I have a 17 week old rotti who i take to socialising classes each week and once a fortnight to ringcraft. He is fine with anybody he knows but as soon as he meets someone he dosent know he backs away and turns his head to nip them, there is no growling or snarling. i have been told to take him out and let people stroke him as much as possible, but find that because he is a rotti they are not to keen to do this is there any thing i can do myself to put a stop to this behaviour

Thanks

Please do NOT let people stroke him at this stage - he's already showing by his behaviour that he's not comfortable with it, and to force him to accept it would not be beneficial :(  He needs to learn that by coming forward to interact with humans he is rewarded with things he likes - which, if you look at it from a dogs point of view, is not a great hulking human leaning over him, possibly making eye to eye contact (which he may well be perceiving as threatening) and then, finally, putting a hand over his head, possibly (so the dog thinks) to grab him :(

I think you're going to have to do a lot more work with him in your socialisation classes before you can allow people to stroke him out on the street.  How is the socialisation with humans handled in your classes?  Are dogs expected to stand and accept being patted on the head or are careful introductions made and dogs watched for signs of stress?

What's he like at home when you have visitors?

Hi Digger

At the classes its more with getting used to other dogs than people and he does back away from them aswell.
Once he has met anyone he is fine and so pleased to see them. He seems to find meeting anyone abit scary when they first come into the house and will back off, then will put his paw out to touch them after a few minutes he is all over them. He seems to be unsure of everybody and at the classes he dosent like the other dogs to be to over friendly and jumping around him till he has got used to them. At the ring craft there are alot of other rotties there all older than he is and they all get on together but they all have a growl at him as he has only just started going. I am hoping to show him so really do need to no how to handle this and what to do to get him used to other people. The trainer at the ring craft has said that he needs to meet other people and to take him into town and let them stroke him but not to sure about doing that as i think it will only frighten him even more. At home he is fine with me and my husband and when our son comes round, he never growls or anything like that and we dont have a problem with him with biting that you usually get with puppies he only did that for a short while and it stopped. He is never on his own as my husband works from home so has had alot of attention and is played with alot and my husband takes him in the car with him if he has to go anywhere. The backing away is the only problem we have him he is a very loving and friendly dog where we are concerned and with anyone he knows

I think maybe things have been a bit too rushed, and being a more sensitive dog, he's not handled it well.  Situations like this really need one to one work with an experienced trainer who can give some hands on advice really.  Does your vet know of any trainers in your area with an interest in behaviour work? Preferably a member of the APBC or UKRCB, or failing that - a member of the APDT with an interest in behaviour work.  I can tell you what I wouldn't do on the 'net, but without seeing the dog, it's hard to tell you how to move forward, as each dog will vary :(

Hi Cazz,

Sorry to butt in here but I agree completely with Digger - you have to work on his confidence first and must not under any circumstances put added pressure on him by encouraging anyone to touch him when he clearly doesn't want them too.  If you think about it, if you had a small child that was clingy to you and cried if picked up or cuddled by someone else you wouldn't dream of forcing them to cuddle a complete stranger would you?   We often inadvertently expect too much from young dogs who are introduced to a miriad of frightening experiences, objects, noises etc all within a very short space of time :(

>as soon as he meets someone he dosent know he backs away and turns his head to nip them,

Your above statement is physically impossible in that he can't be doing both actions at the same time so you have to look at it as two separate issues.  "He backs away" - he doesn't want that contact *head on*, probably because it seems threatening.  If he "turns his head to nip" - he is being approached *from his side or rear* and that is coming into his blind spot, so it frightens him.

Hopefully you will come back with the info Digger has already asked and it will give a clearer picture.  Regards, Teri :)