Hi, Molly has always been a little on the nervous side around people she doesn't know. I've been working on this and have got her to the stage where she will quite happily wander around crowded places with lots of people and she can stay nice and relaxed. That is until someone tries to stroke her. She will randomly sometimes let a stranger stroke her but if people make a direct approach she gets very worried and will bark, scoot away and if off lead will come back to me for safety. I've been racking my brains as to how to try and help with this fear of strangers touching her. It brought it home the other week when I took her to the vets and she was very worried indeed about the vet touching her. So, I decided to book her in with a local grooming parlour. I know with a lab's wash and go coat, grooming isn't really necessary but they do intro sessions where a puppy can just come and say hello, get lots of biscuits and have a sniff around. So I thought biscuits might help to give Molly a positive experience with someone that she doesn't know. Well, it was a bit of a disaster! After 30 mins the lady could just about manage to stroke her back. . Fortunately she is a really nice patient lady and has said that I'm welcome to come back with Molly for as long as it takes for her to feel comfortable. I'm going back next week for another intro session. I was thinking that if I can find some more patient people like this to help build up Molly's confidence then this might help her feel happier around strangers? There is also a local dog hydrotherapy pool so I thought I might try that and use Molly's love of swimming as a reward factor for interacting with the instructor? I was just wondering if anyone had a similar issue and what might have helped with your dog? Vikki
Re: Trying to overcome fear of strangers I have a very similar issue with my two. Scott and scout developed a fear of strangers between three and six months of age due to a prolonged veterinary treatment. I still haven't worked out how to desensitise them to touch. :-\. They are getting much better at people approaching but as soon as they move like they are going to touch they freak. I've read a ridiculous amount on the subject but havent found any information on desensitising to touch. I use counter conditioning and an adapted version of BAT. Behaviour Adjustment Training. If you are interested their web site is www.empowereanimals.com. I also started a thread about our progress on the behaviour board called BAT tips. I got lots of helpful advice. I find what is sort of working so far is if the person doesn't make eye contact and waits for the dog to go to them I then ask them to only stroke under the chin briefly. Repeat if the dog goes back for more. The idea is for the dog to learn it can choose to move away it's not trialled if you like. Unfortunately some people make a move before I have chance to point out the rules and I do feel a bit rude dictating what people can do. However if it goes right it works. There a some people they now greet like you'd expect a lab to which they used to bark at. The vets is a nightmare!!! :-\ Good luck and please let me know how you get on and if you find away to allow stroking.
Re: Trying to overcome fear of strangers Thanks for your reply Jen. I've had a look at the BAT website and it looks like there is a lot of info on there which will be useful so I will be having a read of it later. I know exactly what you mean about asking people to basically let the dog come to them. On the occasions when Molly will let someone stroke her it's usually after that person has been chatting to me for a while and then almost incidentally reaches out and strokes Molly whilst continuing the conversation. It's like she forgets to be scared and allows herself to relax. The main time she gets worried is when you get someone who walks straight over to her with an out stretched hand ready to pat her on the head- they might as well be waving a burning branch as far as Molly is concerned! :-\ Maybe I was asking too much of her today at the grooming place? It's just the lady said she specialised with nervous dogs so I thought it was worth a try. I think we will go back next week and just see how we get on. I've also contacted a local dog behaviour therapist since my first post to ask if they can help with this so I'll let you know how I get on. I'm keen to try anything to help Molly gain more confidence. Vikki
Re: Trying to overcome fear of strangers Slow and steady is the way to go Definitely practise greeting people but try not to change too much at once - so, if she's going to meet a stranger make it in a familiar place. Enlist the help of a friend that Molly doesn't know. Have the 'stranger' keep still, crouch down and turn sideways - or else even just sit on a bench and read a book. Have Molly at a distance where she's aware of the person but not showing any signs of anxiety. Treat her a few times, then move a foot closer. If she still ok, treat and move closer. If she's not ok you went a bit fast so go back and try again. Eventually if you can get up to the 'stranger' they can give her a treat. That is basically just desensitisation ('getting used to it' through gradual exposure) combined with classical conditioning (associating the scary thing with something nice like treats, so the scary thing doesn't seem so bad after all). See if you can give that kind of thing a try. Also, when you're on walks, give her a treat whenever a person appears. She'll start to look to you for treats when she sees people.... People = treats = good I think that the grooming salon and swimming place might be too much all at once so work towards those things gradually (eg just practise meeting the grooming lady outside the salon without going in).
Re: Trying to overcome fear of strangers That's exactly what happens with us Vikki. : If I'm just chatting to someone who ignores the dogs Scott especially will quite often go and sniff even nudge their hand but if someone is walking towards us with the intention of stroking them they go into panic mode. Even i can read these people's body language now. There is one particular man we meet who has been borderline obsessed with stroking them and getting them to like him since they were pups. They see him coming a mile off. :. He has recently taken my advice and started ignoring them and the are now calm until he tries to stroke them before he leaves. He can't help himself I suppose. I'd be really grateful to know how you get on with a behaviourist and what they suggest. Ive looked up behaviourists local to me and there's only really one near enough and I'm not sure he offers quite what I need. Good luck with it and I really hope they can help I know how difficult it can be. :
Re: Trying to overcome fear of strangers You've had some great advice from Jen and Rachael. The key with dogs that are nervous or fearful with people is not to force the interactions - as Rachael said perhaps taking her to the groomer or hydrotherapy is a bit too much for her. You said she is good walking through public places so perhaps you could focus on that, whilst also employing the people = treat method Rachael also described. When meeting new peopl you need to be firm and stand up for your dog - don't be afraid to ask them not to touch her. I have found most people to be understanding of these sorts of this if they have it explained that the dog is nervous or in training. The best way to greet a nervous dog is for the person to appear non threatening; crouched down, slightly turned to the side, no direct eye contact and allow the dog to approach them. Enlisting friends and family that she doesn't know that well will help too as you can give them treats to offer her if she chooses to approach. You might consider something like an 'i need space' bandana from the yellow dog project, or a leash cover from Gizapaw which has interchangeable signs like 'do not touch' or 'in training' to help raise awareness.
