Nervous Pointer

[calibra]

Hi

I am in need of some help. My Pointer seems to be vervous of strangers. She is always alert of her surroundings.

- I have had the dog since she was 7 weeks old. She is now 7months
- I have taken her to parties (not many times)
- I have taken her to meet various people.
- She's not nervous of things such as fireworks, hammer, car's/
- She is not nervous around other dogs.

She is just nervous around strangers. If we are walking in a field and a stanger comes by she comes and walks with me (which I like). However if a stranger bends down and to touch her, she grows or bounces back. If she is connected to the leash, she will bark if a stranger comes to close.

If a stranger ignores her, she approches them and extends her neck to sniff them. After a while she will go near them but won't let them pet her. After about 4 hours, she's made a new friend.

I need to know, can I ever get her over this?. It is stressful for me as I am really fond of my dog.

My trainer says she will never be "normal" however I am going to prove her wrong (I hope).

This is my plan.

- Yesturday I handed by dog to my sister and let her take Rosie to one of her Friends house (I was not pressent). After 2 hours the dog was playing fetch with my sisters friend. She was there 4 hours total.

- This evening I am going to go to the vets and sit in reception for 1hr 30mins.
- I am them going to see if I can take her round my mates house (she has not met him yet) and see how she acts

- Tomorrow evening I will take her to the dog park. I will speak to some strangers and walk with them (if they let me).

- Saturday morning we will be down the vets again for 2hrs waiting around in reception.
- We will then walk around town (should be busy) and the market for 2 hrs

- Sunday (not sure what to do yet)

- May day (bank holiday) I will walk her round the fair (again should be busy)

In June, she starts hunting (the training course).

She is very weill trained and is very intelligent.

Any advise would be good.

Thanks

James

[Wagonmaster]

take her with you whenever you go to Petco or Petsmart.

[Casper]

If a stranger ignores her, she approches them and extends her neck to sniff them. After a while she will go near them but won't let them pet her. After about 4 hours, she's made a new friend.

This is tyipical dog behavior. Expect this and ask every stranger to do the same. The dogs body will tell you when it is ok for the stranger to pet.

[Wesley Boothe]

I had a similar incident with my male GSP. He was given to me when he was 8mo old and had not been socialized very well. When they brought him to me and I walked up to the back of the truck he growled and would not let me near him for about 10 min. Once he started to sniff me I held out a treat and in 10 more min. I was his best friend. When we had people over he was nervous and unsure until they brought out a treat, then he would come over and sniff, accept the treat and had a new friend. Now @ 16mo's he loves everybody. I think that a little maturity(in the dog), patience and understanding on owners part go along way. Treats don't hurt either. Good luck.

[calibra]

Thanks for the replys

> take her with you whenever you go to Petco or Petsmart.

I will do. She goes everywhere with me now. Tonight she is coming to the pub.

>This is tyipical dog behavior. Expect this and ask every stranger to do the same. The dogs body will tell you when it is ok for the stranger to pet.

I agree with you, however I am sure pups shouldn't be this vervous

[calibra]

I had a similar incident with my male GSP. He was given to me when he was 8mo old and had not been socialized very well. When they brought him to me and I walked up to the back of the truck he growled and would not let me near him for about 10 min. Once he started to sniff me I held out a treat and in 10 more min. I was his best friend. When we had people over he was nervous and unsure until they brought out a treat, then he would come over and sniff, accept the treat and had a new friend. Now @ 16mo's he loves everybody. I think that a little maturity(in the dog), patience and understanding on owners part go along way. Treats don't hurt either. Good luck.

Hi

Thanks for the detailed reply. This gives me more hope that I can and will over come this problem. I have had mine from 8 weeks old, and I am sure we socialized her quite a bit. She gets on great with all the people she met when she was really young.

Well fingers crossed I can get over this

Thanks

James

[calibra]

Wow, what a busy weekend I have had.

I have been out with the dog all weekend.

She now walks past people and sniffs people in the street. She now only backs down if someone shows their hands.

So what I plan to do now is give each stanger a dog treat to feed her as she takes food from strangers.

My dog is gonna be FAT lol

James

[snips]

You are doing all he right things. This can be a genetic thing, and the pup may always be this way, but you are definetly helping. I get dogs in here for training sometimes that take a week or two to touch, and I see it in certain lines, of course the ones that have had the most attn adjust quicker Good luck, and keep it up. Hot dog pieces work real good

[calibra]

Hi

I took Rosie to see a specialist today about her being nervous.

The specialist said I am doing things right and it will take some time. However there is no reason why I should not beable to over come this.

The specialist says she's seen this before and 80% of the time it's due to the breader and other people stroking the pups head in the 1st 0 - 6weeks. She said dogs can't see properly at an early age and touching the head is a no-no. The breaders are suppose to touch the bodies rather than the head

THanks

James

[Margaret]

James, James

Are there any other dog "specialists" that could be recommended by say a local obedience class or even Veterinarian?

Please visit my website and look under behavior

www.trader.co.nz/versatiledogs