Hi! We recently got Lola (black lab born Dec 27th. so about 19 weeks) and just recently started taking her on walks to train her to be on leash. She is always in the front yard without a leash and comes back when called but that is not my problem lol Our issue is that she is a barking lab, she barks at almost everything, which is not a huge deal in the yard or the house since the neighbors have barking dogs as well. However, my issue is that I have been taking her on walks for a week now and every time she sees a stranger or another dog she goes absolutely nuts barking at them, the hair in her back stands up and everything and she tries to get them :O We also have a 3 year old JackRussell that I was able to train to not bark as much (in case you are not aware, that is a big issue with JRTs lol) and now Lola (our Lab puppy) seems to be influencing the JRT to bark again which we cannot have lol Any tips? We have just started the walks because of the puppy shots etc, and she is fine with family visitors but barks at strangers (pizza guy, mailman). I am ok with her barking at the door and little things like that that dogs should do lol but the trying to eat people at walks is what I want to nip in the bud so to say. Any help will be appreciated.
It sounds like she is barking to keep the strange people away, because she is scared of them. If you've only just started taking her out at 19 weeks, she's missed a massive amount of socialisation. The advice is to not take them out on the ground before they've completed their shots, but it is very important to take them out and about to experience new things from 8 weeks of age, when you bring them home. There is a "socialisation window" from 8 to about 16 weeks where they should be exposed to as may different stimuli as possible, otherwise you can end up with a dog that is afraid of new things. However, that's all by the by now; what's done is done. It's not too late, but you should be very sympathetic to this and try to introduce her slowly to the things that make her bark. Firstly from a distance she is happy with, and slowly moving closer. Forcing it too quickly could make it far worse, so do take it as slowly as possible. Don't have strangers feed her treats, but if you can have them toss her treats from the distance she is happy with, that will help her to associate strange people with good things.
Thank you for your response snowbunny Lola is a bit of a sick pup, just catches everything it seems, working on allergies now and the vet didn't clear her until now to go outside her own turf. We have a big yard (front and back) and when we are out front, she says hi to neighbors and doesnt really bark at them and comes back when called, most of her barking is in the backyard when the neighbor dogs start barking. She has had plenty visitors here both human and canine (my mom has her brother and brings him along) and is really good at not jumping etc. I understand what you are saying about socialization but because she gets to see people here I wonder if it is more of a "new setting" kind of fear (for lack of a better word). Or, honestly, poor thing has been to the vet so many times I think she is starting to get scared of people because she gets shots or skin scrapes or blood drawn (she was getting more skittish as the visits increased). I walk my other dog everyday and had been waiting to take Lola out as well, I was just surprised at her behavior and am wondering if it is fear/nervousness. I plan on taking her by herself tomorrow (although my JRT may not appreciate it) so I can concentrate on her. If it is just socializing, that is an easy fix lol just afraid if its anxiety/nerves it would be harder...
Socialisation isn't about meeting people and/or dogs, much as most people seem to understand it as that. It's about exposing your puppy to as many novel experiences as possible, which ranges from different animals to different vehicles to different outfits on people, to different textures underfoot.... the more new things a young puppy can see, taste, feel, smell... the more confident they are likely to grow up to be. Conversely, if they get to experience very little during these vital weeks, they are more likely to experience fear of novel things as they grow up. It's perfectly normal that a puppy would be more nervous away from her "den" (home), especially if that's all she's known in the last few weeks. Not only is she having to deal with the new "things", she's also having to learn that the entire new environment is safe for her. This is absolutely what "socialisation" is; she hasn't been exposed to all these new things at her most impressionable age. Like I say, it doesn't mean she's "broken", but you do have to be very, very careful that you don't exacerbate her fear by asking too much, too soon. I say this with a very fearful dog of my own. Again, we're not talking "socialising" in the manner that us humans tend to understand it. It is not about meeting people and dogs. It is about exposure to all the myriad of things that assault our senses every minute of every day. When new things are thrown at a very young puppy, they basically just accept it, because they are so helpless. So, having been exposed to lots of new things where nothing awful has happened, they learn that new things aren't something to be scared of. But, once they're that bit older and outside of that "window", they will be far more likely to be suspicious of things they don't recognise. If they've not had the lessons that new things aren't necessarily scary, they will react fearfully. So, anxiety is often due to a lack of socialisation opportunities. Meeting loads of people at this stage is likely to make it worse, not better. Personally, I would seek professional assistance (a positive methods behaviourist) immediately. Having an anxious dog is a life-changer, so getting all the help you can get right now to try and nip it in the bud and help turn her into a confident puppy is so important. A good behaviourist will be able to orchestrate a range of safe learning opportunities for her to teach her that new things aren't always to be feared.
Is your dog anxious or is just being a lab? Pup labs are generally energetic and lovable creatures that want to be with people and other dogs. They bark not necessarily because they are afraid but because they want to be with that person or dog way over there. Do you know the early history of Lola? Like that important period from birth up to 8 weeks? That knowledge could tell you her story. In response to your comment that socializing is an easy fix here's was a positive reinforcer trainer has to say: "A puppy that has not seen many people by the age of sixteen weeks will in all probability always be afraid of new people. There are no 'do-overs" for the socialization period. Positive socialization is absolutely vital!"
I think it is seeing the new dogs/people on walks. She does fine at home (people come in and out so I don't think she is afraid of people) and does fine on car rides to pick up kids from school since kids try to see her etc. I think it is what you both say "exposure" to the new environment since this morning she did better on our walk, I am sure it may be a bit of a shock and she is slowly but surely getting used to it, taking her earlier where there were less people running in the trail helped, I think I will slowly start taking her later in the morning.
