Jasmine scared of dogs and people need help

[sharonmansfield]

Jasmine my little blue roan is becoming more and more scared of dogs and people. I thought she had grown out of this but unfortunately the habit has come back she appears to be getting worse and I don't know what to do. She is now 18 months old and since the age of 10 weeks has always been around other dogs and people, we take her everywhere with us so she has been very well socialised. When I meet someone in the street and stop to chat she will bark and wont be quiet. When across the fields and dogs come over she will run off or sit with her tail between her legs and she will yelp if they come near. All the dogs we meet are very friendly and lovely as are their owners. She used to roll around with a huge labradoodle and loved other dogs. I cant think of anything that has happened to make her this away. On lead off lead makes no difference I have tried both.  I have tried ignoring her and just carrying on walking with Bella but she goes to trot off home so I have to go and retrieve her. Tonight I have realised I do have a problem and its not going away.  I want her to have fun with the other dogs like Bella does and for me to be allowed to speak to other owners, they are nice people. Sorry for the long post but I just don't know what to do for the best I love her so much I hate to see her sad and upset. One thing I have thought of is Bella has had poor recall, which we have worked on and is much improved but I had used to panic if other people or dogs were about and rush to get Bella back and put her on the lead so she would not make a nuisance of herself. I wonder if my anxiety triggered this.

[Countrygirl]

I am sorry I have not got any advice, but just wanted you to know I know exactly how you feel.

My last cocker, Sophie, was just like Jasmine.  We had her from being exactly 8 weeks old and on just her second trip out a border collie belted down the pavement and bowled her over.  I put everything down to that, although she was not socialised at all as a puppy as that was not the way you were told to do it then.  She didn't go out of her garden until she was about 16 weeks old and didn't meet anyone other than family until then.

She was terrified of all other dogs.  Sophie was 14 when she died and I can tell you exactly how many dogs she played with in her life.  She played with a poodle once in the churchyard, three times with an old english sheepdog we met on a walk and she liked to stand near a german shepherd that lived up the road.  That was it.

She was terrified of people she didn't know, she would cower behind me if they tried to talk to her, or even worse tried to stroke her, although once she knew someone then she was fine.  I could never let children stroke her, she would just panic.

She hated being in crowded places, all she wanted was to be in open spaces.

Reading this back it does sound pretty terrible, but she had a lovely life with loads of walks in the Peak District, but she really loved her home and was always glad to get back.  The upside of all of this was I knew no-one would take her, they wouldn't have got near her.

I now have Ellie who is completely different.  We got her when she was 8 weeks old to the day and I socialised her like mad.  I carried her everywhere, sat at bus stops, railway stations, outside the primary school at home time so all the children stroked her, let her play with dogs I was 100% sure were vaccinated, etc.  Whether this made the difference I don't know, perhaps Sophie would have been the way she was anyway.

Ellie loves playing with other dogs, although as she was attacked a while ago is more wary, and will go to anyone who gives her the slightest bit of attention.  It is so much easier and she has a lovely time playing with other dogs, but the downside is that anyone could take her, she would go with anyone.

I hope you find a solution for Jasmine, perhaps if I had know about COL when I had Sophie I could have helped her.  Whilst saying that though she was happy little thing, she just only wanted me, OH and our parents and didn't need anyone else or any other dogs.

   

[ryan1980]

We are in a very similar position with Rufus and I have just been searching the net for suggestions. He's excellent with most things and likes people but is very nervous around dogs. Initially he wouldn't go near other dogs and has ran off/been chased off by other dogs before.

Tonight he was off lead when we saw 2 large boxers so I put him on his lead just to be safe, we have met one of them before. When we got close I spoke to the owners briefly and Rufus had a nervous little sniff and then backed away and got more nervous which upset the boxer he hadn't met before and I had to pick him up before he got hurt. He was then very nervous/shaken and couldn't wait to get home.

There are some dogs he is fine around usually the ones that ignore him however these seem few are far between.

I don't mean to jump on your thread just want you to know you're not the only one.

[sharonmansfield]

Hi Countrygirl thanks for your post. Your Sophie sounds very much like Jasmine except the crowded places she is fine walking through town and being with people and crowds in general its when we stop to talk to someone she has a problem and starts barking. Which is a shame as mots people are just admiring her white tail. Like you say she is a very happy little dog and she loves her walks so long as a dog does not come up to her. If she can go to a dog in its own time she is ok its when they bound up to her and force themselves on her the problems start. She has not always been like this she used to love playing with Jessie a huge labradoodle and Jessie would bowl her over but she would get up for more she loved her and would go running off to be with her. I honestly cannot think of anything that has happened to make her become like this I would understand it more if I could. However maybe it is just her personality as she is a sensitive little dog, very quiet and loving and hardly ever in trouble. I call her my perfect little angel, unlike her big sister Bella who is very flamboyant and extrovert and into everything!!! It just upset me last night to see Jasmine so sad when out.

Ryan thanks for your post too, it does help knowing I am not alone,  everyone else I meet there dogs seem to love a good play together. You are not jumping on my thread we all just want a bit of advice as we love our dogs and want whats best for them.

[Countrygirl]

 However maybe it is just her personality as she is a sensitive little dog, very quiet and loving and hardly ever in trouble. I call her my perfect little angel, unlike her big sister Bella who is very flamboyant and extrovert and into everything!!! It just upset me last night to see Jasmine so sad when out.

Those words describe just how my Sophie was, an absolute little darling but sometimes if we were walking where there were other dogs I used to feel sad for her because I knew she would just rather not be there and be safely back at home.

I now have a total role reversal in that when other dogs used to run up to Sophie she would freak and panic to be picked up and the other dogs owner would be shouting 'he/she only wants to play'.  Now when Ellie goes to say hello to a dog who is not sure of her, it is me running to grab her and shouting 'she only wants to play'.

Have to say it took me quite a while, after having Sophie for 14 years, to be able to cope with Ellie bounding up to any dog when she was a little puppy.  The image is firmly in my mind of the day when she was about 4 months old and bounded up to a bull mastiff (it was fine, unlike me who needed a strong cup of tea).

Lots of love to Jasmine and yourself from a cocker mum who understands how it is for you both.

[Ali R]

I am in the same position with Uliss. It's the family joke that Uliss was soo happy when my son left home last year to go to Uni and she can't wait for my daughter to go next year, then all she has to do is get rid of my OH and she can have me all to herself!! She loves her home and her walks around our fields but has no interest in other dogs, people or animals. She is definately a one person dog and is never more than a few feet away from me. I occasionally manage to get to Auckland for a night away and my daughter puts me on the TV via video and lets her sit on my 'doggy walking coat' to watch, how sad is that? However she is really very happy, her little tail goes all the time and she enjoys life to the full. I think that like people all our doglets have very different personalities and some are social butterflies and some are the more retiring type, if they are happy I wouldn't worry. We all know the feeling of being invited to a party that we really don't want to go to, standing in a corner wishing the floor would swallow you up. Everyones different, my Uliss prefers her own personal bubble!! It's just a shame she has to live with three cats and sonic the hedgehog (maltese terrier who is THE life and soul of any party!!!)

[Helen]

We are in a very similar position with Rufus and I have just been searching the net for suggestions. He's excellent with most things and likes people but is very nervous around dogs. Initially he wouldn't go near other dogs and has ran off/been chased off by other dogs before.

Tonight he was off lead when we saw 2 large boxers so I put him on his lead just to be safe, we have met one of them before. When we got close I spoke to the owners briefly and Rufus had a nervous little sniff and then backed away and got more nervous which upset the boxer he hadn't met before and I had to pick him up before he got hurt. He was then very nervous/shaken and couldn't wait to get home.

There are some dogs he is fine around usually the ones that ignore him however these seem few are far between.

I don't mean to jump on your thread just want you to know you're not the only one.

I seriously think you should be looking for dog socialisation classes somewhere.....your behaviour is actually encouraging his fear - by putting him on the lead and lifting him away from other dogs you are telling him that something is wrong and there is something to be fearful of which is making his fear worse 

Please see if you can find some good dog socialisation classes nearby - it will do you both the world of good 

[ryan1980]

The problem is Rufus has been to puppy school and we then enrolled him into a further 6 weeks to help with this but when we were there he spent the whole time hiding under our chair and wouldn't come out unless he was dragged.

Also we don't always put him on the lead when over dogs approach him just when we are close(ish) an exit from the fields where we walk him because he's ran across a road before trying to get away from another dog albeit this was a long time ago but I'd never want to take that chance again.

[sharonmansfield]

Hi Ryan how old is Rufus, poor love sounds like he is really scared, what did they say at puppy classes when he stayed under his chair did they give you any advice to help him? I bet you were terrified when he ran off across a road how awful.
 Jasmine was not like this as a pup she was happy with other dogs its something she has grown into and like I say if a dog is calm and she can sniff in her own time then she is fine its the ones that come charging up that cause her a problem. Is he scared of all dogs.

Ali your tales of Uliss are funny it made me chuckle that you have to have a video link when on holiday she sounds a real sweetie. I totally agree with the different personalities as my other Cocker Bella is a social butterfly and she is into mischief all of the time whereas Jasmine is happy with what she has and has no need to find trouble like Bella does. They are total opposites.

[ryan1980]

There are many dogs that Rufus is completely fine with and will chase after and play with but if dogs come charging over he does get nervous and because of this we're not 100% sure what his reaction will be which is why we often try to pop his lead on him.

This morning he ran after a massive dog who I knew was friendly from previous encounters and he was fine and this evening we saw one of the boxers from last night and Ru was off lead and just ran past him full pelt completely avoiding him. So it definately depends on the dog but I know that I need to be more confident of letting him meet all dogs and be less protective I guess? 

[ryan1980]

Forgot to mention that we are going to meet up with other members from col in bristol.

Also many of the dogs at training were nutters and often they would fight, the trainer was always very good but Rufus seemed a completely different when he was there.

He certainly seems to be getting better because he does socialise and interact with other dogs but also gets very nervous and more often than not will run away given the chance.

[sharonmansfield]

Rufus does sound like Jasmine, she picks and chooses who she likes and I don't know her criteria  
Training class sounds a nightmare, ever likely he hid under a chair I think I would have too.
Good luck at the meet, hope you and Ru have a great time, he might make some little cocker friends.