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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

What just happened?!

55 replies

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 14:29

My 10yr old DS arrived home with his friend and my people loving excitable playful cockapoo (9mo) stood up and started growling and barking at him. The poor boy loves dogs and she wouldn’t let him anywhere near her. We calmed her down and he approached her again and she started up again with fierce growling and we have now separated them.
I’m a bit freaked out tbh.

OP posts:

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 14:30

The boy has two pugs at home, maybe mine could smell dog on him? But she loves other dogs so that wouldn’t explain it

OP posts:

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 12/03/2022 16:05

She could have smelt the other dogs.

Or maybe something about his appearance or behaviour scared her. Has she ever behaved like that before?

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 16:10

She’s never behaved like that before, no. She loves people generally. Half an hour later she was wagging away at two strange men out and about, letting them fuss over her etc. She’s growled a bit like that once or twice at weird reflections in the window at night, and once at a weirdly life like owl that one of the kids made at school.
She was afraid, it was definitely a fear reaction.
I’m a new dog owner so quite freaked out by this.

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Hellocatshome · 12/03/2022 16:20

All the other people she's fine with were they in your house or outside? My rommie rescue obviously has more issues than your 9mo cockerpoo but he is fine with people outside the home he does not like them in his house at all.

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 16:26

She’s fine with lots of people in our house - builders but they have all been in and out since she was a puppy. My kids have friends over all the time but thinking about it most of them have been coming since we got her - the boy here today hasn’t been here in a very long time so perhaps not since we got the pup. The last time we have brand new people over was about 4 weeks ago - 5 yr old girl and 8 yr old boy and their dad - and she was absolutely fine.

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Hellocatshome · 12/03/2022 16:29

It might just be one of those things you never find the reason for. We had a dog before that HATED my DGM for absolutely no reason we thought it was her glasses, her stick, her hat etc but all got ruled out. She just didn't like her. At least now you know so of this boy comes over again you can make sure the dog and the child dont mix. Or you could try meeting him outside, going for a little walk then all coming into the house together, that sometimes works.

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 16:34

I’m quite anxious. I’m projecting into the future and imagining that we’ll never be able to have visitors! Should I try again with someone else new relatively soon? What should I do when we next have a new visitor - give her lots of treats as the person enters the room?

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fairylightsandwaxmelts · 12/03/2022 16:34

They often go through a second fear stage - I'm not sure if 9 months is a bit too early for that, but it's worth considering.

It could be anything - some dogs just don't like some people (like they don't like other dogs). It could be the smell of the other dogs, his clothes, his smell - anything.

Hellocatshome · 12/03/2022 16:36

Did she hear him come in? Or did she wake up from being asleep to see a stranger standing in the house?

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 16:39

She was asleep and woke when she heard them pull up in the car. She wandered over to me and then they came in.
I guess I can’t tell if it’s just him until we try with another visitor. I feel sorry for her being so frightened but also for the poor boy!

About half an hour after the first incident we invited him back in the room and I fed her a constant stream of treats until she calmed down. He came and sat on the sofa and she was ok, but clearly unsettled. Then the treats stopped and she jumped on the sofa to cuddle my son, but as soon as she got close to the visitor she recoiled and jumped off and started up again with the growling. Then we took her straight out for a walk to separate them.

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daffodilsbluebells · 12/03/2022 16:42

I can't help thinking she felt her territory was invaded in some way and I'd say try again with someone else relatively soon. I have a 6 month old setter pup who is as gentle as a lamb, unless a new person sits on 'his' sofa etc. and he has to relearn that this additional person is allowed to.

If your pup is generally ok with people in the house I'd try again soon.

daffodilsbluebells · 12/03/2022 16:42

Treats always help!

PollyRoulllson · 12/03/2022 16:51

Do not try again with someone else really soon

Give at least 72 hours for the cortisol and stress levels to calm down.

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 16:56

Ok well we wouldn’t have a chance to try again within 72 hours anyway.

I’ll try to get someone over next weekend.

@PollyRoulllson what would you suggest we try when we do get someone else over?

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ThelastRolo20 · 12/03/2022 17:05

Have some treats waiting by the front door, when new people come in first thing they can do is grab a few treats, not to approach pup (so they don't feel threatened) and throw some treats near them, without eye contact. Slow movements to go to living room etc.

This should hopefully show pup that strangers are fab! Do it with as many people as possible to widen that association. If he inadvertently spooked her she may have found it hard to calm back down :)

PollyRoulllson · 12/03/2022 19:23

I would let her chill for a day or two if possible no extra people coming to you house. Nice calm activities encourage lots of rest and calm sniffy walks.

Never ever ever get visitors to give treats to your dog. It only causes conflict and can make things worse. ie they are worried by the people but want the treat and it just increases emotion. If you were scared of spiders and a spider offered you a chocolate would that cure your fear?

I would keep an eye on her body language out and about. Dogs show very subtle signs of stress that they hide well. I expect she has been doing this but it is easy to miss.

9 months is in the second fear period and she also may be coming into season.

Let her be and let her chill if a new person is coming to the house, give your dog a lot of space and an opportunity to leave the situation. Maybe better to meet outdoors to take the pressure of her.

If she does react again just quietly remve her from the situation and give her space from the visitor.

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 20:03

Thank you. Unfortunately we failed on your first point - a friend appeared out of the blue at the back door this evening to drop something off, unexpected. The dog jumped up barked and ran to the door, she was very noisy but not growly or frightened, when I opened the door she ran up to the guest tail wagging to say hello and eventually stopped barking and went to play in the garden totally unfazed. So maybe it was just that kid in particular for some weird reason.
But everything you say makes sense, we’ll definitely give her the next two days off and lots of quiet time. I’m waiting impatiently on her first season so yes maybe that, and second fear period - she’s generally been quite nervy the last few weeks but I put that down to her being poorly and on antibiotics a few weeks ago but she seemed to have come out of the other side of that.
I’m so worried that we’ll end up with a highly reactive dog but I keep telling myself that she’s young still and these things can be reversed if we do the right things. That is right isn’t it?!

OP posts:

Roadhouse111 · 12/03/2022 20:05

Maybe he's a bad 'un. Dogs can sense this I have 100% no doubt about that!!

Original poster

3AndADog · 12/03/2022 20:11

@Roadhouse111

Maybe he's a bad 'un. Dogs can sense this I have 100% no doubt about that!!

It did cross my mind but he’s a lovely quiet boy! And he loves animals! Pup did seem quite frightened, Poor thing.

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Roadhouse111 · 12/03/2022 20:27

Seems strange, my 9month old cocker loves everyone too, she will bark and then they come in and she's all over them like a rash.

PollyRoulllson · 12/03/2022 20:46

Go slowly and you will help prevent any reactivity.

Do not be tempted to rush to make more introductions. 1 good calm non event meeting is way better than forcing loads of introductions for her "to get used to people"

If she has been a bit nervy do take note and give more space, watch her body language and do not force any interactions until she is happy.

Do not blame the boy - he will not be a badun (well he maybe but I doubt that was the reason!)

Cherrypies · 12/03/2022 20:48

@daffodilsbluebells

You can't just say casually that you have a 6 month old setter, without a pic!
Pretty please 🙂

daffodilsbluebells · 12/03/2022 20:54

@Cherrypies here you go - he's an absolute delight, he's such a good dog. I should probably leave off giving dog advice though!

Cherrypies · 14/03/2022 01:32

@daffodilsbluebells
Oh what a gorgeous boy, thank you.
I have had two red and one Red & White Irish setters.
I have a rescue from Turkey now, I did a dna test to check her breed and was delighted to find she is 90% English setter and 10% St Bernard. Her coat markings are mainly St. Bernard, but has brown spotty front legs, and a brown spot under her chin.
Sorry to derail your thread OP, but can't resist a setter!

daffodilsbluebells · 14/03/2022 09:16

@Cherrypies she is absolutely beautiful, how fantastic that you were able to rescue her too, I love all setters, flat coats, goldens, labs and Bernese mountain dogs! Mine loves a snuggle on the bed too.

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