Ethel can be two different dogs.
She is friendly and confident around people when out of the house whether she knows them or not. She enjoys visits to a cafe and days at daycare.
At home the young Cockerpoo is a different dog. (more…)
I love happy endings so I have brought this story of three years ago to the front. Robbie’s hackles rise and he barks at people. People often don’t see things from their dog’s point of view until it’s pointed out. There seems no alternative but to keep walking towards the thing the dog Read more…
Woody has changed.
If I had gone to see him about three months ago, the Cockerpoo, then about 8 months old, would have been very friendly and happy to see me. In fact, I would not have been needed at all.
Instead, when the man opened the door to let me in, Woody continued barking at me. He was obviously very scared – and brave.
Beside him was their adorable new 8-week-old puppy Fred who wasn’t fazed at all.
Puppy Fred is how Woody used to be. They come from the same breeder with the same father. Woody was a carefree, happy puppy. He loved everyone.
It’s not surprising that two-year-old Moose suffers from lack of confidence around people. Considering his background as a puppy born on the streets of Romania, he’s doing great. They didn’t have him until he was sixteen weeks old.
No socialisation will have taken place during the crucial early weeks and what encounters he did have with people were very likely scary ones and now hard-wired into his brain.
What a big change in living style the mix-breed terrier has had.
It seems Poppy came from a fairly manic household with comings and goings, unpredictable young people and lots of noise. Judging by how she may now wince or recoil from hands, it’s very likely she wasn’t handled very kindly.
It’s possible a man treated her harshly, though it is common for nervous dogs to be more afraid of men than of women.
They asked one of the older children if they were sorry to see her go. The child said, ‘Not really’. (more…)
Stunning seven month old Chow Chow Chai is fearful of people. Sometimes the best laid plans simply go wrong. Very carefully socialised. I can’t fault her young owners. From the start they have done everything by the book. Then, sometime between four and eight weeks ago she became fearful of Read more…
Bentley barks. The little dog’s main fears and consequent barking is either directly, or indirectly, associated with his fear of people. Bentley is an adorable and much-loved Coton de Tulear. In researching the breed, the first site I looked at said that they hate being on their own and that Read more…
Two years ago when the couple were living in India they adopted a street dog – or she adopted them. After a few days, one at a time, she carried five puppies to them. Later they returned to England, bringing Ella with them. Her puppies stayed behind. The two shyest Read more…
As I walk in the door, the puppy barks as he backs away. He barks Go Away to me. It is suggested that taking a puppy from his mother and siblings a bit too early may, in special circumstances, be actually be better than leaving him a bit later than Read more…
Crumpet is a Cockerpoo. Crumpet (I just love her name) is three years old. She scares easily – apart from the very times when most other dogs would be frightened. On trains, on the underground and on the busy streets of London she is absolutely fine! At home where it’s quieter Read more…