Dog Community

Hates Old People!

Posted : 5/9/2006 12:29:53 PM

hi!
my names rebecca and iam new on here, i have a big problem with my siberain husky, he is 5months and 2weeks old, his name is Indi. he is a lovely puppy which me and my boyfriend have had since he was 8weeks old.

The problem is that he dose not like old people for some reason, he gets very scared and barks and his heckles go up and he looks really menasin. i dont know why he dose it we have never told he to get old people or anything, its driving me mad, he never barks at home and is really good with little kids and other animals, as we have an indoors rabbit and bearded dragon who he gets on fine with. if he sees an old man cross the road or any old person he just gets realy upset and mad and barks and trys to run away! i really would like some help and advise as he is a lovely dog and i feel like i cant controll this problem and dont know what to do! do i tell him off? or do i try to reasure him? thankyou!
Rebecca Drane
here is a pic of him! Indi

sorry for any spelling mistakes!

forpaws

Posted : 5/9/2006 12:57:44 PM

I know this will sound really strange. But do any of these elderly persons sport a hat or ball cap of sorts? Caines, walkers or objects typically carried by or worn by an elderly person?
If you answered yes to any of these odd questions, maybe it is not the old person but the objects he's scared of.

I am not sure what you could do to stop this behavior either but I am sure one of our trainers or behaviorists will respond soon.

Pretty boy tho!

rebecca drane

Posted : 5/9/2006 1:08:45 PM

i dont think that it is something that they are holding or have like a hat. because i take him around my nans and he dose not even step in the house, we have to drag him in! its mad! any one who looks old he will bark at.

forpaws

Posted : 5/9/2006 1:11:36 PM

Another Q. Has your nan ever stepped on him or tripped over him as a pup. Not intentional of course.
Boy this one is a tuffy to figure out.

sillysally

Posted : 5/9/2006 1:15:34 PM

Don't reassure him. He will think you are praising him, thus reinforcing the idea that old people are scarey.

rebecca drane

Posted : 5/9/2006 1:20:15 PM

no, shes never hurt Indi or been mean to him, she has always had dogs when she was younger, so she is not scared of him. he dose jump up alot at me but not my boyfriend Lee, i dont know if what it could be.

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/9/2006 4:28:27 PM

He could simply be going through a fear period, but it's important to continue to socialize him to new experiences with both people and dogs. I think you should get into a training class where he can interact with humans of all ages in a safe environment.
You can find a training class here:
www.apdt.com
If you don't socialize him on a continuing basis, he may always fear new things. Or new kinds of people.

rebecca drane

Posted : 5/13/2006 10:25:18 AM

hi all!
thankyou all for your help! i had a dog behaviourist to day and we think we might get to the bottom of this, it could be alot about eye contact that people give him and i no now what to do when he starts to bark at old people also we are starting training classes next month to soilise him with dogs and more people! i will tell you all how things goo on in the next few weeks!
rebecca drane

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/14/2006 9:15:38 AM

Rebecca, you don't have to wait till you get to class - arm your "old" friends with dog treats (small, soft ones that are easy and quick to eat). Have them turn sideways and not stare at your dog. You tell your dog "look it's Nan" (or whoever) in a happy voice, and have Nan toss a treat to the dog on the floor. That way, the dog isn't threatened and neither is the person, but the dog learns that people who look like Nan must be ok 'cuz they have liver!!!!

HofmannGestalt

Posted : 5/28/2006 11:45:58 AM

Sometimes it is because of the way elder persons walk and move, that disterbs some dogs. (Slowly, slightly hunching) It almost seems to be creeping about to a dog I think. A type of behavior seen often in individuals which are stalking prey, or sneaking ect.
Do not try to calm your dog, ignore unwanted behavior! Reward wanted behavior, when the dog is calm around an elder person!
Secure it so it wont flee or defend you,and let it watch you calmly and happily shake the persons hand, ect.

denise_m

Posted : 5/28/2006 1:40:49 PM

Hofmann makes sense to me. How can a dog tell if someone is old or young? The body movement would make sense. If it were eye contact, I would suspect your dog would react to more than just the elderly. Try to have your BF do a bit of a slow shuffle and see how your dog reacts.

Patt

Posted : 5/28/2006 9:23:15 PM

Rebecca, I'm happy you are going to start training classes! This will definitely help both of you.

spiritdogs: Thanks for that training class site.

pumaward

Posted : 5/29/2006 6:10:15 AM

I agree with Hoffman, I think it's the way most elderly people move. It took close to a week of every day contact for Maddi to finally be comfortable around my grandmother, but it's because my grandmother couldn't do all the proper dog greetings. She also looked Maddi in the eye a lot while bending over the top of her.

A lot of elderly people don't move and walk like "normal" people do, so they must be "different." At least that's how I think dogs see it.

Edited to Add:
I forgot to say that your puppers sure is beautiful!

jaye

Posted : 5/30/2006 4:54:10 AM

ORIGINAL: HofmannGestalt

Sometimes it is because of the way elder persons walk and move, that disterbs some dogs. (Slowly, slightly hunching) It almost seems to be creeping about to a dog I think. A type of behavior seen often in individuals which are stalking prey, or sneaking ect.
Do not try to calm your dog, ignore unwanted behavior! Reward wanted behavior, when the dog is calm around an elder person!
Secure it so it wont flee or defend you,and let it watch you calmly and happily shake the persons hand, ect.

thats a really good point, i sure never would have thought of that.