Hi, we've got our delightful little buy back in May when he was 9 week. He's a little more reserved and quiet than your average lab and he's a gentle soul. He wasn't the boisterous gang leader but at the same time not small runt of the litter sitting scared in the corner. Problem we have at the moment is that since x-mas he's started barking at people we meet when out walking. It's also happening when people are coming to our house to visit. This doesn't happen all the time, but a good 4 out of 5 encounters. He has been well socialised, both with people and other dogs. Again it's not his preference to run up to anyone and greet anyone outside the family, but he's perfectly happy staying by my side just checking things out. He is also spending a few hours a day with a local dog walker with a bunch of other dogs and he absolutely loves this. Just before x-mas when we were out in the woods walking, he got jumped by a pit bull that came out of nowhere. (Luckily the pit bull had a harness and a heavy-duty muzzle on, otherwise we probably wouldn't have a dog at this point...) I'm pretty sure that this triggered him barking at strangers... I've been doing my research but haven't found any good guidance on this and how to deal with the situation, so was hoping to get some ideas and pointer here.
Hi Fred, and welcome to the forum from me and my two Labs, Willow and Shadow. Willow used to bark at most people we met, and certainly if they were doing something unusual (up a ladder, carrying something, wearing something different etc). The thing that helped me most was a technique called "Look at that!" which is described in a book called Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt. I think this might help you. It basically teaches your dog that, whenever he comes across a situation that makes him unsure, he looks at you for guidance, rather than immediately reacting himself.
My experience is they just seem to find their voices at about one year old and take it upon themselves to warn of potential threats. I noticed my girl only barked at people I did not know. How could she tell that? Because if I knew them I greeted them, "Hi, good to see you. What a great day, lovely to be out, isn't it?" Simple solution, I greeted everyone, she didn't bark. We were off leash and Jet would advance ahead of me to bark so I consulted the breeder who said even the most timid dog might feel it's her job to announce a threat. To help convince Jet I would decide who was a threat and to reassure the people I would ask her to come to me and sit at heel. I found the book above when Oban was about 18 months but I also highly recommend it. It helped immensely in another situation where a big, black dog charged his fence at us. With the "Look at That" game I could pass that dog with Oban not even looking at it. Another trick I use is laughing. Poor Oban, within two years all three abutting houses changed owners and he understandably acted like the new people were strangers who should not be there. I would laugh, not in a fun and encouraging way, "ho, ho, ho, you big silly, they live there now. They are nothing to bark at." It worked. I also took pains to introduce him to those new neighbours and tell them why I was laughing, it probably doesn't look good to laugh when your dog is barking at someone.
