5 month old puppy barking and growling at other dogs - help!

[puppyblue]

My Maltese puppy has been going on walks for around a month now, and the last week or so she has been barking and sometimes growling at other dogs. Before she was allowed to go on walks I took her to lots of places to see other dogs (an intro puppy class, garden centres, town centres, the park) with her in my arms. Her temperament seemed confident and, if anything, assertive (she was barking at her siblings when I visited and picked her up).

She's been going to puppy classes for the last month where they don't interact or greet each other and she has been settled and calm in all of the classes apart from the last class. Another puppy held eye contact with her and she freaked out and started barking uncontrollably. Since that encounter, on all her walks she barks and growls at other dogs. At a distance, she will cry/whine and pull to go towards them, it looks like she wants to say hello. When she is nearer them she will bark and sometimes growl but will circle them to sniff them. I have been taking her to look at dogs from a distance and giving her treats, but I'm really worried this is going to be the start of her being reactive.

Before her behaviour had changed, she had said hello on the lead to only a select few dogs as I'm very cautious about on-lead greetings. They were all calm older dogs. They all went well from my perspective and she seemed calm after.

I had a reactive dog before and I'm worried she's picking up on my anxieties. I'm trying to breathe, relax my arms and say 'oh look a dog' in a calm, positive voice.

Is there anything I should be doing? Should I consult a behaviourist?

Out of curiosity were her littermates barking back? Was it play? Or was it something else? I have to admit, I think there’s a huge different between ‘confident’ and ‘assertive’ - and ‘assertive’, in a puppy that young, is less than ideal. It means basic manners haven’t been installed.

It’s great you want to socialise her with older, calmer, dogs and younger have done. But, actually, a lot of people seem to forget that socialisation isn’t just about greeting other dogs - it’s about learning to ignore them.

If she is growling or barking at another dog, you absolutely should not be letting her greet them - and certainly not circle them. You’re putting her at quite a risk. Remember, dogs bums are very vulnerable (particularly intact males) in a dogs mind. A lot of dogs don’t actually like bum sniffs - none of mine do. It’s their ‘line in the sand’ so to speak. If you pay attention, lots of dogs go very rigid. Ditto, many don’t like their mouths being sniffed. If your girl does that to the wrong dog, having grumbled and barked. and it snaps when she circles it, it could be nasty - particularly if she’s on the lead and restrained.

Remember, it’s also not just about your dog. Your dogs behaviour can effect the behaviour, going forward, of other dogs. Her growling and barking could make other dogs have bad experiences and just because you think she’s friendly, and it’s okay, it doesn’t mean those dogs are happy.

IMO it’s all easily fixable. Carry on as you have been. Get her used to being in areas with other dogs and ignoring them. If you’re not confident doing that alone, then consult a trainer or a behaviourist.

I would engage with a decent behaviourist asap. You need to get on top of such things early on but I’d take professional advice on how to do so as managing it poorly could have dire consequences.

I would not be letting her greet other dogs if she’s growling and circling - that could end very badly for her if she does it to an unfriendly or intolerant dog.

When you say she barked at her siblings - did they bark back (ie was it mutual puppy behaviour) or were they submissive?

Circling is probably the wrong word, more that the other dog will sniff my puppy and then my puppy will turn to sniff the dog so they are both following each other in a circle, if that makes sense?

The other puppies in the litters barked back, they were all a noisy bunch and very playful (I've only ever seen one other litter before, who I remember as being a lot more quiet).

I'll try and find a behaviourist

Wealways thought our dog was confident because he would bark at bigger dogs on walks, however after seeing a behaviourist for a different issue, it turned out he was anxious. The barking was a way to get in first and control the situation.
I definitely recommend seeing a behaviourist and working now to fix the problem before it gets too engrained.

The circling sounds less problematic now you’ve explained it but as an owner, I’d not be impressed if someone let their growling dog approach mine.

Make sure your behaviourist is properly qualified and accredited.

I've never let her approach another dog, I let the other owners approach if they want to and if their dogs look calm. I've had a reactive dog before so I'm very strict at not approaching dogs without checking in with my dog, the owner and the other dog. She is always quiet when they approach, it's only when she's next to them she will start to bark and growl, at which point I move us along.