Dog Community

Need some ideas on a behavior....

Posted : 11/29/2007 5:21:26 PM

Ever since I got Oliver at three months old, he has been "forgetful" about where people are in the house. We live in a three story house, and most of his time is spent on the second floor. Well, if someone goes upstairs for ten minutes, when they come back down he barks at them like they're a complete stranger even when they get completely in the room. Once the person says something and he recognizes the voice, he calms down. Before that, he barks and his hackles are raised. If he can see strangers coming, he is better.

FWIW - Nothing traumatic has ever happened in my house with strangers. I instruct all visitors to ignore him until he is calm, and then they can calmly greet him and give him treats.

Is there anything I can do to turn the tide on this? I'm reading it as a fear reaction and I certainly don't want this to progress into fear biting or other problematic behaviors.

LilacDragon

Posted : 11/29/2007 6:08:42 PM

Just out of curiosity - have you had his eyes checked?

spiritdogs

Posted : 11/29/2007 6:29:41 PM

LilacDragon
Just out of curiosity - have you had his eyes checked?

Yeah, that was my first thought, too.

g8rfrog

Posted : 11/29/2007 6:38:40 PM

Thanks for the suggestion! I haven't had him in specifically to have his eyes checked. My vet is pretty torough and even if I take him in for a tummy upset they check his eyes, heart, etc. Should they be looking for something specific? He goes for a bordatella shot on Saturday and I'll ask them to check his eyes out again.

He just turned one and doesn't seem to have a problem finding objects large and tiny (especially the ones he ISN'T supposed to have). We completed beginning agility class and he had no problems focusing on and clearing obstacles.

I guess I am a bit stumped because he doesn't have any other fear issues - loves everybody, all dogs, all cats (although they don't love him), cautious around weird new things (like jack-o-lanterns) but will check them out. OK, he hates the vaccuum but I don't feel that is unusual. Wink

Cita

Posted : 12/1/2007 4:31:52 PM

What if people talk to him as they're coming down the stairs? ("Hey buddy, here I come!" sort of thing) Also, are they really "thumping" up and down the stairs? Maybe the noise upsets him? My BF's family's new dog does this a lot of times, too. He barks like crazy at the boys, because they gallop down the stairs like overweight elephants. I tend to step down quietly and he doesn't bark at me at all.