Observations: Spirit is showing defensiveness as opposed to aggressiveness. He's not likely to lash out unless he is cornered or forced. He's very leery of being touched by someone unknown. This problem most likely stems from the physical problems that the owner described when he was a puppy.
Recommendations: Since budget is an issue, my primary recommendation is not being followed, that of 12 lessons to bring him not only along in this issue but to use obedience (as well) to deal with the behavioral issue. In any case, this is not going to be a short term fix and SPIRIT SHOULD NOT BE PUSHED TO PEOPLE RIGHT AWAY.
The Compromise: Since Spirit is a smaller young dog, there is a chance that the owner could walk him through this without increasing her knowledge about obedience and how it affects and improves behavioral issues.
THIS WEEK: No one is to be allowed to 1) bend down and pet Spirit 2) pick up Spirit or 3) give Spirit a cookie themselves as a stranger. The reason for this being, is that Spirit needs to learn to trust his owner to keep him safe in just an approach or walk by first. Just because Spirit trusts his owner to handle him, does not mean he trusts his owner to keep him safe as others handle him. (please remember that these things have been tried already without progress)
Spirit is not to be left loose in the house with strangers or those he does not know well. I want the allowance of his chasing and barking at strangers through giving free reign to stop until he starts to trust more.
We want to develop an active interest in Spirit (not a defensive reaction) to strangers approaching or moving quickly or running by. That is of primary importance before allowing anyone to touch him.
I have instructed the owner to work with Spirit one hour a day at least. This hour does not need to be all at once by the way. I normally recommend four different (and active) locations to be rotated. (IE Kittery Outlets, Beach when busy and near but not on top of people, Ellis park benches on the walkway are good--Short Sands), and walks around downtown areas like Portsmouth.
It is the owner's responsibility to not allow interactions from over zealous people. They can stop and talk to you YOU can sprinkle kibble or cookies on the ground near the people, but allow Spirit to feel the freedom of approaching without being cornered or handled immediately.
I am going to send you instructions on the sit on the dog exercise. If you do it correctly, this will be good for Spirit. If you do the usual mistakes and leave the leash loose and interact with him during this time, there will be no benefit to the exercise.
Walking him around the area on leash is good to. Remember, you need to block unwelcome attentions. Unwelcome attentions are any moves to pet or dart forward at Spirit. He is to be on leash, obviously, so you can pull him in if he is going to try to dart forward at anything.
Got a spooky dog? We provide training and behavior modification for all dogs. Call Mannerly Mutts Dog Training, Maine Dog Trainer, at 207-361-4395 OR e-mail for your Maine Dog Training needs mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.
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