What do I do? Worrying incident on Common today.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

My GSP has (today) turned 8 months old. I was out with my Mum and my toddler walking this morning. Our young dog was off the lead having a lovely time investigating everything. Suddenly he started barking - the way he does if there is someone at the door and he doesn't know who it is yet. He was barking at an oldish man who was walking along near us.

I know very little about dogs but it looked like my GSP was trying to protect us. He was close by but he wouldn't recall (he is normally great) - just stood there barking and then taking a few steps towards this man. I was embarrassed. The man then ran at the dog which scared him. My Mum got the dog by his collar and he calmly responded to being put back on the lead.

What is going on? What should I do? Does this mean I now need to neuter him before it becomes learned behaviour? Thanks for any advice. This pup has never even cocked his leg before!

adolescence?

Presumably?

Why on earth did the man run towards him? That sounds deeply unwise to me.

I do wish he hadn't. The man wasnt remotely nervous. I assume he thought it was helpful?

Maybe the man ran towards him, because he was scared? Not everyone likes dogs, and it's understandable that he might be a bit cheesed off at being barked at by a large dog that was coming towards him and not responding to its owner.

Neutering is generally a good thing, but it's not a magic bullet for behaviour. Just sounds like pup is going through normal adolescence - perfectly normal, but I'd want to prevent future occurrences of him mithering at innocent passersby.

He seemed neither cheesed off nor scared, but I get your point. I certainly wouldn't like it.

Scuttlebutter, how would you prevent further occurrences?

Perhaps the man had murdered someone, chucked the body behind a tree, and your dog was trying to tell you?

Maybe he was about to abduct the baby ?

My springer does this in some situations. If we are out walking somewhere that he is not used to seeing anyone, and a man appears, he will get quite territorial and protective.

I put him on the lead as soon as I am aware that the situation might occur.

thanks exit, I will keep that in mind.

Perfectly normal behaviour for an 8 month old dog that is uncertain of a situation. Dogs have several fears stages and 8 month is the prime time for one of these.

Some dogs get worried by tree stumps or road signs or people with hats etc. It is vital that you do not show any concern. Just a breezy morning to the man, get to your dog and walk on positively. Show your dog it is nothing to be fearful of.

It may be that in socialising your dog as a puppy he did not get to meet many old people, or that the man was walking with a limp or with an umbrella or rain mac etc that you dog had not encountered before.

No big deal, no sinister back plot definitely no need to neuter(this will actually make the fear response worse) Just a dog that needs to be out and about a bit more to experience more situations.

My Springer hates the twin boys down the road and barks a them when out on a walk does not do it to anyone else. Still a baby, probably just startled and unsure about new situations.