Why does a small dog bark, growl or snap when people reach out to touch her?
Rusti is a tiny 13-month-old Miniature Dachshund. She is wary of people. Too often an approaching person means a large hand over her head.
She looks so cute people feel compelled to touch her.
It is very likely that the many hours the little dogs spend out in the garden alone while their humans are at work is fuelling this anxiety. Lilly in particular barks at things she hears – neighbours talking, birds and especially a cat that walks along the fence. After their evening walk Levi seems exhausted, understandable if he’s spent all day ‘on watch’.
We could hardly speak and I had hoped we would be able to sit it out, but after about ten minutes they were still standing close in front of me as I sat on the pouffe – barking, barking, barking at me.
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