Hi Guys if you read my post about Milo's back legs had vet in yesterday all fine just a sloppy uncoordinated Lab My vet hasn't seen Milo since he was 3MTHS (now 8) and expected to walk in the door and be smothered in kisses by him.To his dismay the opposite Milo growled and barked and wasn't at all impressed. Outside he is fine walking around people but i must say he is nervy when people stop to speak to him or touch him. Any one else out there had a not your usual over friendly lab puppy,if so advice on handling him pls or some ways of changing the behavior he is otherwise a normal lab with people he knows .
Re: nerrvy lab I have two very nervous Labradors. They didnt like people they don't know coming towards them and they really don't like people they don't know touching them. I've used BAT and counter conditioning and we've had a lot of improvement. They now don't mind people coming towards us. They will approach people and occasionally let them touch. The vet is still a scary monster though but it was the vets that triggered this behaviour so understandable. Have a look at this thread about what we've done it's what http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=4934.0 Also www.empowered animals .com and www.careforreactivedogs.com you can use the bits you think are relevant to you. On my BAT thread it explains how bad my two were so don't worry it works.
Re: nerrvy lab Hi Chrissie glad to hear there is nothing wrong with Milo's legs!! Yes, I have had very much the same with Poppy. Is Milo a working strain lab? I think this nerviness tends to be more pronounced in working strain labs. Poppy used to be very nervous at the vets and would growl and bark. She also didnt like strangers and was nervous in the woods when someone unknown came towards us, particularly if they stared at her or tried to touch her. We used lots of positive reinforcement to encourage her that people, even people she doesn't know, are ok. So when walking, if someone was coming towards us, I would call her back to me, and have her walk to heel then give her big praise and treats. We also spent a lot of time taking her to places with lots of people - into town, going to the DIY store with us, the pet shop, the station, the airport... I also took her to the vets several times when there was absolutely nothing wrong with her, just to get her used to it. She is fine with strangers now, and the vets too. I must say, I understand dogs not liking people bending down and staring into their eyes, and touching their heads. We wouldn't like it either!!!! But they need to learn it's just part of being a dog in a human world. We have to help them understand and learn to deal with it.
