Frodo

Question
Frodo is a neutered Labrador springer spanial cross dog of 22 months. He has never been good with kids but i've put this down to the fact that his exposure to children has been exceptionally limited as we don't have kids ourself. Usually he will jump around children barking loudly but has never snapped, until yesterday.
A little girl asked if she could sroke him, I said he was a bit nervous but she could try. She moved very slowly and offerd her hand to Frodo but he automatically snapped. If my partner had not had a firm grip i think he would have bitten the child.
He has had alot of dispruption in the pack order in the last year. My partner, the Alpha male has spent 2 months away at a time coming home for a month in between.Prior to that when Frodo was a pup my partner was at home all the time. Frodo is confused by this coming and going and has displayed signs of depression when my partner returns. He stays in his bed and won't greet anyone or play. He normally gets over this and the relationship gets back on track after a couple of weeks. Just to add to his confusion my partner has now taken a full time job in the UK and we have had to move house to accomodate this. So more upheaval for the dog! He also has a dog walker who comes in on a regular basis at lunch time and we have had no problems with this in the past. But this is also changing to a new walker and I am concerned this is all too much for him. Can you suggest ways of making the dog feel more settled in the pack? My partner and I have quite different ways of managing him. He is very well behaved with me but i let him get away with things my partner doesn't (sitting on the bed, that sort of thing) He is musch stricter than I am.

Let me know if you have some advice.

Many thanks

Karen Thomas

Answer
Hi Karen,

So the big problems are Frodo does not like kids or change.

Consistency between you and your partner will go along way, so hash out a compromise between your methods and stick to it.Keeping things as normal as possible, even when things are in upheaval helps: walks at a regular time no matter who is home or where that home is, regular meal times, maybe a special something that he and your partner do together when he comes home etc.

The other thing that helps is to act like how you want him to be, not how he is. If he appears depressed, happily take him off the dog bed for a nice walk with your partner.

Introduce his new dog walker to him gradually and I think he will be OK. He is making a new friend!

As far as kids go, don't continue to let him greet children in the hopes that all goes well this time. He has given you valuable information and you should honor that. Either dogs like kids or they don't. There is no room for error with children.

Some good books to read:
Scaredy Dog
Help for your fearful dog
Children and dogs
All are available at www.dogwise.com