Growling at strangers

4564 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by blueteal, May 31, 2008

FloridaMama

Discussion Starter · May 29, 2008

OK we are trying to get Lincoln out and about as much as possible however hes not making fellow Labradoodles look to friendly when he is always growling at people that come near me

I dont think he would ever go to bite but i dont want to take a chance. Will this ever stop? I dont tell him no growl and will sometimes say enough however what else should i be doing? if i ask the teacher in the obedience class she will probably tell me to jerk on the darn collar :?

I WANT him to be a little more of a people person or at least seem like it :lol:

interesting that in obediance class he never growls or minds the other adults standing right beside me

Michele

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annieG

· #2 · May 29, 2008

We are working with Tanner on this very thing. The one thing you do NOT want to do is jerk on his collar...he will perceive strangers as a bad thing.

Our Trainers has asked us that when we are walking and we see someone approaching, we start giving treats one after another until the person has passed. What we are doing is changing his perception of strangers. It is working and now when he sees someone coming he looks up at me because he perceives it as a good thing. Strangers = treats. Also, some soothing talk helps.

If they stop and talk, I ask Tanner to sit. While I am talking I will give him an occasional treat and tell him what a good boy he is. I also tell the person that he is in training and not to stare at him or approach him.

We are also working on a plan so that they can give him a treat but that is for another postl.

Good luck!

MaxandMe

· #3 · May 29, 2008

How old is your doodle?

i do know Max as a puppy growled but inside the house when anyone was entering all the doors (big house and lots of doors). It took a couple of weeks teaching him "good boy" tons of praise/hugs when he didnt' growl.

NOW Max is 23mos old ...in my truck alone with me he barks, growls at the men esp. at gas stations :roll:

The only thing at the moment i can think of is taking
your doodle out to stores that allow dogs to maybe perhaps
overload his system with new people etc ...giving him a treat
when he doesn't bark/growl.

I used to take Max late at night to the HUGE PETSMART and train him
for 30min making him sit/stay...lie downs for 10min while i pretended to shop and also while the workers were restocking.
IF he stayed quiet every so often he got a treat :wink:

It did help quite a bit as i don't have sidewalks where i live.
NOW we go to banks, pharmacy, small grocery store etc

I also walk at busy parking lots too now ...i am trying to desensitize
him to new people, sounds and watch for cars, doors etc

he's doing great but last week let out ONE big WOOF at a guy
that echoed in the bank...he got a lie down correction and
everyone Laughed (luckily)

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FloridaMama

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 29, 2008

Lincoln is a rescue he is 13 months old. Well, one thing we are learning is that the type of school we are taking lincoln to for obediance training 1x a week is not for us! they basically teach the yank and thank method ( using a choke collar for correction then treat) we need something that is just all positive because like you say treats tend to work much better for him especially when someone just comes to visit then yanking him

thanks
michele

annieG

· #5 · May 29, 2008

When you yank either with a choke chain or a prong collar when he sees strangers, he translates that as pain and discomfort coming from the stranger.

As much as Tanner hates his Gentle Leader, our trainer has requested that I purchase a Halti and use that on Tanner.

Last night was his first walk with it on. He fusses about it and tries to rub it off but I continue to offer treats and soothing words. We are purposely taking him on a walk where we encounter other dogs, kids and strangers.

Last night with the Halti on, he was very calm and when we stopped to talk with a couple and a little boy, he layed down by my side. The lady said, "my he is sure laid back". Believe me, two weeks ago he was not laid back.

This is our third trainer and finally one that understands and can help Tanner.

ALL TRAINERS AND CLASSES ARE NOT EQUAL. It will pay off if you can find the right one for YOUR doodle.

Good luck and keep us posted.

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mtd885

· #6 · May 29, 2008

This is our third trainer and finally one that understands and can help Tanner.

ALL TRAINERS AND CLASSES ARE NOT EQUAL. It will pay off if you can find the right one for YOUR doodle.

Right on the Money!!! Look for a trainer the same way you would look for a school for your kids. All trainers/teacher are not created equal...mtd

DebBrown

· #7 · May 29, 2008

How long have you had Lincoln? He may settle down over time. With our foster dogs, we saw amazing changes in behavior during the first two weeks as they because comfortable and secure in our home.

He is primarily growling during walks when he is on leash? I know I've seen posts about this issue before. Some dogs feel more vulnerable when they are leashed and tend to warn others by growling.

Deb

Sammy-Doo's Fam

· #8 · May 29, 2008

Our Sammy-Doodle (a rescue too!) growls at small groups of people or singular people walking by.
We took him to a parade with many people and he didn't even make a peep!

Right now we try to make him sit and say "Shhh!" really sharply and fast and if hes a good boy he gets a duck chip (his favorite!)...
But we are a work in progress because he is still a growler sometimes.

FloridaMama

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 30, 2008

SOOO Confused! My friends mom is an animal behaviorist and hopefully can help us out.

SO our neighbor is 9yrs old little girl. He growls at her then she is able to give him a treat and he is fine. The kids were going on the slip N slide so she went home to get her bathing suit. It then started all over again with him and then when she went home to change again it was the same.

he does the same with my parents even though he has now seen them several times it is like an entire new experience once again. Good thing we dont have many people come visit however i really want to get him to where he seems more friendly. I think my neighbors are all afraid of him/us now :lol:

IM really beginging to think there is something more underlying and im deciding if i want him to see our herbalist or our vet that also has a vet that does classical homeopathy. We need to get to the root of this instead of feeling like we are doing the bandaid effect with him

im just really glad we have him as i dont think many other families that do not know how rescues can be would have probably just passed him on or gave him away. I mean did the people that had him before never let him see ANYBODY?????

Michele

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deepnite10

· #10 · May 30, 2008

we have a good group of regulars at the dog park..and they ve
had the joy to watch as Toby has grown over the last few months..

when we arrive at the gate i can hear them saying *Toby s here*

among the comments was *he s the most happy go lucky dog* they ve
ever seen..nothing seem s to anger him..

with stranger s he ll just trot up to them and offer a paw..if given a
shake he ll proceed to lick their hands..

he definitly not watch dog material at this time..

FloridaMama

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 30, 2008

How was Toby when you first got him?

Michele

FloridaMama

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 31, 2008

It just seems soooo bizarre that he is not recognizing those that he has already met and ended up liking. Everytime we re visit someone its all new to him AGAIN! GROUNDHOG DAY :roll: We visit our one friend every other day since he gets to see his german shorthair pointer. He is friendly with our friend after barking and growling for a bit but then we revisit and its like he has never met either of them. ISnt that strange? DH teases and says good thing he is remembering us. has anyone ever seen the Movie 50 first dates with Adam Sandler? I feel Lincoln is playing the part of Drew Barrymore

Michele

blueteal

· #13 · May 31, 2008

has anyone ever seen the Movie 50 first dates with Adam Sandler? I feel Lincoln is playing the part of Drew Barrymore

teehee too funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I am out walking with Denver I am always looking ahead
and if I recognise the person I say "go visit" if I do not then
I tell him "off," which means keep walking and do not approach the person.
He has only growled once and
when he did i took
his advice and we turned around and
went the other way since it was a stranger
wearing black with a hood and a cap and I figured Denver
knows what I do not. When Denver barks at home and he does
when anything walks by our window. I always thank him
and praise him
and then say settle and he stops. (yes it took time) Seriously when your dog barks go up
to him and say Thank you and a hug and then praise like crazy and then tell him to settle and give his fav. treat/toy.........

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deepnite10

· #14 · May 31, 2008

FloridaMama said:
How was Toby when you first got him?

Michele

Toby has always been a silly, funny, friendly guy..there was some
*who s the boss* with his new sister and brother..but, that was all
over the second week..

as for other dogs he got along great from the get go..other dog owner s
at the dog park will say..*if a dog can t get along with Toby, they should nt
be here..

FloridaMama

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 31, 2008

to him and say Thank you and a hug and then praise like crazy and then tell him to settle and give his fav. treat/toy........

what if it is our friend he is barking and growling at though?

michele

blueteal

· #16 · May 31, 2008

FloridaMama said:
to him and say Thank you and a hug and then praise like crazy and then tell him to settle and give his fav. treat/toy........

Click to expand...

what if it is our friend he is barking and growling at though?

michele

If you have tried ignoring that behaviour and he still does it then I would
try what I said until he learns the difference between friend and foe.........
:wink: :wink: :wink:

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