Showing Fear To New Visitors

[PennyLane]

Hi everyone,

My 9 month old Amstaff x has started showing fear to new visitors to my house. These visitors are well known to myself and my partner - one being my partners brother who just moved to town.

The person will come in through our front gate and she will go up to them like she is interested, then ears go back, tail between legs and she runs away keeping a good distance between her and the guest. She doesn't growl. She then comes close to the visitor to give them a sniff and if the visitor calls her or tries to pat her she backs away.

She watches my other dog getting pats and stuff but again only comes close for a sniff then backs away.

She has only started doing this in the last 2 or so weeks. before that she was quite happy to get pats and attention from anyone.

She has been well socialised since she was a pup, meeting new people and new surroundings every day.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this and how I can help her to overcome this, or if it just a phase?

Thanks

[Pockets]

It may be she is going through whats called a "Fear Period" you can google some information on this. Usually the best method is too ignore the behaviour and not force the dog to do anything

[PennyLane]

Thanks, I have heard of this.

I have been asking visitors to call her over to see if she will come but I only ask them to do it once.

I'm really hoping it is just a phase and she will outgrow it.. It certainly is not like her to show fear, especially when we are at the gate greeting the visitors with her.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I would ignore the behaviour and don't force her in to doing things if she's highly worried about them. But try to develop her confidence.

I've found with my older dog that if she is called over to someone it makes her more anxious (as there is too much effort being put in and they are trying too hard to get her attention). So if there is someone she is unsure of I give them lots of yummy treats and ask them to totally ignore her but to randomly throw treats (at first to the dog and then little bits closer so that the dog will make small moves closer for each treat). I have one friend who is adamant my dog must like them and she really doesn't want to be near him - he feeds her treats but when she's taken the treats he then pushes it too far and calls her over, which sends her straight back to not wanting to be near him. I guess it's almost a theory of less is more!!

I don't know if any of that made sense (I'm a bit tired today!).

[Aussienot]

Tell visitors to completely ignore the dog. No eye contact, no friendly approaches, pretend the dog is not there. If she wants to approach them they should still ignore her. Once she has accepted the visitor's presence, they can offer a treat held out to the side, still not making eye contact. Keeping having visitors come but remove the pressure of her having to interact with them until she is ready.

[dancinbcs]

I would also get her checked all over by a good doggy chiropracter to make sure she doesn't have any sore spots. Dogs can be tolerant of their owners touching them if they are injured but become fearful if others touch them and hurt them. I have seen this happen with previously confident show dogs that suddenly start backing off from judges, then you find their back was out but they showed no indication to the owner.

[PennyLane]

Thank you everyone for the tips. I will definitely try get my visitors to ignore her until she is ready.

I would never have even thought about a sore spot.

[Tassie]

Agree about checking for soreness. And I would combine the getting visitors to ignore, with having them casually toss good treats away from themselves, into an area where she can find them - while they keep ignoring her. Then you can see whether she shows any interest in the treats - if she does, I'd keep going with that - letting the visitors toss/drop the treats progressively a bit closer to themselves. You'll only be able to do this one with very patient and cooperative visitors :) - and it's important they don't try to push the pup over threshold - i.e. not too close too soon.

You'd be using your yummiest treats - ones that you yourselves normally wouldn't give her. And maybe just a short session - then leave her alone - then another session later.

[Dogsfevr]

Does she react the same if they come through the front door or is it just the gate??

Does she react the same if you take the dog out the front & greet the same people ??

Is she sterilized??

Also agree with others she needs to be ignored but using food treats to just build some enjoyment of people

[PennyLane]

Does she react the same if they come through the front door or is it just the gate??

Does she react the same if you take the dog out the front & greet the same people ??

Is she sterilized??

Also agree with others she needs to be ignored but using food treats to just build some enjoyment of people

You have to enter my yard through the gate first to get to the front door.

I am always with her when greeting the visitors, maybe I can try greet them first before she see's them?

She is fully vaccinated and desexed.

[PennyLane]

Agree about checking for soreness. And I would combine the getting visitors to ignore, with having them casually toss good treats away from themselves, into an area where she can find them - while they keep ignoring her. Then you can see whether she shows any interest in the treats - if she does, I'd keep going with that - letting the visitors toss/drop the treats progressively a bit closer to themselves. You'll only be able to do this one with very patient and cooperative visitors :) - and it's important they don't try to push the pup over threshold - i.e. not too close too soon.

You'd be using your yummiest treats - ones that you yourselves normally wouldn't give her. And maybe just a short session - then leave her alone - then another session later.

Great, I will try this. Thank you :)

[Dogsfevr]

Does she react the same if they come through the front door or is it just the gate??

Does she react the same if you take the dog out the front & greet the same people ??

Is she sterilized??

Also agree with others she needs to be ignored but using food treats to just build some enjoyment of people

You have to enter my yard through the gate first to get to the front door.

I am always with her when greeting the visitors, maybe I can try greet them first before she see's them?

I would try seeing what she does out the front ,it will give you an idea if its a My backyard thing or even if you meet some of the people out the front of next doors house just to see the reaction.

But don't let them come to her you just walk up casually no fuss no reaction ,if she shows signs of reacting then just walk away ,if she wants to be greeted allow her & with treats