Hi, I'm new to this forum. but need help. Over the last few days/week my female labrador has started barking at people. This is completely new behaviour. She's 3 years old, spayed and we've had her from 8 weeks. Suddenly over the last week or so when on a walk and is on lead she has started barking at people who walk towards us (usually loves people) and also when I walk past somebody she will continue for a while spinning her head around as if to look to make sure they are not following. This is completely out of the blue. She has always loved people and I have no idea what to do. I don't understand why she has suddenly began going on the defensive. Does anybody have any experience with this? From what I can tell it doesn't happen when she's off lead (although I can't remember if over the last week anybody has walked in our general direction) any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi @Sd98228 welcome to the site. Not all barks are identical. A bark can mean I'm happy to see you, let's play. The bark will be high pitched. A lower pitch bark may mean a warning for the trigger not to come any closer. But I don't want to put words in your mouth--that is framing and results in a poor evaluation of the issue. Why do you think your dog is displaying fear/aggression? Please describe carefully the shape of dog's eyes, position of tail, body, position of ears? We need the total picture. A video would be highly instructive. Please describe what you are doing with the lead when the new behaviour occurs. Tight or loose? Another reason why a video would be highly instructive.
Odd as I’m having same problem with my three year old male, and when he is offlead he is much improved too.
How do you hold the lead when the dog is barking at people? Taut or loose? Is the dog's bark high or low in pitch? Frustration or warning of fear aggression? What happens when the dog is off lead? You say much improved? Much improved is, however, vague. Does it stop completely or he barks less? Does the dog go up to the individuals he may have barked at?
I don’t hold the lead, I’m disabled, so the lead is secured to my wheelchair, he is trained for loose lead walking. When he is barking we are motionless and he has loose lead, frustration barking, I have tried doing commands with him, or tasks to get him to stop, but he won’t do the simple things he knows well like ‘sit/down/stand’ etc. I only let him meet people if he has been quiet completely. If he has barked then I won’t let him.
