Kara is a generally jumpy dog, ready to react to any sudden noise or appearance. While we can work on children specifically and traffic, this will be a lot more successful if we can improve her general nervous state.
Their current approach to her freezing on walks clearly isn’t working which, in itself, is a reason for doing things differently. Giving her choice.
Why would the small dog remain constantly jumpy even when nothing obvious is happening?
Little Bouncer is jumpy. He’s constantly on edge.
I would guess this is in this little Havenese’s genes, though not a general breed trait. It’s certainly not the fault of the family, a couple and their daughter aged ten.
Why would a dog that is friendly off lead become frantic and fearful on walks?
Belle was found with her siblings, at just a few weeks old, by the roadside. From the beginning,, in her loving home, the Whippet mix was a scared and nervous puppy – in total contrast to their two Labradors.
When someone comes into the house the scared dog will leap onto the lady’s lap for reassurance.
Belle is now three years old and the behaviours her fear generates are hard for her family to deal with. She is extremely jumpy and scared of many everyday household things.
It’s easy to get cross with too much barking when one seems powerless to stop it.
The main message for helping Belle is for them to consider the emotions that cause her behaviours and deal with them instead of trying to stop the actions themselves. It can help to translate it into human terms. For instance, they wouldn’t scold a child who was crying due to fear. They would address the fear itself. (more…)
Bud apparently only became so jumpy at about nine months old. It coincided with a break-in when he was alone in the house.
Jack Russell Bella constantly nibbles, sucks and chews herself – or scratches.
She has many seasonal allergies and allergies to food, but the nibbling and sucking was something else. The intensity and manner in which she chews herself looked to me like she was deliberately shutting out the world.
Mikey is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier mixed with something else – he looks very much like Pit Bull. Mikey is nervous and jumpy.