How long does this phase of being spooked by things last? Over the last couple of weeks Ripple has got more and more jumpy over noises and things that might or might not be there. Today it's really windy and he's all over the place. Our first walk this morning was in the dark and by the time I got back I was a nervous wreck as Ripple had been spooked by just about everything.
There is an open question on another thread about whether teenage dog becoming nervous of things is a phase at all (it might appear so, as it occurs and then people do something about it and it gets better...) or it is just the result of the dog's temperament plus socialisation (which doesn't mean you did anything wrong with his socialisation). I like Isn Dunbar on this question: http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/adolescent-changes
Interesting article JulieT thank you. I have noticed quite a few of these behaviours certainly being more interested in other things rather than me, and also I've had a few problems over biting. These are things I know I can address (especially with the help of the forum), the 'spooked' behaviour can be quite unnerving as I begin to think there's someone stalking behind me as well! I'm not a great one for routine walks, unlike my OH, so I do vary things a lot and I like to find different places to go, I did wonder if that was causing Ripple a problem but it seems as if that is the right thing to do. As we live in Scotland there's going to be plenty of windy weather over the next few months so hopefully he will adjust to all the rustly noises and flying sticks.
http://thelabradorforum.com/forum/n...ador/labrador-puppies/271288-scared-of-people Some comments in ^ this thread might help you.
I've had a thorough read of that thread and although Ripple is certainly not scared of people or other dogs some of the solutions look interchangeable. The post that relates most to Ripple is yours Snowshoe about Oban's fear of the garbage cans. We've just had a walk in the park which I haven't been to since Ripple's loony episode a few weeks ago when he became uncontrollable. Unbelievably there was no one else there with a dog only a few lone people passing through. The weather, though, is atrocious and the river was rushing through at an enormous speed, we crossed several bridges over it and were also assaulted by flying twigs and poor Ripple was pooped on by a bird in a tree. He had no reaction to any of this and behaved really well, no spooking at all. I have come to the conclusion that it is mostly the dark that is worrying him so this gives me a definite point to address.
SteffiS If it's any consolation Juno has been a bit more spooky walking in the evening since our move which I know is due to the darker evenings. We've been used to a walk in the late afternoon and completing it in daylight due to the time difference between UK and France. I just tend to say "let's move on" or something such like and she has improved very quickly. Went out for our around 16:00 and she was fine., except for wanting to do some hoolies in the wind
Molly has always been more frisky when the wind is blowing. She isn't spooked or frightened, just a heightened state.. Strange, I could understand it if she were a long silky coated dog like an Afghan where the wind could disturb her coat but she is a breed that came from hunting and has a short smooth coat. Of course, it is always possibly that she is worrying that the wind will blow away her loose hair and she won't be able to deposit it all over my house
I find wind disturbing to downright scary myself and it can be dangerous. It's hard to avoid big trees where I walk and branches could easily come down and whack someone. There was a snowmobile death due to this here, sort of. And the sound of wind can be eerie, loud, different. I bet dogs can hear wind produced sounds we can't. High pitched sounds might even hurt their ears.
Interesting walk in the dark this morning - I sang songs to Ripple all the time (although it's not easy to think of songs at 6am) and that seemed to alleviate the problem slightly. So either that calmed him or he thought I was going mad and he'd better look after me . Also saw a couple of other dog walkers who rushed past so I guess my singing isn't up to much, but if it works that's what I'll do.
I love the fact that you sung to ripple, I sing to mine all the time. Not sure they appreciate it though .
When I sing to Juno she leaps on me to lick my face. Haven't worked out if that means she likes my singing or not
Shadow does this if I laugh at him for trumping. Especially if I blow a raspberry back at him. Now, if I look at him in mock horror and say, "You pupped!!", he'll go all silly and jump on me. He seems to think trumping is the funniest thing in the world. Typical boy. When I sing, they tend to leave the room....
