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A curious distance guarding case. Whether it’s a person or a carrot, his response is similar.

Barley is a 15-month-old Cocker Spaniel. He’s a friendly, loving dog much of the time. There are two behaviours, maybe three, that are probably variations of the same thing. Distance guarding of an item This is the first: The lady described how he has left an item within his sight but not too close to him. Something he has either already chewed or held. The most recent was a carrot. Often they aren’t aware of Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

Without human company she barks constantly. The three other dogs are no comfort.

Four the past four weeks, 6-year-old Black Labrador Jemima has lived in her new home. She lives with three other rehomed Labradors. All four are female and they all get on famously. An elderly lady adopted her a few years ago. She had been brought over from Ireland in a severely neglected state. They bonded. She very likely will have been with the lady twenty-four-seven. Sadly, the lady could no longer care for her. With Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

Go Away! He barks at children and he barks at their new horse.

Show Cocker Ralph is generally very friendly – but not with children. He was fine as a young puppy but very likely a child had in some way scared him during a sensitive fear period. The family doesn’t have any children so he has been unable to build any positive associations. Any socialisation came to a stop due to Covid. He’s now three years old. Go Away. Go Away. Come No Closer. If Ralph sees Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

On lead he barks and screams at approaching dogs

Super friendly little Miniature Schnauzer Alfie just loves people. Not other dogs. Sometimes he ignores dogs. Other times goes nuts at a distant dog the other side of the park. He shrieks and screams. Much of Alfie’s day is spent at the window barking at passing dogs. He barks Go Away. They go. Success. This not only increases his general stress levels. It also rehearses the very behaviour the lady doesn’t want when they are Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

Frantically excited when guests come into their home

It’s all about the build-up. Cocker Spaniel Mackie is three years old. He is lively, excitable and friendly. The couple have their two adult daughters living nearby. One has a toddler and the other a baby. Their problem is that Mackie becomes frantically excited when family calls. Excitement builds up as through the window he watches them walk up the path to the door. Then they ring the bell. The people enter the house They Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

Left alone all by himself he panics, but any company will do – human or dog.

This is quite a straightforward separation case. Two-year-old Fox Terrier Rufus panics when he’s left all by himself. He came from the breeder to live with the young lady at about eight months of age. Until then he always had the company of other dogs. He’s never been all by himself. She had left him from time to time for up to two hours, and then set up a camera. All the time she was Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

Strangely, Oscar is reluctant to walk beyond their small close

They suspect the problem began shortly after Oscar was able to go out for walks. He met a large dog that scared him beyond the close where they live. This may have coincided with his fear period for it to have had such a lasting effect. He’s now fine with most dogs. In general and at home, Oscar is incredibly easy for one-year-old Cocker Spaniel. There seems little in his life at home that could Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

They will build reliable routine into her life so that she can feel secure

The RSPCA rescued Bella with her sister at nine months of age. After a brief stay in rescue kennels they were adopted together. Then a short while later she was re-homed with the young lady and gentleman I’m working with. This is her fourth ‘home’ in her short of life. Bella needs reliable routine in her life that she can trust.  Eleven-month-old Bella is a beautiful, gentle Cocker Spaniel. In the first few days with Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

Barks at Inanimate Objects. Stress is the Trigger

Jester suddenly barks at inanimate objects. Why? Something tips him over. He looks about and he looks up. He spots a burglar alarm box high on the wall of a house or a security camera, a clock, a satellite dish, a street light or even the moon. Jester barks uncontrollably. He is a twelve-month-old Labrador Border Collie mix. He’s friendly, gentle and cooperative. His young owners have been very keen to do the best for Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago

Five-month-old puppy alarm barks

They worry because their five-month-old Show Cocker Oscar’s barking is getting too much now. Some dogs are simply more vocal than others The main problem is two dogs next door that run up and down the fence, barking aggressively at the puppy. This isn’t good. It scares Oscar and he barks back at them. He rushes the fence. It teaches him bad reactions towards other dogs. The other times that he barks are easy to Read more…

By Theo Stewart, ago