Do dogs get spring fever and can they then act differently than normal around strangers?
Background: Boy dog, Midnight, 3 1/2 yrs, neutered. Switched to homecooking 1st of March b/c he was not doing well on any kind of kibble. Not a lot of energy / lost weight, so I increased the protein portion. I was feeding at almost 3% of body weight, but I started at 40% of that being cooked meat. I ended up thinking it wasn't enough kcals b/c he stayed tired all the time and have increased to nearly 70% meat with the remainder vegetables. I increased meat just a couple weeks ago. This was the same time frame the behaviour started changing -- and I don't know if it's just b/c he feels better now than he did before. Overall, he does seem to feel better.
So, we go walking regularly. I was overwhelmed when I got him and his sister and did not train them to walk. He is a huge puller. That's not my complaint. Usually, unless a motorcycle or a deep engine truck went by, he would just kinda ignore anything going by. Now, if a runner went by, then he was interested in that and would try and lunge unless I brought out the treats. I think that was somewhat prey motivated, "something running", kinda response.
But, the last two weeks, people would be talking with me or just walking, not running by us, and he would lunge out and up on his back legs, barking madly at them. This is a new behaviour - he would not have done that before with someone just walking by. One time, I had been talking for a few minutes with someone, the guy (a stranger) took a step towards me and he did the same thing. But, in the past, he was always very leery of strangers. We have regular walkers who it took 1 month before he would even let the guy try and pet him. In other words, my dog would not want to get next to a stranger --- he has always been unsure of new people and would have to see you alot before letting you pet him. Now, he is lunging at them.
My guess is that if he were free, he would run up and put his front paws on their chest and be very annoying. But, basically, he has always had a hard time controlling his excitement. If he gets excited and doesn't have anywhere to place that excitement, then he lunges and snaps at his sister - which is always right beside him. Never any actual bites or breaks or anything I've been worried about. Just annoying behaviour. But, now the lunging and barking at strangers is noticable enough that it is a problem.
So, I don't know if changing to homecooking is just making him feel better (he was not absorbing the nutrients in the kibble very well) and b/c he is feeling better, then he is extra rowdy and I've never taught him to direct that rowdiness elsewhere. Or if it's some kind of spring fever thing. Or if it's something totally new.
Oh, and it doesn't happen if we are walking towards the people -- he then pulls like usual.[8|] But, doesn't lunge. Only lunges once when someone cames towards us or when walking by us on the other side of the road. But, not every single time.???
edited: They now go to daycare 2 times a week to help blow off excess energy.
Any ideas?
Lynn