My 4 month old female golden Labrador has become very scared of people. This has been for about 4 weeks now. She barks and growls at anyone in our home,other people homes or out and about. Even with people she has met before. She actually pooped in the house through fear when my brother visited. As far as I know I can't remember a specific incident, I take her to a puppy socialising class where she gets on fairly well with the other puppies but not so well with trainer. I am worried that she will be seen as an aggressive dog or may become aggressive. I have tried ignoring it, cuddling her and giving her treats but it appears to get getting worse. Is this a puppy stage or do I need to get professional help. She is very loving towards my family who live at home. Thanks for any advice. Thanks Helen
I’m sorry that no one has replied to you. I would get a behaviourist or a well qualified positive trainer in to assess you pup as I think that you need to deal very carefully with the problem in case it escalates. This is not normal puppy behaviour as they are usually over social with people. I have experience of a similar puppy although I did not have a warning growl, I just had a lot of avoidance of people and new things. What sort of breeder did the puppy come from? Is there a lack of life experience or socialisation? Do you have children who might be affected by the pups behaviour and could someone have been rough or frightened the pup?
Thanks for your reply. She came from a family home with young children, she was part of a litter of 8. I know the breeder and this was her dogs second litter. I have a grown up daughter at home. It was once she turned 3 months she became fearful. I think I will give it a couple of weeks and then if no improvement I will seek help from a behaviourist. Helen
Pups go through fear stages and sounds like what your girl is going through. This might be helpful: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/nervous-dog/
Hi @Helen Ogilvie I would be concerned with your puppy's behaviour particularly with it occurring while still in the key period for socialisation. Puppies can be shy when meeting new people but to bark and growl and even defecate is not usual. The growling has the capacity to escalate to snapping and biting as the growling isn't working in keeping people away. Please don't delay in consulting a behaviourist to help your pup over come this fear, the more times this happens and the longer it goes on the harder it is to overcome.
Well that’s great that you don’t have any young children at home as that’s one thing less to worry about! While you are waiting for someone to come in and evaluate the puppy there are a few easy things you can do to help yourself. Does the pup have a safe den to retreat to? If not then make one covered with a blanket where they can choose to go in and out without any pressure. Can you put a bowl of treats by the door so that any one entering your house can throw a treat on the floor for the pup? The pup can then get distance and the new person is a good thing because of the treat. Make sure that no one corners the puppy so that in any interaction the puppy has a possibility of withdrawing. I’m not a behaviourist but I have lots of hands on experience with these sorts of dogs and none of the above will make things worse. But as Jojo says I do think that you should get a trainer/behaviourist to look at the pup at home. I got one in at 12 weeks with my puppy and it was an enormous help. Good luck!
