Advice for lead walking please.

[nan]

I am dealing with the same problem.........fear particularly of noises.

I have an 11 month old Golden Retriever.........very mellow dog. She loves people....they are not a problem. But in the last couple of months she is developing fear when out walking.........some one opens a garage door she freaks out.....(we have one.....no problem here) the other day someone turned on the sprinkler system. If other dogs bark she gets nervous especially if other noises going on. She is fine with our lawnmower. She has walked so great from day one but now it's a problem as she freaks out and starts pulling to get home.

I have two other dogs (one more golden and a mixed breed).....she gets along fine with them. We have play dates with another same age puppy she is fine there. We have been to dog parks........she is great with people..but sometimes when new people or dogs come into the park she barks at them.......but not for long. I feel like we socialize her enough so am surprised this has come about......the fear situation. We had her (Summer....her name) since she was 8 weeks old. She is one of the best puppies I have ever had......so good in the house etc..........much better than my other 2 and half year old was growing up.

I use a gentle leader when I walk her because of shoulder problems and she does not mind it all as much as I can tell.

One thing that did bother me though was the other day at a friends house with her and the other puppy and my two dogs was when the friends neighbors came up to the fence to chat ............she barked and barked at them and seemed afraid of them.

Today I was out in the front yard and young boy stopped and petted her and she was great with him...........a neighbor brought her two year old and she was super with that baby.........I just don't understand all this fear thing.

I don't want to have a fearful dog...........I am doing everything mentioned here plus trying flower essences for fear etc..........so I am hoping for the best for her..........she is such a sweetheart.

I forgot to mention that I had read to take really good treats along to give her when there is fear but she clamps her mouth shut and won't take anything when so scared.

Nancy

[Marina]

Its so difficult isn't it!

Harry always barks at anyone who comes to the house then he runs around them. Its definitely a fear thing but very difficult to get over.

I've asked all our visitors to completely ignore the dogs when they arrive and definitely no eye contact. After a while, when Harry has started to calm down and is showing an interest, I get them to give him treats and he does respond to this. Unfortunately the next time he sees that person we have to start all over again! Its as if he has forgotten them completely. Sometimes he even forgets that they are in the house and if they walk into a room he leaps up barking at them. My son has just arrived home from uni and he has had to start over again with Harry.Last week we had a five year old to stay and while she completely understood at first by the third day I could see she was becoming very wary of him! This is not what I want at all!

We've had Harry for over a year now and our visitors have shown him nothing but kindness so I am tearing my hair out that this situation is not improving!