My lab is 6. She has never been interested in meeting and greeting other dogs, preferring to play with a ball or swim. However over the last 2 weeks she has become very alert and fearful, always looking for other dogs and wanting to turn tail and run away if she spots them. This is new behaviour and Im unsure how to help
hi @Jan Freer welcome to the forum If there is a sudden change in behaviour, then I would get her checked out by your vet to see whether there is a physiological explanation. If that is ruled out, then there is a behavioural issue. I think we need some additional information. In the past how did she behave when she spotted other dogs? What did you do? Apart from turning tail, what other aspects of her behaviour/body language tell you that she is fearful? At what distance do the other dogs trigger what you say is a fear response? What do you do when she exhibits the fear response? Do you keep the lead tight? Do you allow her to run away? What do you do when after you and your dog increase your distance from the other dogs?
She seems physically fine: no change in eating, bowels etc and she's fine at home. She senses other dogs from quite a distance and at first is on high alert, becomes tense and then puts her tail between her legs and starts to rush back the way shes come. At that stage i have to shout 'stay' in case she rushes back to the car in a rest mist panic. I then put her on her lead and carry on with the walk, trying not to make too much of it, just some quiet words of encouragement. Once she's calmer i start letting her off to chase her ball and once she focuses on this she's usually ok. One of my concerns is that I share her with a friend. We have done this since we got her at 6months; ( I dont think she was very well socialised as a pup) It was heplful when we were working ( both now retired) and also means that she always has one of us for holidays. Recently, she seems more reluctant to go with her other owner, but always bounds towards me when I pick her up. However shes fine when shes at her other home, but also exhibits this fear behaviour on some walks. These are some very well known walks that we have used for the past 5 years. She is generally a bit anxious with new things;eg she cant deal with the vacuum cleaner, and her response is to take herself off to her upstairs bed.
Hi @Jan Freer Such a rapid change in behaviour in a well-adjusted adult dog generally means a physical problem or something traumatic happened on one of the walks. I presume you have checked with your sharing partner that nothing traumatic had occurred. I would still talk to your vet. I would not force her to stay in proximity. She is signalling to you that she is fearful. Shouting will make it worse. Back away from the trigger until she gets below threshold--above threshold means that she is so highly aroused with fear that she can't focus on any cue you give her. Then if she gives you any calming signal, say yes and give her a treat. In the meantime, you need to teach her Look at That. https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/look-at-that.22184/ Watch the excellent video. And do the training initially at home. I wouldn't take her out where she is likely to come across other dogs until you have the look at that cue working in your home, back garden, front garden, neighbour's garden, and friend's garden. Then try it when you and the other dogs are on opposite sides of the biggest park you can find. You need to keep your dog's anxiety level low. So use distance as your training "assistant". Why? Has your friend noticed this change? Talk to your friend. Don't need to be pointing an accusing finger. You're both concerned I'm sure. Does your dog sufferer separation anxiety when left with the friend? Separation anxiety can occur when the dog misses a specific person. I think this is unrelated to your bigger concern. One can deal with the vacuum cleaner later.
