I have just been to see Max, a two-year-old American Cocker Spaniel who doesn’t like the child cuddling him.
I was expecting a whirlwind like my own ten month Cocker Spaniel, Pickle, but instead found a quiet and subdued dog.
They have had him for a couple of months now. When they visited him initially in his old home, he was very excitable but calmed right down as soon as they brought him home.
This change in personality may be because he lived with another excitable dog or simply because his new home is a lot calmer.
Dramatic change in behaviour
When a dog’s behaviour changes so dramatically the first port of call is the vet to make sure he’s not in ill or in pain.
As Max has a persistent ear infection that is being treated, this may be something to do with it. He’s not carefree like you would expect, so maybe he is missing the other dog who may have beeen the more dominant and confident of the two.
The granddaughter
Max is fearful of other dogs on walks and this is now going to be addressed over the next few weeks or however long it takes. More worryingly, he has snapped at the little granddaughter who I will call Cara.
Cara was so thrilled when they got him, to her he is a big cuddly toy. She simply would not leave him alone. She had to cuddle him all the time. She would touch him and lie on him.
Poor Max gave her all the warning signals he could – from freezing, grumbling to a brief lip curl, but she either didn’t notice or ignored them. Her mother and grandparents had to watch and nag constantly, but in an unguarded moment last week he snapped.
Cuddling
Cuddling doesn’t come naturally to dogs. The nearest they do themselves is humping. The front paws grab the other dog and this is often to try to calm the other dog down – even dominating it. Poor Max would be reading something other than love into Cara’s actions.
Unfortunately, if his warning signals are ignored – he can’t talk after all – he will learn that there is no point giving them at all and he may snap straight away another time.
This is a bit different from my usual cases because it involves child-training!
Child training
Having explained that Max just didn’t like it and that he was scared (hoping she might listen to ‘The Dog Lady’ more than her family!), I then praised her every time she looked at Max and didn’t go to him. It is simpler initially to teach her not to touch him at all.
What a good little girl! Max was soon happily coming over to her because he wanted to. With lots of reminders and praise Cara was learning!
When ‘no touching’ becomes second nature to her, she can then be taught where and how to touch him – and only when he comes over to her through choice. As an extra precaution they will be getting a crate to put Max’ bed in. The door will be open so he can come in and out freely and only shut if the adults are unable to watch.
Cara will be taught that the open crate is strictly a Cara Free Zone!
As I left I asked Cara, ‘What does The Dog Lady say?’
Cara replied, ‘Don’t Touch Max’!
