17 month old dog - should I worry?

[friendsandstrangers]

Could really use some advice, as am really fretting here! We have a 17 month old collie/greyhound cross who we adore. So far she’s seemed like a robust, happy dog - we’re a busy house with 3 kids and (lockdowns aside) fairly sociable. She’s always been great with other dogs and, if anything, over-friendly with people - one of those dogs that bounded over to everyone wagging her tail etc.

However, something has changed and now it’s a different story. I’ve noticed she’s seemed a bit more territorial generally - barking at the doorbell and postman etc, when she didn’t used to. She also got very scared/snappy at the vets about six weeks ago - it had never been an issue before. I didn’t think much about any of this tbh…until now.

We are currently on holiday in the UK and whilst she’s a brilliant traveller and is very happy with lots of walks in a new place, she’s suddenly VERY anxious around strangers. Literally barking and - alarmingly - air snapping at almost anyone who tries to stroke her or even just looks at her! What is going on?! Can anyone reassure me? Is this just second fear stage/being a bit screwy because we’re somewhere new? My DH thinks it’s not a huge concern, but I am flipping out that she’s becoming aggressive. Any wisdom appreciated xx

Adult collies do tend to be fairly aloof, to be honest.

At 17 months she's going through her teenage phase but I don't know many adult collies who like playing with other dogs or who like strange people approaching them.

I walk numerous collies and I've only ever known one who was liked meeting and playing with new dogs as an adult. Similarly they are aloof with people - I walk two brothers who love me (and their family), but if strangers approach them or come into their space, they don't like it and visibly duck away and avoid contact.

The two I walk will be all over me - love a fuss, a cuddle, lick me etc. but if strangers approach them they actively take themselves away. I can imagine them becoming aggressive and snapping if they were continuously approached while on lead.

@Bigpjbottoms282 - thank you. That’s also great to hear you learned how to manage this, and it didn’t escalate. Did you manage to gradually re-introduce your dog to busier situations, or do you now avoid them altogether?

He's still young (almost 2) so we're taking things gradually. We took him on holiday with us and he coped very well but we went to the beach in the morning and then stayed at the cottage in the afternoon. We did take him to a very busy town one day and he was brilliant but I'm always mindful of over doing it with him. I get far more pleasure out of quieter walks with him as they're generally less stressful all round. DH does the busier ones when we're at home as it doesn't stress him out. He tends to have 1 reaction per walk, usually a motorbike or a large dog but it's barking and lunging rather than snarling/snapping now and DH just leads him takes control, leads him away and the reaction is fleeting.

It's horrible when you first see your dog reacting though. You wonder where it's come from and if you've somehow broken them but it's just part of their personality. Reactive dogs UK is great for advice, they're on FB.

We can take our dog to fairly busy situations in moderation - pub gardens, school run etc - but I'm more mindful of how he might be getting a bit overwhelmed & make sure he has time to decompress afterwards.
Having grown up with a series of dogs who were bombproof bouncy castles with an incredible level of tolerance & even love of noise, chaos & activity, this is new to me.
But I'm increasingly averse to noise & crowds & so I just imagine experiencing that at knee level on the end of a lead, and can totally see where Dennis is coming from!
Our peaceful early morning 1-on-1 hikes are the most content times of my day, and his too.

Our peaceful early morning 1-on-1 hikes are the most content times of my day, and his too same here. We walk along the canal and its a little peace of heaven each morning. We've been very lucky that our DC are older and so we've been able to adapt to our dogs needs. I can imagine it would have been difficult if they'd been younger and more boisterous. Our dog is not suited to a young family.

I'd agree that the adult collies I know are wonderful with people they know but not that interested in strangers.
My previous dog (lurcher cross) wasn't great away from familiarity either. The first time we took her away she was so stressed she didn't eat for a week. It's hard when you've got this idea of a lovely chilled dog who comes everywhere with you, but they can't all do that.

Thanks again everyone. It has been pretty awful to see her reacting like this - I also grew up with bombproof dogs one could take anywhere and they never showed the merest hint of aggression. Today I was looking at loads of families out with what appeared to be happy, friendly dogs out in a busy town, and I felt jealous and upset
However, my DH had taken her out for a more rural walk - and she was apparently fine with the strangers she encountered, so that’s something I guess.

One of the reasons I thought a lurcher would be a good choice as a family dog is that they have a reputation for being relaxed, but it seems that ours is perhaps more like a collie when it comes to sensitivity
Desperately hoping that she will be calmer when we are back home and in our usual routine.

I think it is deceptive when you see others dogs out on busy places. For every dog doing that there are probably lots others left at home for these trips. I plan to take my dog up hills when she is a bit older. I think both her and I will be suited to that and get a bit of exercise together. I know taking her in to town will never really be her happy place.

I have a lurcher. I’m surprised you feel they’ve got a reputation as being relaxed. Mine is very chilled and lazy in the home but I would definitely call him sensitive and a bit skittish out and about. A lot of people I know with lurchers find they are a bit sensitive (maybe I just know wimpy lurchers!)

He’s never snapped at anyone whilst out but I don’t let children just approach him as I can tell by his body language that it unnerves him. I don’t think of him as an aggressive dog at all but he’s far from bomb proof so there’s definitely situations I just don’t put him in.

I’ve accepted now that he’s not going to come on UK holidays with us and is far happier curled up on the dog sitter bed for a week!

@Tuppity - you’re probably right, though that said none of my friends’ dogs have ever been snappy - as far as I know, anyway! It just makes me so sad because I feel we tried so hard with training and socialisation and we were well beyond the hectic puppy stage and settling into life with a family dog, and now this happens.

@SnarkyBag - I know that some lurchers have a reputation for sensitivity (saluki crosses especially?) but I thought generally they were seen to be pretty chilled, affectionate dogs - particularly greyhound crosses? She is wonderfully calm in the house it has to be said, whereas I once looked after a spaniel who was extremely demanding inside and required almost constant stimulation and play!

Yes I think saluki’s can be a bit high needs. I think generally with lurchers they are very chilled and loving with people they know. Ddog is basically a breathing scatter cushion in the house and he loves nothing more than to be snuggled up with me.
He’s nervy of men he doesn’t know but adores my neighbour who’s a big burly chap. Off lead he’s fab but on lead he’s a lot more nervous. Yesterday he spent 5 minutes barking at an oversized wood carved otter that was on a walking trail and has had a few verbal exchanges with the starship robots tootling around the the area.

I read this today op and thought of you - it was a real mindset changer for me, I have a young cocker spaniel who loves every dog she meets, it reminded me of the need to be mindful that other dogs may not want her in their space (I do always ask!) and the lack of awareness some people have about approaching dogs.

Also the need for us to step in to protect them where needed so they don't get put in situations that make them uncomfortable to the point they feel they have to defend themselves to make it stop -

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It is sad. The first year or two so much effort is put in to them. I am also trying so hard with our dog and you want that hard work to pay off. My dh is also very dismissive when I am in worry mode if something is not going right. And I feel it all rests on me to manage the training effectively. I am sure you can turn this around with good training and management. We had a border collie growing up and she wasn’t really that sociable, but we all loved her. She had her forest walks and mostly liked to hide away in her basket when people came to the house. My parents actively discouraged too much interaction with her and everyone knew she needed her space. Perhaps that could be the way forward as your dog gets older. I am anticipating that with our dog.

Ask the vet if this would improve with spaying?

Hi @friendsandstrangers, how's it going now you're back home?