Why does a dog suddenly become alarmed by ordinary sounds and people that seem harmless to us? Freddie, an adorable Cockerpoo, barks too much. This does him no good at all and it makes life hard for his humans. Ironically, he didn’t bark once during the three hours or so Read more
What can you do when your dog seems constantly over-aroused, alarmed and unable to switch off? The Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund charged about barking, agitated whilst at the same time ecstatic to see me. He flew all over me. It was relentless. At my request we were all doing our best to Read more
The growling, lunging and snapping had started quite suddenly three months ago when he bit the lady’s arm. He had walked away from his still full food bowl, she had walked towards him and he flew at her, biting her arm and drawing blood. It was a huge shock as he had never shown any aggression previously.
Why had gentle Labrador Milly suddenly started chewing holes in the walls? Five-year-old Golden Labrador Milly has to be just about as near the perfect dog any family could wish for, apart from the eating plaster. She is sweet and gentle with their four-year-old boy who, thanks to his parents, Read more
He has calmed down a lot since the lady adopted him two years ago. He used to regularly hump a huge stuffed tiger (dismembered yesterday by one of the dogs and not for the first time). Mostly unchecked, humping has become a well-rehearsed behaviour that has helped him to cope in some way.
With a dog like this it’s less about dealing with the behaviours themselves beyond putting in management like blocking views out of windows, installing an outside mailbox and using a baby gate. It’s more about changing the dog’s inner emotions that drive the behaviours.
It’s hard to see where the tension, eyeballing and snarling between the two dogs has come from. It seemed to be out of the blue – but was it? Both dogs had been happily living and playing together since they took on Poppy, now three years old, as a puppy. Tilly is ten years old.
Why were the two female dogs suddenly erupting into fights after periods of excitement? The over-arousal and stress in one dog is causing the other dog to react. This is a little different from the last case I went to involving fighting females where I believe the human’s punishing reaction Read more
Both young Cockerpoos were so worked up I felt one or both weren’t far short of biting me but instead, black Harry redirected his anger, fear or frustration onto young golden Eddie and a minor fight ensued.
Why is a friendly dog out on walks suddenly barking and snapping when visitors come into the house? He barks at people coming into his home. He loves people when he’s out. Border Collie Bud is friendly and relaxed with everyone when out of the house. He likes to say hello. At home Read more