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Anxious dog?

Gaff

Active Member
Hi guys :)


I understand that dogs are territorial but I'm wondering if my pup is a bit overly anxious over her territory. I'm worried that she might be too anxious / insecure. If she is, it might be better if I ask help as early as possible.

So here are her traits that concerned me:

1. When strangers and familiar (people she met but are not family) people gets in our house, my puppy gets scared and hide. When she first came to us, she wasn't like and was very friendly to everyone.

2. She doesn't bark. She never bark even if we leave her in her corner at night, unlike other puppies which whines a lot when left. But there was this time when this case of beer, that was sitting on a corner near where she sleeps, was taken away then she started to violently bark. The one who took away the case usually feed and play with her.

I guess most dogs do this but do you think she's a bit too young to be like this? One day she was sweet, and friendly who licks everyone she sees, now she's a territorial beast. Is this normal for a pup? Is she growing up too fast?

Oh yea, she's a bullmastiff and she's just 3 months old.
 

dsmith91163

Well-Known Member
on the lighter side...maybe she was telling you she wanted a keg...lol...she might not like changes..I dont think it is a territorial..maybe she might just need more socializing..take her out more ...go to pet stores ..home depot..parks..and if she hide when people come up to her dont force her just tell her its "ok"..bring her around lots of different things ...my Neo was like that and with new things he would be looking at it but would not bark and I would say its "ok" and move him through it...not pulling or forcing..it's better you start out now...fear biter's are not good cuz you never know when that are going to bite..if she growls/barks put her in sit and down and have her stay there until she is quite then move forward ... you dont want her not to growl or bark cuz she is warning you..and that is a good thing...just be calm and keep up with the sit and down until she is calm
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
Yeah, put that beer back or bring a keg! LOL!

Being just 3 months old, I'd go with dsmith's recommendations - keep getting her out of the house to meet new people and experience different places. Walk around an outdoor mall (far enough from people that she stays calm and can focus on you), go to PetSmart or a garden center (Home Depot/Lowes, etc.) if you want people to come over and drool all over the cute puppy and want to pet her - but make sure she's ready before you do that.

If she gets scared, just ignore it. Don't pet her when she's scared, that will just reinforce the fear.

And you don't want to force her to let people touch her, either. You want the experience to be either pleasant or neutral, but not negative.

Treats always help make things more pleasant - have strangers at PetSmart give her a treat (take some for them to give her) - or give them to her yourself as reward for being curious and not scared.
 

Gaff

Active Member
Hi guys

Thank you so much for your suggestions!

I thought that it might be advantageous if she behaves like that. We live in a country side and it would benefit us if she can help in getting our property intact. But I'm also worried that she'd take it too far and get aggressive to me and to the family too! I just read a thread about a dog hurting another dog in the vet. Surely, I wouldn't want that to happen! Nonetheless, like what you are suggestion, I should try to socialize her more. Do you think it's healthy if I start leashing her? She's almost 3 months.