(Online consultation) When a sociable dog suddenly begins barking and pulling at other dogs, could pain, stress or rehearsal of the behaviour be behind the change? Here is Mia’s story. Mia is a Golden Labrador, age 5. Over the past few weeks her behaviour towards some other dogs has changed Read more
(An online consultation – Ripley and the cat) When a fearful young rescue reacts to everything outside, could a problem inside the house be making progress even harder? Ripley is now five months old. Her mother was a Romanian street dog that was rescued just before her puppies were born. Read more
Reggie’s pulling is due to excitement at the prospect of getting to the park and chasing his ball.
Ronnie’s pulling is due to anxiety. Feeling unsafe. He feels he needs to warn off any approaching dog that’s not already a friend of his.
Why is it so important that a reactive dog doesn’t keep practising the unwanted behaviour?
They have had two-year-old Springer Spaniel Ben for one week now. He is a beauty; polite and friendly.
I sensed that some of his quietness is due to being a bit careful and still finding his feet. Ben may well be a bit different when he has properly settled in.
He could become more confident which may well work in their favour where his explosion into barking and lunging when getting too close to another dog is concerned. (more…)
It would be hard to tell that Bear was very nearly totally blind if you didn’t know. He was born blind so doesn’t know what he’s missing. However, it’s understandable that he must feel more vulnerable if another dog is suddenly upon him with little warning.
The smallest thing sets anxious Cas off.
If he settles for a moment, just the intake of breath from someone is enough to cause him to leap to his feet again. Then he rushes about, mouth wide open, panting.
It can be hard to reconcile the dog one sees in the house to that dog that goes bonkers on the end of a lead at the sight of another dog. Indie ‘changes personality’.
Why would a previously friendly small dog suddenly become defensive and reactive after a couple of bad encounters with other dogs? Poor little Teddy is now on the defensive. He is very small, weighing only about 5kg. The three-year-old is a cross between a Shih Tzu and, surprisingly, a Border Read more
Why would a dog be friendly off lead but reactive and uncomfortable when walked on a head halter? Beautiful Golden Retriever, Monty, really is the perfect family pet despite having a sad start to life. He’s now five. My visit was triggered by his attacking another dog on a walk Read more
he most recent involved him jumping at someone and he may have caught her hand. This is serious, not least because of the dog law. Someone now need only to feel threatened by our dog, with no damage done, for us to be in trouble.