Help!!

[Nikki]

Hi,

Ok i'm totally at a loss here!

A few weeks ago at Puppy School we were practicing getting other people to touch the dogs all over and get them used to it, she growled and snapped when one of the others were touching her. She is always wary at school but never like that she normally just stays close by me, the woman she snapped at she always lets clap her when we are waiting outside the class!

She is fine every were else at the park, at home, in other peoples homes, places and people she's not used to, and great with kids. She never jumps up on people just sits patiently and waits to be clapped she can be wary but not a problem after one clap shes there best friend.

But I just got a phone call from my mum to say that when she had her at the vet today to get her weighed and she growled and snapped at the vet, this was her 4th time at the vet and the other three she has been no problem but this was a different vet? Don't no if that makes a difference!!!

Sorry its so long winded and not sure it makes complete sense but I'm at a complete loss, I feel like I'm doing something wrong!!
_________________
When a dog wags her tail and barks at the same time, how do you know which end to believe?

[John Thomson]

Hi Nikki,

do you have any more detail as to what happened in the vet? Something may have made her defensive....she may even have picked up that your mum was worried?

The more you introduce her to new people at this stage the better........I have always found that standing at the front entrance to a supermarket is ideal...lot of people will want to stop and say hello to the puppy....kids and adults along with the noise of trolleys, the tannoy, buses and taxis blowing their horns it is the ideal place to socialise a puppy.
_________________
John Thomson
www.cumbernaulddogtraining.co.uk

[Nikki]

Not really just when the vet went to clap her and she snapped, she can be quite nervous especially at classes but never to that extent, she has never done anything like that at home and there is always plenty going on at home.
We are forever outside asda and in the pet shops and things and she's fine with people touching her??
She used to be wary of cars and buses going by when she was just allowed out but that passed within a couple of days and she is great my niece who is one plays with her and she doesn't even attempt to open her mouth even to play bite and when she's had enough she just goes and lies down!??
I'm so confused by it?!
_________________
When a dog wags her tail and barks at the same time, how do you know which end to believe?

[John Thomson]

Perhaps just something about that vet Nikki?

As long as it does not become a habit.......try to remain relaxed yourself.......if you are tense the pup will pick up on that and start to become defensive.
_________________
John Thomson
www.cumbernaulddogtraining.co.uk

[Nikki]

Yeah your right its just a worrying thing to be starting shes fantastic in every other way such a smart wee cookie this is the only thing i have had to worry about.

I did think my self it might just situations she doesn't feel comfortable in, but who knows I'll have to keep an eye on her!
_________________
When a dog wags her tail and barks at the same time, how do you know which end to believe?

[marcella]

Dogs can get stressed going to the vet and it can make them behave a bit different from normal... as for having a wee snap at someone else, again the dogs may pick up on something that she wasn't comfortable with.
If she does, just correct her and tell her no. But as long as you remain calm and let her know you're boss, she will hopefully take heed and relax.

[Nikki]

Thanks you are both a great help!!
_________________
When a dog wags her tail and barks at the same time, how do you know which end to believe?

[Jim & Geraldine]

Our wee Buster did the same thing. He is usually very friendly but he had a snap at John and Jim when they touched his neck at training and he snapped at Mr McRitchie the vet and a girl in the kennels because she tried to take his leash off. When we went to the vet during the holidays it was a different chap and he was amazed to read in Busters file that he had snapped at Mr. McRitchie, because Buster was trying to lick him to death.
Buster meets lots of folk (we live across from a school) and he is always gentle with the kids and the lollipop men think he is great. Long story short we don't know why he did the snapping and we hope he doesn't do it again.

[Gaelle]

Have you had Buster's neck checked? He may have easily sprained it or something that isn't obvious and just gives him pain if he is touched in a certain way!

[Jim & Geraldine]

We wondered if his chip had slipped and was lying against something. We will get it checked out.

[Sam]

I think sometimes we expect to much o dogs when we let just anyone touch them, an correcting her an telling her "no" is maybe not the best way to deal with it.

Lets look at it from this way eh.

scenario....

You are out with your husband ok Nikki, an some stranger comes along an claps you on the head or the back, makes you jump or startles you or just plain touches you an invades your personal s space.
So you turn round an have a go at the stranger an when you do, your husband corrects you an tells you "No".

Do you see why your dog might not take kindly at being clapped by strangers? an maybe the women at puppy classes has put her off being clapped if she finds it un pleasant.
If she is a bit nervy allowing other people to just walk up an pat her , then correcting her for growling is not really the best way forward.

First off i would respect the fact that she does not like being clapped or handled by strangers very much (As she is a bit nervy) an protect her from well meaning folk just coming up an touching her. Same as you would expect your husband to protect you from it. Dogs look to us to protect them from such things, plus if she bites anyone it will be your fault for putting her in the situation .

Its the same with other dogs..not all dogs like having their backside sniffed or appreciate un invited contact with other dogs, so we must respect this .

Don't mean to sound harsh, but its common sense . I wont let strangers just walk up an touch my dogs, unless my dogs are stood an looking like they want to greet the person.

Next i would ask people in your puppy class to sit a way in front o her an call her to them. This is reversing the role an giving her the opportunity to approach them an be friendly but in a way she feel safe, an knowing that her mum is behind her to build her confidence.

If you just push the point and then correct her an tell her "no" i can see someone getting bitten in the not so distant future an that will be your fault for letting them touch her. same as if your husband let a stranger touch you uninvited.

Hope you see what i mean.
I think you should make sure she is the one that wants to get petted an so approaches the human, rather than force it on her.
You might need to take into account in the future that not all dogs are friendly, waggy things an just respect that she does not like strangers touching her uninvited much like me an you i expect.

my thoughts is that the women in puppy classes clapping her has put her off.

Sam
_________________
Damn dags.