Hi everyone, I'm hoping for some insight and maybe suggestions on this- (Daisy is 3 1/2 yo. 7lbs)
A couple nights ago, my dad walked to my desk to get something and Daisy jumped up (he was pretty much right above her at this point) and it looked like she tried to grab/bite his shorts. BUT, I think she was sleeping and he may have just startled her. (Her bite inhibition is good, he said he didn't feel anything besides her paws when she jumped on him, so I dismissed it as being startled from her sleep)
The other evening, just Daisy & I were on a walk. A guy (he lives a couple houses away from me), was also out walking. He bent down, she crouched down and kinda crawled over, sniffed his extended hand. And he tried to pet her, and as usual, she ran away. (This is normal for her, she's shy until she gets to know you) So all he did was stand up, and she darted forward growling/barking..(memory is kinda fuzzy now, maybe it was just growling) and seemingly trying to bite at his shorts/hand..
I was horrified. I've NEVER seen her do this to someone before. We walk through stores and the local shopping mall all the time, passing by crowds and never have a problem. (She's also been cleared to visit hospitals, if that makes a difference) So did he just stand up too fast and that scared her? Or because our walking path is exactly the same majority of the time- 99% because we can't go downhill, it's super dangerous.. is she just claiming this walking path as hers and is acting up when she doesn't feel comfortable? Or is it a combo- she doesn't have her usual pack of buddies with her, so now she thinks she has to take charge and protect me?
Also lately, sometimes when we meet a dog (Daisy is on leash) in my area, she pauses for a bit.. the other dog comes closer, and she'll dart forward- growling at them, barking too when she gets to the end of the leash and they're close. But when I tell her to stop, she'll stop and just ignore them, sometimes kinda hang out away from them and do her own thing. When we're out at the beach (yes I admit, she goes off leash at the dog friendly beaches) we never have a problem, sometimes she'll sniff the other dog, other times she'll give them a ton of space. This growling thing is new... like, within the last half a year I think.. definitely within a year though, and only on leash.
Not sure if this makes a difference, but I run a small doggie daycare & boarding from home (licensed and all that good stuff), so Daisy grew up around other small dogs (4-8 dogs). Some of our guest dogs have terrible behaviors- on the group walks they'd bark excitedly, some would growl, some lunged at the end of their leash when other dogs walk by. Daisy would get influenced by this, and always join in. My neighborhood has no sidewalks, so everyone here makes do as best we can- they're all friendly dogs and we typically all know each other. Due to family obligations I started slowing it down and am in the process of closing my business.
I think this is everything, please let me know what you think. Should I be worried she's becoming fear aggressive? She has never drawn blood or bitten anyone, even babies who tug at her hair. What should I do? How do I boost her confidence around strangers- dogs and men? Sometimes if she's too.. scared? like at the vet, she won't take any treats, but I know she likes them because she'll eat it later.
A couple nights ago, my dad walked to my desk to get something and Daisy jumped up (he was pretty much right above her at this point) and it looked like she tried to grab/bite his shorts. BUT, I think she was sleeping and he may have just startled her. (Her bite inhibition is good, he said he didn't feel anything besides her paws when she jumped on him, so I dismissed it as being startled from her sleep)
The other evening, just Daisy & I were on a walk. A guy (he lives a couple houses away from me), was also out walking. He bent down, she crouched down and kinda crawled over, sniffed his extended hand. And he tried to pet her, and as usual, she ran away. (This is normal for her, she's shy until she gets to know you) So all he did was stand up, and she darted forward growling/barking..(memory is kinda fuzzy now, maybe it was just growling) and seemingly trying to bite at his shorts/hand..
I was horrified. I've NEVER seen her do this to someone before. We walk through stores and the local shopping mall all the time, passing by crowds and never have a problem. (She's also been cleared to visit hospitals, if that makes a difference) So did he just stand up too fast and that scared her? Or because our walking path is exactly the same majority of the time- 99% because we can't go downhill, it's super dangerous.. is she just claiming this walking path as hers and is acting up when she doesn't feel comfortable? Or is it a combo- she doesn't have her usual pack of buddies with her, so now she thinks she has to take charge and protect me?
Also lately, sometimes when we meet a dog (Daisy is on leash) in my area, she pauses for a bit.. the other dog comes closer, and she'll dart forward- growling at them, barking too when she gets to the end of the leash and they're close. But when I tell her to stop, she'll stop and just ignore them, sometimes kinda hang out away from them and do her own thing. When we're out at the beach (yes I admit, she goes off leash at the dog friendly beaches) we never have a problem, sometimes she'll sniff the other dog, other times she'll give them a ton of space. This growling thing is new... like, within the last half a year I think.. definitely within a year though, and only on leash.
Not sure if this makes a difference, but I run a small doggie daycare & boarding from home (licensed and all that good stuff), so Daisy grew up around other small dogs (4-8 dogs). Some of our guest dogs have terrible behaviors- on the group walks they'd bark excitedly, some would growl, some lunged at the end of their leash when other dogs walk by. Daisy would get influenced by this, and always join in. My neighborhood has no sidewalks, so everyone here makes do as best we can- they're all friendly dogs and we typically all know each other. Due to family obligations I started slowing it down and am in the process of closing my business.
I think this is everything, please let me know what you think. Should I be worried she's becoming fear aggressive? She has never drawn blood or bitten anyone, even babies who tug at her hair. What should I do? How do I boost her confidence around strangers- dogs and men? Sometimes if she's too.. scared? like at the vet, she won't take any treats, but I know she likes them because she'll eat it later.