Help With Josie

[~Helen~]

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Hello, I just wanted people's thoughts on how to deal with a change of behaviour in my whippet bitch aged 21 months. She's a lovely, gentle, biddable girl who has always got on really well with other dogs, and has socialised with plenty of other dogs right from the beginning. However, she's becoming more and more protective of my 7 month pup, Lola.

Every time another dog approaches to play with Lola, she chases them off with a growl and bared teeth. This started about a month ago when Josie had just come out of her second season and I put it down to hormones. However it's getting more and more marked, and now she's willing to have a go at any strange dog that comes to sniff at Lola (she seems okay with dogs we see regularly, although is a bit agitated and constantly checking things out and keeping an eye on Lola). She doesn't bite, but she gives these strangers a good telling off and I'm forever apologising to owners.

I don't want to over-react or be angry with her when she's doing something that she obviously thinks is the right thing to do!

I say "No!" and put her on the lead and talk to her firmly to reassure her that everything's okay, that Lola's not in any danger. Is this the right approach? Will this behaviour ease off soon? (Her season was over just before Christmas, so about 5 weeks ago, which might be significant)

I'm not sure what to do for the best and would value any similar experiences or ideas of how to tackle this.

:thumbsup:

 

[OEH]

I'm afraid I can't help, just wanted to send Josie a big :huggles:

 

[Joanna]

I have the same thing with Archie! He will even tell Fynn off for talking to other dogs.

If you read up on pack behaviour, 2 is the age they become protector and suffer from obsessions. In the wild , she would be parenting by now, and it is instinctive to want to protect. I am trying different approaches with Archie but find the lead will often antagonise the problem and cause fear aggression. I am taking Archie to smaller parks where dogs are running free and just trying to reassure. I think if you get anxious, the dog will sense it, but saying that it is hard not too. Do you remember Archie with Fynn as a pup........He really told Josie off for sniffing him, yet couldn't bear him. It will improve, just keep praising Josie when she is chilled around other dogs, try and fuss them and show you aren't worried, and don't jump in to early if she is grumbling, it is a bit of an instinct and may well not go any further than a warning. Hopefully they grow out of it.............I'll let you know :lol: (w00t) :- "

 

[Rae]

Hi Helen,

I cant beleive it - Josie :wub: - not perfect? (w00t)

I think it takes a few months for them to settle down after a season - Holly is especailly grumpy about 6-8 weeks either side. (Mind you she's a total nutter anyway so it's hard to notice the difference :wub: / :- " )

Can you remember anything that triggered it off?

Although it may be hormonal, you dont want her learning to do it so that she will still do her new trick, after her homones have settled. I'm certainly no expert, but if it were my lot I would call Lola over to you and keep her close to you, so that Josie knows you are in control and doesnt feel the need to protect her. Jas Josie somehow associated another dog coming over to sniff Lola with her being told off? In which case it might be worth calling Josie over too and giving her lots of treats and fuss when another dog approaches - hopefully she can build good associations and accept that you are in control?

No doubt that is a load of twaddle and someone will have some more sensible advice to offer, but good luck.

:luck:

 

[~Helen~]

I cant beleive it - Josie  :wub:   - not perfect?    (w00t)

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I know!!! Can you believe it - just shows, nobody's perfect :lol: not even Josie!

 

[*Lesley*]

Sorry no advice to give but hope it sorts itself out :luck: :luck:

 

[Strike Whippets]

IMHO Josie is guarding Lola because she's a baby and Josie see herself as "doggy" pack leader (this is different to overall pack leader) ............Jacob is a perfectly well balanced boy until he has a new pup to "look after", he can become very nasty if he think's a pack pup is under threat .........You saw my 2 pup's at Berkeley, and even though they looked sharp to you and other's, it's a pack thing as Connie look's out for Little Eir all the time :wub: ........Connie has made this her thing to do (pack placing) as she view's him as weak :b .......Same as Inca feel's the need to keep everydog she meets in line as she's an Alfa bitch of a strong pack of 8 ............Perfect, spot on dog behaviour to her and me, but deemed a nasty bitch to most .........

 

[05whippet]

IMHO Josie is guarding Lola because she's a baby and Josie see herself as "doggy" pack leader (this is different to overall pack leader) ............Jacob is a perfectly well balanced boy until he has a new pup to "look after", he can become very nasty if he think's a pack pup is under threat  .........You saw my 2 pup's at Berkeley, and even though they looked sharp to you and other's, it's a pack thing as Connie look's out for Little Eir all the time  :wub: ........Connie has made this her thing to do (pack placing) as she view's him as weak  :b .......Same as Inca feel's the need to keep everydog she meets in line as she's an Alfa bitch of a strong pack of 8 ............Perfect, spot on dog behaviour to her and me, but deemed a nasty bitch to most  .........

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I would tend to agree with this,I think that she is just looking after Lola who she sees as a baby and possibly the season has contributed to this as her maternal instinct has been maybe stronger,I don't honestly think it is anything to worry about and as Strike whippets mentions to her it is perfectly natural.

Our male is exactly the same with his girls and now that we have the two pups (one is a male) he is even more protective,but I let them get on with it unless of course he gets out of hand but as of yet he just warns!

 

[Janimal]

Helen, Ive had exactly the same problems with Oscar and Kobi (2 males as opposed to two females).

I was like you really worried when it started - he would be so protective over Kobi.

A big help was Alfyn (Debbie) who pm'd me whe I had similar problems and then I spoke to her on the phone - she was a great help. :thumbsup:

I'd never really come across the 'pack behaviour' thing having only ONE dog in the past - so this was all new to me also, and worrying when you think your so called 'nice normal dog' starts acting aggressive and warning other dogs off.

Even when dogs want to play and have fun with Kobi, Oscar is so jealous ... and warns them off. (w00t) which makes other dog owners worried :blink:

Try to relax Helen when you have them out and be in control when other dogs approach - as the more I tensed up about the situation - the more Oscar behaved like that if you see what I trying to say. :luck: :thumbsup:

 

[chelle123]

will be watching this post closely cos i have the same problem, tess is 7 years old and we got blue who is now 18 months and since his accident tess is very protective, at the min i put tess back mon her lead and let blue play cos he neds to socilise and it lets tess see that he isnt in danger and is allowed to play with other dogs. Dont know if its the right thing but have to try and get a compromise somewhere

 

[~Helen~]

Hi everyone, thanks for the advice so far. I will not worry, and try not to tense up when it happens. You're right, it is normal (I suspected as much). Hopefully this will fade as her hormones re-balance themselves!

Thanks Jo for the tip about putting her on the lead causing fear-aggression, she does go a bit loopy when I have her tight to my leg on the lead because of course the stranger dogs all come in close for a look-see then!

Do you think actively welcoming and getting down to fuss the stranger dog would help Josie see that he/she is not a threat?

 

[Nicola]

Do you think actively welcoming and getting down to fuss the stranger dog would help Josie see that he/she is not a threat?

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I have the same problem with Fred.

I try and use this approach with reasonable success. I wouldn't actually get down and fuss it, but I give it a big cheery greeting, 'Hello...aren't you lovely...what a lovely dog', in a really praising, welcoming voice. It does work most of the time. The few exceptions are with certain dogs that I know that Fred will never accept....I then distract him with treats or in the worst case scenarios, put him on a lead (makes the situation worse, but at least i can prevent anything horrible happening).

 

[~Helen~]

thank you! :cheers:

 

[~elizabeth~]

This is interesting, different sex, different age but we've started to have similar problems. I'd tend to agree I think it's to do with pack behaviour too. We've been walking a lot with OEHs girls recently, and he's come to think of them as his pack. He has plenty of other regular (and mainly female) walking companions but I dont' think he counts non-whippety types as proper dogs :wacko:

A couple of times before xmas we encountered the odd slightly randy, dominant male dog. Normally Gelert is a very, very good with other dogs, does everything to avoid confrontation, lots of tail wagging to demonstrate he's not a threat, runs away if we meet one that is overtly aggressive in any way. But with the girls I have noticed him looking slightly grumpy and heard the odd low growl when an interloper gets too near, defensive rather than aggressive.

Just after Xmas, OH had him out and he was overjoyed at meeting a new whippet friend in the park when one of those dominant black lab males barged in, hackles up. OH heard ours give a low growl, next minute the lab was on top of him, and he had a nasty tear in his throat which needed immediate stitching. Normally he wouldn't have stood his ground like that, I think he slipped into protective mode because the other whippet was there, and the nasty lab just had a really short fuse.

I have to say since then he's been fine - we've had 2 incidents with other aggressive labs since (seems to be an epidemic), each time he just avoided eye contact with them and was very sensible (unlike our friend's lab that we walk, who always escalates things :wacko: ), but it's something I'll have to keep a close eye on from now on, and try to distract him immediately a situation like this arises again.

 

[imperative]

just looking out for her