sheltie barking/growling at strangers

[Silaria]

As others have said, she's still settling in and a lot of commotion plus high energy kids may be too much for her all at once.

Today we are having friends at our house right now. It might possibly be that she has never encountered high energy kids before. Also 3 people came all at once through the door, which scared/overwhelmed her. Right now she is on the couch, and the friends are in a different room across the hallway.

Something you may want to try after everyone has settled down some. Get some high value treats and allow Christy access to the living room - if she wants to come in. Give all your friends some treats to drop on the floor WITHOUT looking at Christy. This will help Christy learn that people in your home are good things.

You'll also have to explain to the children that Christy is new and needs to be left alone until she's comfortable. I'd give the kids some treats also in case Christy approaches them. They can drop the treat on the floor for her like the adults are doing.

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't expect my dogs to be too thrilled if kids ran towards them--even if they were being friendly. In fact, one of mine would be appalled and would run away tail tucked, the second would probably slink away and re-evaluate later, and the third is a dork and would be all about it.

OK, is it a good thing that I can ID your dogs just by the descriptions you gave of their reactions?

 

[Hanne]

Also when she barks, if I tell her quiet and she stops, I give her treats and praise right? But is it possible that it encourages her to bark then stop for a treat, then bark again and stop for a treat? Can they be that smart?

When Minnie was brand new in my home:
I do not think it was the most pedagogic way, but my choice. was to take Minnie up and let her short greet my guests, so I put her down quietly on the floor and it was "no talking, no touching, no eye contact" before she made contact.
Children were given strict orders not to run around inside the house, I explained that it was a new little cautious puppy who was easily frightened, so if they behaved very, very nicely so Minnie would give them a little ice, but definitely only if they took into account for these orders.
But it worked for Minnie, now she loves guests.

 

[Biscuit]

As others have said, she's still settling in and a lot of commotion plus high energy kids may be too much for her all at once.



Something you may want to try after everyone has settled down some. Get some high value treats and allow Christy access to the living room - if she wants to come in. Give all your friends some treats to drop on the floor WITHOUT looking at Christy. This will help Christy learn that people in your home are good things.

You'll also have to explain to the children that Christy is new and needs to be left alone until she's comfortable. I'd give the kids some treats also in case Christy approaches them. They can drop the treat on the floor for her like the adults are doing.



OK, is it a good thing that I can ID your dogs just by the descriptions you gave of their reactions?

Good idea She can learn to have a positive association with guests. I think if given the time, I know that Christy will eventually be friendly. When me and my dad went to go and meet her, she barked a few times and growled, not a whole lot, and hid behind the breeder. Of course we were naturally calm and more focused on the breeder, so that helped her get used to us quicker. When they gave us her "cookies" which is kibble, she began to eat and immediately was interested. Soon she was jumping on us. She LOVES food. So I will definitely get some guests to feed her. Maybe I will buy to extra special treats just for that occasion.

 

[trini]

Good idea She can learn to have a positive association with guests. I think if given the time, I know that Christy will eventually be friendly. When me and my dad went to go and meet her, she barked a few times and growled, not a whole lot, and hid behind the breeder. Of course we were naturally calm and more focused on the breeder, so that helped her get used to us quicker. When they gave us her "cookies" which is kibble, she began to eat and immediately was interested. Soon she was jumping on us. She LOVES food. So I will definitely get some guests to feed her. Maybe I will buy to extra special treats just for that occasion.

The other thing to remember is that shelties (and most dogs) read our emotions very well. If you are nervous about her reaction when someone is coming to visit she will pick up on that and it will give a negative association in her mind to the people...she will see them as causing you upset. Also keep everything as low key as possible when people do arrive...giving Christy time to get used to their presence...and ask them to totally ignore her and let her be the one to approach them when she is ready. Also with their keen sense of who people really are, Christy may well id which people are "dog people" and which only pretend to like dogs. Mine avoid people who are not sincerely dog friendly...they don't growl at them, they just keep their distance.

Shelties are an incredibly sensitive breed and an incredibly smart breed, it is part of their charm for those of us who love them. But it also takes some getting used to if you have never had a sheltie before.

Christy is lucky to have found a person/family who is working so hard to learn to do everything right for her. Kudos to you!

Trini

 

[trini]

Sheltie smarts:

We have friends we have known for years who come by often to visit us...the husband loves animals, the wife doesn't but she tries to pretend she likes our doggies when she is here. My little ones can't get enough of the husband...they greet him like a long lost friend, sit beside him on the sofa and lay their heads in his lap and trust him totally. But when his wife tries her false "oh, come here cute doggie routine" my little ones look at her with what can only be described as total distain as if to say "lady, we don't buy your garbage.", turn their back sides to her and walk away. And anytime they have to pass where she is sitting in the room they walk as far from where she is as possible. It really is pretty funny and an indication of just how intuitive these little dogs are...never lie to a sheltie...they won't buy it!!!!

Trini

 

[Hanne]

trini - yes Shelties are smat - how funny

 

[Biscuit]

I took Christy for a walk today, and we had some issues. We went to the park early in the morning. I spent most of the time with her sitting on a bench and practicing tricks, focusing on me, and making her relax. A stranger was jogging past us, and she began to growl and bark. I walked her away from the jogger, and I tried to distract her with more treats, but she didn't pay attention until the jogger was a certain distance away. Then I gave her lots of praise and treats when she listened. I'm not sure what else to do when she barks and growls. She did hear a dog in the distance, and when she stopped barking and looked at me, I gave her a treat. And she ignored the barking. Which is some progress. We also have a recent problem with walking on the leash. When she is scared of something or barking, she starts to either run too far out,or get too close that I bump into her. I have to pull the leash to correct and put her back in place, but I'm sure that is also making her tense. What do you do in these situations?
Also could this be some fear phase? Since she is going through adolescence. They tend to be the most rebellious, fearful, moody at this time. I remember seeing her as a puppy before at a sheltie show, and she was incredibly friendly with us and relaxed. So she was socialized as a puppy. What happened? Is it possible to take her to obedience class to help her? or will it just take time? What do you think I should do?

 

[trini]

I wouldn't classify her behavior as rebellious...it sounds more like over stimulation to fast movement and a lack of confidence on her part. Remember, she really doesn't know you well yet...it takes time for a real trust bond to fully form, so she still kind of feels like she is out on her own as far as her safety is concerned.

Beginner ob class, as long as it is taught with only positive training methods, would help both her and you to gain confidence in how to communicate with each other...and help Christy to know that you are in charge so nothing bad will happen to her.

Also, if you live anywhere near a high school you might try going to the outdoor track and sitting way back while seeing kids running. Gage the distance you need to be from the track by Christy's reaction to a runner...if she is over the top you are way too close. Move back until she can focus on you rather than the runner and then very slowly over many days keep making the distance between you and the track less and less (moving up only a foot or two at a time). If she starts to bark and growl at a certain moved up distance, return to the distance where she was doing OK and stay there for several days before trying to move closer again. Soft praise and treats will help...don't make the praise sound excited because you are trying to calm her not get her excitement level up.

Also, once a dog has started to react it is much harder to get them calmed than if you can detect the distraction coming and get her focus on you before she sees the distraction and reacts. A good sit/stay or down/stay learned in class will be a big help in keeping control of the situation.

All this will take time and patience...it isn't going to solve overnight. But the friendly pup you met previously at shows is still in there and with support and training that friendly pup will emerge again. Don't get discouraged!!!

Trini

 

[Biscuit]

I wouldn't classify her behavior as rebellious...it sounds more like over stimulation to fast movement and a lack of confidence on her part. Remember, she really doesn't know you well yet...it takes time for a real trust bond to fully form, so she still kind of feels like she is out on her own as far as her safety is concerned.

Beginner ob class, as long as it is taught with only positive training methods, would help both her and you to gain confidence in how to communicate with each other...and help Christy to know that you are in charge so nothing bad will happen to her.

Also, if you live anywhere near a high school you might try going to the outdoor track and sitting way back while seeing kids running. Gage the distance you need to be from the track by Christy's reaction to a runner...if she is over the top you are way too close. Move back until she can focus on you rather than the runner and then very slowly over many days keep making the distance between you and the track less and less (moving up only a foot or two at a time). If she starts to bark and growl at a certain moved up distance, return to the distance where she was doing OK and stay there for several days before trying to move closer again. Soft praise and treats will help...don't make the praise sound excited because you are trying to calm her not get her excitement level up.

Also, once a dog has started to react it is much harder to get them calmed than if you can detect the distraction coming and get her focus on you before she sees the distraction and reacts. A good sit/stay or down/stay learned in class will be a big help in keeping control of the situation.

All this will take time and patience...it isn't going to solve overnight. But the friendly pup you met previously at shows is still in there and with support and training that friendly pup will emerge again. Don't get discouraged!!!

Trini

Thanks for the support. I think Christy barks because is mostly insecure and overstimulated when new people are seen, especially when there's movement. She did do ok when me and my sister were walking with her, and the people we passed were sitting. I will make sure to keep her a safe distance, give her lots of treats and calmly praise her when she looks at me. I work a whole lot with her on looking at me, lying down, sitting down, stay, leave it. And since I join a sheltie club, I'm going to ask questions about a possible obedience class for her.

 

[trini]

Thanks for the support. I think Christy barks because is mostly insecure and overstimulated when new people are seen, especially when there's movement. She did do ok when me and my sister were walking with her, and the people we passed were sitting. I will make sure to keep her a safe distance, give her lots of treats and calmly praise her when she looks at me. I work a whole lot with her on looking at me, lying down, sitting down, stay, leave it. And since I join a sheltie club, I'm going to ask questions about a possible obedience class for her.

You're doing everything right...keep up all the good work and the bond you build with little Christy will be worth every bit of energy and time you have taken. Shelties are unique little souls and it often requires a different mind set to respond to their concerns and needs than it does for many other breeds...but they are worth it.

Trini