Unsociable 6 month old

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Schnauzer Sam
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Dog #1: Rosie
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Unsociable 6 month old

Post by Schnauzer Sam »

I hope that someone can share their thoughts with me.

We picked Rosie up at 12 weeks old from the breeder who advised us that she'd been well socialised with the family, visitors and usual household noises. We have now many reasons to doubt that.

She walks brilliantly on the lead ( I'd say it's slack around 95% of the time) only pulling to get a particularly advantageous spot to squat and poo! She is very loving and shows obvious joy with being with our immediate family of 4. Even the crocodile stage is stopping now that her permanent teeth are in.

Our concerns are
She has no interest at all in other dogs other than to growl at. At training she does focus on us but will bark/growl if another dog comes with 5 metres of her. When we bump into other dogs when walking on the roads she falls in behind me until we pass by then darts ahead to get away.

When we have visitors like a typical schnauzer she greets them with loud barking accompanied by a wagging tail. My in laws who are regular visitors are acceptable but she still hides behind me and follows me round keeping me as a barrier. All other visitors get a full ear bashing that doesn't stop.

My sister in law has a lurcher that she so wanted Rosie to be friendly with and brought her round for a meet up. The lurcher sat in one room with my sister and law and wife having been suitably scolded by Rosie and I took her out for a walk as she had no intention of letting up otherwise.

When we got her at 12 weeks she wasn't in the least bit strange and was happy to be examined by our vet. On Friday, getting her 6 month check up, she had a snap at him. I was mortified and have never seen that behaviour in her before. It had been preceded though by very quiet warning growls and I guess as they were ignored she went to the snap as the next line of defence before going for a full bite.

He was trying to see her teeth and immediately after the snap I opened her mouth for him to examine her teeth. With the immediate family (me, wife and two children 16 and 14) I trust her with no reservations but would be really wary of how she would react if a young child was following her to stroke her and cornered her.

Is this something that I can get to grips with myself through rewards for positive behaviour or do I need to get help from a dog behaviourist?
Country Girl at Heart (Molly) 8 April 2003 - 22 December 2018

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Re: Unsociable 6 month old

Post by Oscar 12345 »

Hi Sam

I would definitely get some professional help with this issue. It does sound like something you need to do properly, consistently and won't be fixed overnight.

I start with my 1-1 trainer tomorrow. She is coming on a walk with us. I just hope that Otto doesn't make me look like too much of a numpty. I had a great rehearsal today, little devil refused to walk on the way home.
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zeta1454
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Re: Unsociable 6 month old

Post by zeta1454 »

Hi Sam - I would always advise anyone whose dog is exhibiting serious behavioural issues to seek professional assistance or advice from a good behaviourist who can assess your individual dog. However, just a few comments regarding your post:

You say that Rosie was fine at 12 weeks when you picked her up from her breeder but now doubt that the breeder had socialised her. It is always vital that socialisation continues once you get your puppy or any good work that has been done by the breeder can be lost. There is only so much that can be achieved before 12 weeks of age and the range of positive experiences the puppy is exposed to after that must be done by the new family.

Regarding Rosie having little interest in other dogs, this can be a personality trait. Just like some humans, some dogs are quite happy with a small circle of family and friends and are not interested in getting to know strangers. Dogs are a social animal but, if they are getting love, attention and all they need from their immediate family (human or otherwise) they may be reluctant to get close to other dogs. You do not want her to become aggressive towards other dogs but there is no necessity really for her to interact with them if she does not want to.

Re the visitors, again it could be that Rosie feels her human family are all she needs and she does not like "strangers " encroaching on her family territory. With people, you do really need to work on encouraging Rosie to at least be quietly accepting if not wildly excited at meeting new people. We have found with any of our dogs that are cautious with strangers that they can usually be won round with treats. You could try getting visitors to offer a titbit or a really high rated treat to Rosie when they come to your home. Often with mini schnauzers, the initial arrival of a visitor can spark barking and jumping about so you could try keeping Rosie in a different room initially and have the visitors seated when Rosie comes in and also have the visitor ready with a treat. Rosie should learn that visitors are a welcome experience as she gets rewarded when they come. Try to ensure she sits calmly to receive the treat. If she is very wary of the visitors and will not approach, you could try initially getting them to toss a treat near her and build up gradually to approaching to take it. Try this with willing friends on a regular basis so that you can get a routine going before you have visitors who may not call regularly. Also have a distraction toy / chew / Kong if possible to avoid Rosie barking nonstop.

The situation with the lurcher is difficult. Not all individual dogs get on however much we hope they will be friends. However, it may simply be an extension of Rosie's distrust of other dogs generally and not a specific hostility to the lurcher. Most dogs are protective of anywhere they regard as their own/ their family's territory and will let a stranger dog who enters that territory know in no uncertain terms that they should not have "invaded" their space. You could try a meeting between Rosie and the lurcher outside of the home first or even introduce them again in the garden where there is more space for the dogs to move around and for Rosie to check her out if she wants to.

I would also add - and this may be a major factor in all the above - that Rosie is in her adolescence now. A period when her hormones are firing and, like all adolescents, she may become obstinate, forget training, become more clingy, moody, not want to be sociable and even, on occasion, use her teeth to make a point when she is annoyed or anxious. From six to eighteen months of age in a puppy's life is the most challenging for dog owners and sadly many puppies / dogs are abandoned by their family in this time due to the temporary changed behaviour and temperament of their pet. As with humans, adolescent behaviour varies as to how challenging it may be but it is a temporary phase and will pass. If this is at the root of Rosie's current behaviour, you really just need to focus on training and socialising just as before, plenty of exercise and games, try to engage her with playing games or training exercises with people outside your immediate family if possible.....and patience at all times.

It may be that you will have to be more watchful when out with Rosie if you think she might react when cornered although I do feel that parents of young children should have them under control just as dog owners should not allow their dogs to come into close contact with other dogs on lead unless it has been established beforehand that this is OK.

There are a couple of links here to some more information on canine adolescence, but, do seek out some professional help, if you think there is more to Rosie's behaviour or if you are struggling to make progress. Sometimes, a fresh approach from someone who is not intimately involved with the family / dog can be just what is needed. I am sure you will get there :)

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Schnauzer Sam
Member
Posts: 743
Joined: 28 Sep 2017, 20:40
First Name: Sam
Dog #1: Rosie
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 06 Jul 2017
Dog #2: Edie
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 11 Jun 2018
Location: Guernsey

Re: Unsociable 6 month old

Post by Schnauzer Sam »

Hi Leigh,

Thanks for your comprehensive response and the links.

She's a much loved girl and we're thrilled to have her as an addition to our family. And maybe that's it. With us she has everything she needs and has no requirements from anyone else - human or dog.
Country Girl at Heart (Molly) 8 April 2003 - 22 December 2018

You're never alone when you own a schnauzer

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Rosie-and-E ... 872588622/
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