Barking!

[Happymm]

our 20wk old red fox lab puppy has decided to bark at anything and anyone, and not stop!

She's quite a confident wee girlie normally, and has been well socialised, schools run, train stations, dog shows etc etc.

Barking at people coming to the door, I can understand. The postie got a full on bark today, but just laughed at her-he has 7dogs

However, also barks at random people in the street-lady and toddler (I have 3DC, of 7,5 and 2); old lady walking behind us, kept stopping to try and bark at her; the butcher, despite him hand feeding her lamb mince -stopped barking long enough to go and eat the mince then started up again! Doesn't bark at everyone, just random ones

Tried ignoring, tried silly Billy sing song voice, resorted to a good old be quiet when couldn't hear what postie was saying today.

What now?

Help, please....anyone?

DD had friend to play today. Friend's granny came to pick her up. Devil pup kept on and on, barking at her. Seemed fairly full on, granny scared :(

I know you said she's generally confident, but what's her body language like when she's barking? Does she seem fearful? Is she advancing or backing away? What's her tail doing? Are her hackles up at all?

Tail generally wagging. Hackles up. Advances and backs away, in that runs forward to bark then runs back. She doesn't seem fearful. Went to sisters yesterday. Fine with all, DC's everywhere. BIL came home, no problem, my DB dropped in, and she had a right bark at him.

didn't bark at delivery man with our Chinese food either.

Is very random.

Bumping myself as would love some advice,

I have absolutely no advice and no experience of this. But can bump for you

I'd say she DOES sound fearful - or at least nervous.

However, it's impossible to say without seeing her in action, so to speak.

Can't remember the ages they go through the various "Fear Periods" offhand, but it could be that's the cause.

Worth getting a behaviourist in, even for just one session.