As you may remember, Matisse got his bronze obedience award last year when he was 10 months old, as we go to a weekly Good Citizen Dog Obedience classes.
Anyways on a good note!
He did his silver and Gold tests in June there and passed, i was very very proud of him! However, he almost failed his gold when he was required to stand up and let the examiner give him a check up like a vet would do. You see, she checked his ears, gums, eyes etc and his front paws, but when she started checking his back end, he started growling and then barked at her very loudly when she contunued to check him. So i had to get the trainer who takes our class (who he's known since he was much younger) to check him and he was fine with that. And he lets me do it too, however i remember when he was younger he had a problem with anyone touching him there.
Anyways, long story short.. Matisse has developed a bit a cheeky attitude. And its quite worrying. He mostly has a thing for men he doesn't know, but he would still growl at women or children if he felt threatened (like the other day when a wee girl approached him while he was tied up).
He hates people on our turf if he doesn't know them, hates men in uniforms and one of our neighbours! The other day he got out of the house and circled our neighbour Tom while barking at him and really looking very nasty. I was so afraid he was going to bite him!!
It seems to be getting worse, although he'll be fine once hes with someone new for a bit and hes generally happy to see girls around my age come in the house, hes become a bit nervous of strangers and if they get too close he'll start with his insane warning barks.
I bought a halti to use while i walk him so if there's someone he doesn't like on our way i can control him better.
I dont even know where this has come from all of a sudden, he was socialised loads as a pup and still sees a vareity people often at the park, obedience class and family visits. My aunt thinks it could be down to his breeding as he has collie and terrier in him, perhaps tibetan terrier which are known to be aloof.
I just dont know what to do..?
please help, if you have any tips or advice at all I'll give them a go
I think he's insecure and its fear aggression, not just agression for the sake of it.
Anyways on a good note!
He did his silver and Gold tests in June there and passed, i was very very proud of him! However, he almost failed his gold when he was required to stand up and let the examiner give him a check up like a vet would do. You see, she checked his ears, gums, eyes etc and his front paws, but when she started checking his back end, he started growling and then barked at her very loudly when she contunued to check him. So i had to get the trainer who takes our class (who he's known since he was much younger) to check him and he was fine with that. And he lets me do it too, however i remember when he was younger he had a problem with anyone touching him there.
Anyways, long story short.. Matisse has developed a bit a cheeky attitude. And its quite worrying. He mostly has a thing for men he doesn't know, but he would still growl at women or children if he felt threatened (like the other day when a wee girl approached him while he was tied up).
He hates people on our turf if he doesn't know them, hates men in uniforms and one of our neighbours! The other day he got out of the house and circled our neighbour Tom while barking at him and really looking very nasty. I was so afraid he was going to bite him!!
It seems to be getting worse, although he'll be fine once hes with someone new for a bit and hes generally happy to see girls around my age come in the house, hes become a bit nervous of strangers and if they get too close he'll start with his insane warning barks.
I bought a halti to use while i walk him so if there's someone he doesn't like on our way i can control him better.
I dont even know where this has come from all of a sudden, he was socialised loads as a pup and still sees a vareity people often at the park, obedience class and family visits. My aunt thinks it could be down to his breeding as he has collie and terrier in him, perhaps tibetan terrier which are known to be aloof.
I just dont know what to do..?
please help, if you have any tips or advice at all I'll give them a go
I think he's insecure and its fear aggression, not just agression for the sake of it.