nervous?

[JenHunt]

Can anyone help?

we have a 6yo black lab. she is gundog trained but doesnt get to go much as my dad can't walk far enough at the moment due to health problems.

the problem we have is that she is very nervous, especially at home and when on a walk - not at all when out shooting. she's always barked quite a bit and has grown out of it a little. she barks if we run down the stairs, she barks at anyone (even us) coming in the front door and she grumbles at anyone she doesn't know in the house. out on a walk she grumbles at people if they want to stop and talk to her.

if we ignore her she does generally come round and then talk to people, and if they try to talk to her before she's ready she just skittles off to her bed.

if you just say No, firmly and not even loudly she cowers like she's beaten regularly (and she's never even been smacked - for anything!)

in every other way she's a lovely little dog, she loves her work and equally well she loves being a family pet.

i think she's just nervous but my mum reckons she's a bit aggressive. what do you think? and does anyone have any suggestions to help?

 

[Blackhawk]

I know you say you ignore her, but do you really? When you are ignoring a dog you need to be aware of your body language (block yourself off from them) and your eyes (don't look at, or make eye contact with them) Ignoring isn't just about voice, they can pick up a lot of signals from us!

She could be both nervous, and aggressive. Submissive Aggressive. One of my dogs is like this.

 

[JenHunt]

particularly when its cos a guest has come into the house, we ask the guest not to look at her, or even put a hand down to her. we make a point of continuing our conversation over her and not even looking at her.
we try to sit down asap, but again not to let her cuddle up to us, or the guest. we've found that if we 'settle' ourselves fairly quickly then she comes round a bit quicker.

 

[Ravenwood]

My lab carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. All my other dogs are and have been very happy go lucky and a bit in your face, so I don't think it was how we brought him up.

He will also cower and act as if I beat him, he runs to the back door if I sigh loudly or if there are raised voices in the house. He was terrified of men - however he is 4 now and is getting much better, he doesn't hide behind me and will greet guests much sooner. Fortunately he adores children and is quite happy with women.

He is also a gundog and goes out about twice a week, then he is a completely different dog!

I really do believe it is that specific dogs personal nature to be like this. When people he doesn't know come to the house they usually try to be friendly and make a fuss but he jumps back and has done a bit of a woof at them but when he is ready he will come forward and eventually be stroked - once he is happy the poor guest can't get rid of him and he constantly paws for more attention!

When people come to the house I explain he is a bit odd and just ignore him which we do and then he comes up in his own time - he is definitely better than he used to be.

I can't offer you any specific advice, especially as your bitch is 6 now, just wanted to show you you are not alone!. I don't think she sounds aggressive just nervous as you have said. I would just tell everyone that comes to your house or comes up to you when out walking that your dog is a nervous sort and then anyone with any common sense should leave her be.