100metres down the road and one of my neighbours was in her garden and said hello as we were passing and Jazz did exactly the same thing again!! I was so embarrassed and apologised to my neighbour saying I dont know whats got into Jazz today she's all mouth.

I kept her on a short lead all the way to the park, where she had her exercise and ball chase time.. but didnt stay long as I felt a bit shook up by the way she had behaved. She's a very big girl and I imagine how frightening it must look to people to have her all fluffed up and lunging and barking at them.

She is also very hit and miss with other dogs, some she will bark / lunge at others she doesnt, I always praise her if we go past another dog without incident, she doesnt like other dogs approaching me in the park though, and will lunge /chase other dogs away if she gets the chance, although her recall is fab and she will turn back to me immediately when i recall her back to me.

She has been attacked twice in her life by smaller dogs and this seems to have been whats changed her attitude.

It might be worth mentioning that I have been unwell with anxiety and I wonder whether she is picking up on that and is trying to protect me??

Any advice/help gratefully received.

Debs x

[sams mum]

dur brain. so edited. mixing up with something else x

[chazzvetnurse27]

Oh no! My Ozzy used to do this sometimes too, not at people but at other dogs and it wasn't all the time either, just every now and again. He used to fluff up and bark at dogs approaching us and then the next day he would see the same dog and either igonore it or wag his tail!

I don't know if you feeling unwell makes her feel more protective? I think they do sense when your not feeling yourself. I too have been quite unwell the last 12 months as it has been turbulent at home with family issues, losing Ozzy etc. and I was signed off work and university for 6 weeks before christmas. The whole time I was at home Ozzy stuck to me like glue! I think if I had not had him I wouild have been a whole lot worse...

[sketcher]

Originally Posted by chazzvetnurse27

Oh no! My Ozzy used to do this sometimes too, not at people but at other dogs and it wasn't all the time either, just every now and again. He used to fluff up and bark at dogs approaching us and then the next day he would see the same dog and either igonore it or wag his tail!

I don't know if you feeling unwell makes her feel more protective? I think they do sense when your not feeling yourself. I too have been quite unwell the last 12 months as it has been turbulent at home with family issues, losing Ozzy etc. and I was signed off work and university for 6 weeks before christmas. The whole time I was at home Ozzy stuck to me like glue! I think if I had not had him I wouild have been a whole lot worse...

Hey x

She's always been a mams girl, if I go away on training for work she mopes around the house.. Come to think of it .. last night she was ridiculously clingy to me, kept on coming over and putting her paw on my knee and generally pestering me..

They definitely pick up on things.. x

[chazzvetnurse27]

Originally Posted by sketcher

Hey x

She's always been a mams girl, if I go away on training for work she mopes around the house.. Come to think of it .. last night she was ridiculously clingy to me, kept on coming over and putting her paw on my knee and generally pestering me..

They definitely pick up on things.. x

awwh she loves you! Max pesters me alot! I spend the most time with him though. Ozzy wasn't too bad, he was very good at being left alone but I think he knew somthing was up when I was off because I didnt leave the house unless it was to walk him or a to go to a doctors appointment. I think shes just protective of you xx

[sams mum]

poor you. horrible when we get a fright.... shakes you up..

dogs can pick up if we are feeling stressed or down or ill. dennis always slept on mollys (daughters) bed from a pup. never went in paddys room but on the occasions when paddy was ill, even before i realised it, he would be with him on his bed or near him wherever he went.. there senses are amazing..

im no expert but my view is this....

if you stressed or anxious she will pick up on it and as you said being protective of your sensitive mind.. mayby shes taking charge of your job deciding who interacts with you and who doesnt. shes saying im out with MY human and im the boss..shes forgeting her maners and that your the one who calls the shots.. try initiating contact with the person before she does.. even a stranger in a garden, relax lead so she doesnt think you anxious,(good girl,treat) speak to them say hi,lovely day, bla bla bla BEFORE you get to them or as soon as you can and as you do if she quiet treat her..as you chat treat... soon shell think people and good behaviour mean yummy things..

you said that WHEN she walks past another dog quietly you praise her.. is that BEFORE, AS or AFTER.. i do all 3,with treats. Preparation,Motivation and Congrats..

with mine (olive especially as she can be a gobby cow and joe tends to sometimes lunge and make pathetic noises) as soon they become aware of another dog or person even far away and are still quiet , i start the above. every time they prick ears as dog comes closer i do it again till dog been and passed.

[sketcher]

hey x

unfortunately the treat thing doesn't work with Jazz. She wont take any food off anyone outside the house, I think she is more ball motivated tbh x

In the house however, different story, I have my 10yr son getting her to do tricks for treats

Debs x

[sami]

I wonder if she wasnt trying to initiate play with the little girl?

[sketcher]

Originally Posted by sami

I wonder if she wasnt trying to initiate play with the little girl?

hey x

when she plays at home with my son she holds her tail up high waggling it and will bark with excitement, but she never fluffs her hackles up like that and it wasnt her excited bark, it was a real deep bark that she uses to scare off other dogs.

It looked frightening, I would have hated to be on the receiving end of that, the thing is that she knew it was wrong coz immeadiately after doing it she put her ears down and gave me the 'sorry mum' look x

Debs x

[sams mum]

mayby she just feeling extra sensitive because she knows you are stressed this week. somewhere on here is a great idea, just wont come from me