Guest maya's mom Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Maya turned 1 year old last week, and I am wondering if this is an age where they start acting like everything you've taught them the first few months of their life, never happened. My husband and I enjoy taking Maya for walks around our neighborhood, and other places, and the only real problem we ever had with her, was pulling.......especially when we first started out. We used a method that a trainer recommended, of having really good treats on hand, and tossing a treat out, while saying "Find it", and then making her come back to us. Also, if she pulled, we stopped and waited until she made eye contact with us, then told her "this way" and made her come back to our side before proceeding. This worked extremely well for us, and for months, we had no issues what so ever while walking. She never was excited or bothered by seeing people on the walks, or even people walking other dogs. She just kept on walking, and minded her own business. Now that it is dark at 5pm, we have been walking at night for about 2 months now. And I don't know if that has anything to do with our new problems, but when I try to walk Maya during the day now, when ever she sees someone, she totally flips out. I am talking pulling, barking, crying/whining and all sorts of spazing. This can be people in their yard, other people walking, etc. If I stop, she will just sit there and watch the person, and not even acknowledge me. She doesn't care that I have hot dogs, or jerky, or anything. She is totally in another stratosphere and I don't know what to do. If I just try to keep walking, she totally flips out until we are well past the distraction. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I guess I should mention that if she sees someone while on our night time walk, she has the same reaction. And, again, she never used to care. Please help!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedismom Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 What you're describing could be the second fear period that may happen in a dog's development from 6 to 14 mo. I'm sure it's frustrating and confusing. Is it fear based or is she insisting on going to visit with these people and is upset because you're not allowing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maya's mom Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 I feel like she is excited, and wants to greet them. She pulls, jumps toward them, whimpers and cry barks. Usually when she is scared, she backs up and barks. She is definitley trying to get to the people and doesn't like it that I am holding her back. Although, if she does get to the person, or the person comes to us, it is 50/50 on her reactions. Sometimes she does the scared barking, sometimes she licks and wags her tail furiously. But the initial reaction upon seeing the people, seems to me to be excitement....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedismom Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 If it's excitement, then I would not allow her to greet people while acting like a spaz. I kinda like that word. If you're out walking and she starts to spaz out , then turn and walk the other way. When she's calm, try it again. If she can approach ...sit or stand...without spazing for even a short time then click and treat. She lunges..cries...walk away. She should eventually get that she doesn't get to greet people until she's calm. Perhaps you can incorporate some trick training into your walks or vary them in some way. Since she didn't used to do this, perhaps boredom played a factor into starting this behavior? Anyway just a thought. Good luck! Georgia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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