Strange Behaviour

[Dame Aussie]

Just a quick question…

Took Lili for a walk this morning and as we got into the street our next door neighbour came out to put her bins out.

Lili stopped dead and started to bark! She was wagging her tail, seemed like she wanted to play, and was and being her usual wiggle bum self, but was barking and wouldn’t go near the neighbour!

She refused to move past until she had gone back inside. Then we saw a man weeding his nature strip and she let out a couple of woofs but nothing major.

This is just really strange as whenever she’s encountered people she has either been a bit nervous or friendly as all get out, she’ll jump up for pats and lick people to death. She has begun to get more vocal over the last few weeks so maybe it’s just the age (she’ll be 5 months next week) but I’m just concerned and hope it’s not going to turn into any sort of aggression. :p

Any ideas?

[Erny]

Sounds as though she is growing older and her 'uncertainties' are being exhibited in more overt signals. Don't know her age, so it's possible that she is entering or is in a 'fear phase' period. One way or the other, you need to exhibit your leadership. Leadership comprises the responsibility of protection. This is not to say that you should molly to her fears when she shows them, as that will only reinforce that behaviour. It's about what you do that counts.

You now know she has an issue with (eg) wheeley bins. So you need to habituate/desensitise her to these. It also seems she has an issue with people doing perhaps unusual things like gardening. With the onset of our current spring weather, perhaps she's not seen people working in the garden before?

All of this is where a very broad but careful approach to socialisation in the critical period (8-16 weeks) pays off big time. Gradually increasing exposures to more and more intensive levels gives dogs permanent memories they can draw on when they later come across new or novel situations. There is a 'carry over' effect of that early socialisation as well and whilst we need to be careful when our dogs are going through 2nd fear impact periods, these earlier positive socialisation experiences can help them deal with things that later might at first concern them.

Be calm but be assertive when she shows the signs you are describing. Work to prevent fear behaviour (and it sounds as though that is what she is exhibiting, although I couldn't attest to that without seeing her) and treat the situation as if it wasn't occurring. Don't make a fuss of the 'thing' she is worried about - IOW, don't focus on her point of concern. Act as though it wasn't there. She'll be watching you and if she sees you also focussing on the object of worry, it will reinforce in her mind that there WAS something to worry about and will serve to increase her anxiety about it for the next time and the next and the next ......

I would recommend you look up some dog schools who lend services that comprise of socialisation/habituation (and have the wherewithall to be able to explain to you how to do it properly) or if not that, then some guidance from a private trainer/behaviourist. It doesn't sound a serious matter at this stage, but you have just recognised these fairly early signs and now is the time to rectify and understand them so it is less likely to escalate to a greater and more serious exhibition of fear later on. Confident and self-controlled behaviour is what you need to be aiming to achieve.

[Dame Aussie]

Sounds as though she is growing older and her 'uncertainties' are being exhibited in more overt signals. Don't know her age, so it's possible that she is entering or is in a 'fear phase' period. One way or the other, you need to exhibit your leadership. Leadership comprises the responsibility of protection. This is not to say that you should molly to her fears when she shows them, as that will only reinforce that behaviour. It's about what you do that counts.

You now know she has an issue with (eg) wheeley bins. So you need to habituate/desensitise her to these. It also seems she has an issue with people doing perhaps unusual things like gardening. With the onset of our current spring weather, perhaps she's not seen people working in the garden before?

All of this is where a very broad but careful approach to socialisation in the critical period (8-16 weeks) pays off big time. Gradually increasing exposures to more and more intensive levels gives dogs permanent memories they can draw on when they later come across new or novel situations. There is a 'carry over' effect of that early socialisation as well and whilst we need to be careful when our dogs are going through 2nd fear impact periods, these earlier positive socialisation experiences can help them deal with things that later might at first concern them.

Be calm but be assertive when she shows the signs you are describing. Work to prevent fear behaviour (and it sounds as though that is what she is exhibiting, although I couldn't attest to that without seeing her) and treat the situation as if it wasn't occurring. Don't make a fuss of the 'thing' she is worried about - IOW, don't focus on her point of concern. Act as though it wasn't there. She'll be watching you and if she sees you also focussing on the object of worry, it will reinforce in her mind that there WAS something to worry about and will serve to increase her anxiety about it for the next time and the next and the next ......

I would recommend you look up some dog schools who lend services that comprise of socialisation/habituation (and have the wherewithall to be able to explain to you how to do it properly) or if not that, then some guidance from a private trainer/behaviourist. It doesn't sound a serious matter at this stage, but you have just recognised these fairly early signs and now is the time to rectify and understand them so it is less likely to escalate to a greater and more serious exhibition of fear later on. Confident and self-controlled behaviour is what you need to be aiming to achieve.

Thanks for the advice Erny, she is almost 5 months and we are starting obedience with her this week. She was at puppy preschool for a while before that too and is great with other dogs. I'll try what you've suggested and see how we go!

Thanks again