Dog scared of keys !!

[Jillian]

I have a 6 yo collie/lab and she is petrified if a friend or newcomer is holding keys (not close family members). She seems actually petrified, has actually snarled before.

She was a rescue dog 4 years ago. If I take the keys off the person she will quite happily sniff them but when I hand them back she will again be petrified. Has anybody come across this problem before or have any advice how to overcome it.

 

[Cobnut1]

If she's a rescue perhaps she has been "trained " using training keys or normals keys.... only thing i can think of it just make sure that the friend has thier keys in a pocket and hidden away from her, if it's just going to upset her..

The problem with rescue dogs, is that you never know thier background, unless you saw first hand what the situation was.

She trusts you and your family.... don't expect her to suddenly start trusting your friends or other people.

 

[snoopyinfrance]

I have seen 'training' done with keys. When a dog is behaving in an undesireable way, a loud noise is made (usually with keys) to startle the dog. They associate this noise with being 'naughty' and should stop.
Your dog has probably had this treatment and is therefore scared of keys.
It's not something you can train out of her so, I agree with Cobnut, hide all keys on guests!
Good luck with her - taking on a rescue dog is more difficult than a puppy but so rewarding!