When she walks into the room and the man is there, he flies at her growling, jumps at her and sometimes bites her. He never does this with the men in the family. For them he has only, to quote the lady, ‘kisses and cuddles’.
My latest case, six-month-old Mollie, is a little different from most in that the two main things that seem to activate the guarding in most dogs don’t apply.
When Billy growls as the girl comes downstairs or walks past him in the evening, is he being difficult — or guarding his personal space because he feels he has to? Billy guards his personal space – mostly from the young girl. It’s hurtful when he growls at her. She Read more
When a dog begins growling around his bed, can forceful “show who’s boss” methods make the relationship worse rather than better? Trevor’s story is all about relationship, the relationship between the three-year-old Cocker Spaniel Beagle mix and the man. All was fine until Trevor began to growl when the man Read more
Worrying things include the twins walking around with food in their hands, Obi pinching a toy or a shoe and then take it away to guard in his crate. He’s a dog that doesn’t like being approached when he’s lying down or asleep.
What happens when a young working-bred dog has lots of energy but no real job to do? Young working dog without a job. I have just met Sam who is seven months of age. Sam is so very like my own Working Cocker Spaniel, Pickle. I have had over five years Read more
The huge dog spent most of the time panting and pacing. He stood for a few moments by the young man who fussed him. Every now and then he would rush in the direction of a sound of some sort, roaring the kind of bark that would deter any intruder.
Why would a friendly Cocker Spaniel growl or bite when someone approached something he was guarding? There really is something so endearing about a Cocker Spaniel! Cockers haven’t been put on this earth to be ignored. My own Cocker, Pickle, is totally different to Toby in that he’s not a Read more
Is his behaviour unpredictable — or the result of too many changes piling up? Unpredictable only because they can’t see inside Banjo’s head. If they could, and if stress was visible, they might see a little pressure cooker in there; they would see how over the past five months or Read more
The guarding is much the same thing. To retrieve the item, her space is invaded. It scares her. It’s weird how dogs set themselves up to be scared like this, knowing what the consequence will be.