My 10 month old bitch is really nervous around people.  When we are out on a walk and she see's someone coming along she starts barking at them.  If she hasn't noticed the person and they are next to her and say ah she's lovely and go towards her to stroke her she jumps back and starts barking, then the person who tried to stroke her jumps and won't go any where near her.  She the most gentle natured dog in the house and lovely with my four children.  Can anyone give me advise.

Hi,
Have you tried puppy classes. Normally they start at 12 to 14 weeks, but plenty take older puppies. There she could be socialised with other people and other dogs. She oviously loves you and your children but is weary of strangers, or she thinks she has to protect you. The other thing you can do is use a friend she has not met, allow her / him to approach with plenty of tit bits. :-)
Try classes.
Good Luck

The only classes near where I live are 6 miles away and I don't drive so it's difficult for me to get there.  I do try to introduce her to people when we're out and ask them if they'd like to stroke her, but they are usually off put by her barking.  When the brave one's do she calms down in a couple of seconds and enjoy's the fuss and attention.  When friend's come over she usually get's used to them after a while but if anyone makes a sudden move or loud noice she dives for cover or try to get behind my leg's.  I thought she would have grown out of it by now.  She's a lovely girl but i'm afraid if she doesn't grow out of it she could get aggressive with strangers out of fear.

What breed is she?

She def needs alot more socialization...

Junior was like that when I got him at almost 4 months of age, I did alot of obedience classes, novice, some fun classes and some agility with him- it really paid off- was going to put him into flyball but the kids got into sports so we ended up going that way...  I found after a couple years of this he was a changed dog and something I worked very hard on and knew if I didn't I could have a problem on my hands- we also walk around the park every summer so he gets to meet and greet people and some dogs. Usually if we are out at the park I will put him in a down stay while people/ dogs walk by and I don't stand to close to him, he had to learn he was ok in a down and I would protect him not the other way around, I always praised/treat him every time. If someone was walking their dog by I would just say leave it/ sometimes a pop on the leash at the same time b4 he could act up, after awhile I didn't have to say it anymore. I know once summer gets here again he will prob need a reminder when he acts up.

When people come over ask them to just ignore her don't go up to her, give them a treat and when she comes close then they can give it to her, but allow her to get close on her own don't force her at all, tell them not to give her eye contact as some dogs see this as threatening and to offer a closed fist under the chin not above the head because they can't see that and most dogs will bow away or see it as a threat, also just bending over a dog to pet them some will see that as threatening sometimes better to crouch to dog level and offer a closed fist under chin and no eye contact look away. When someone comes over put her in a down and make her stay there while you answer the door and they come in- once all is calm then allow her to get up- so work lots on your downs and stays. Do not suck her up at all when she starts barking and hides behind you cause then your just feeding into her and telling her that she's doing good, instead you can tell her good girl then tell her enough or to stop, lay down and stay and step away- she gets up repeat. I know easier said then done lol I found the down position works pretty good as most dogs find it hard to bark and they also feel alot more vulnerable in that position, must be a full down with their back legs off to the side if they are in a crouch position they can bounce up alot faster...

Best of luck and hope I was of some help :)

Thanks for the advise guys my little girl should be starting full time school soon so  i'll have more time to get to the classes that are available and won't have to rush back to pick her up.

In answer to your question dollface she's a beagle so she should be really sociable we also have a boy who's 18 months he's really full of himself and not shy at all and she definatley rules the roost with him thats the confussing part. 

I'm sat here wondering why a dog would be afraid of people?

Having had numerous pups and dogs in my life it is not something I have come across, pups are usually inquisitive and happy go lucky and usually need to have inforced recall to stop meeting and greeting everything and everyone they come into contact with. :-)

Puppy classes are certainly going to help a lot, but nethertheless it does not answer the question why she has a fear of people.

I know that my first thought is going to be unpopular with you but please try not to be offended I am trying to help you to understand what may be the cause. My first thought is that she is growing up with a now 18 month old and a child just about to start school.

we also have a boy who's 18 months he's really full of himself and not shy at all and she definatley rules the roost with him thats the confussing part. 


Perhaps she  has had to learn to defend herself with this child, not meaning that he hurts her, but a loud, demanding child can unsettle many pups, having tails pulled, being told off for hurting a child all affect a dogs confidence, the first few months of a pups life mould it's character generally for life, if your pup has had screaming, boisterous children to contend with in it's socialising window this could well be why she is nervous of people to start with now. Many people make the mistake of getting a pup with toddlers and creating a dog with many basic skills missing or them becoming overly demanding. She may now be able to hold her own in the home with your children, but that is because she has learnt to live with them, she does not have the same authority outside the home, which may be why she is at first nervous of new people.

Of course this may not be the case, but it is something I wanted to point out which you may not have thought of. There is always a reason why a dog acts as it does, if you can find that reason you can begin to help and re-socialise/train. :-)

My second thought is that she has only just started this behaviour?  If so, at her age this is understandable dogs go through 2 phases of what we can call a fear factor, she is at that age at 10 months, when she suddenly sees the world in a different way to her younger puppy years, she's maturing and becoming a young adult and the world, other dogs and I guess in her case people become more of a threat and for her survival she is extra careful and wary having lost her cute puppynesss, she may be just acting on instinct which if she has no bad experiences will right itself and she will be her usual happy go lucky self by the time she gets to 12 months.

You just need to have a real hard think as to whether this behaviour is new or is usual. If usual than my bet is the childrens behaviour has a lot to do with it, in which case perhaps you need to give your dog a place of her own away from them, many breeds are very sensitive, help to give her a quiet, calm place of refuge invite plenty of people in but don't make a fuss of her, allow her to approach people, or just give her a quick pat 10 mins after arriving.

If this behaviour is new then socialise and show her there is nothing to fear, it will pass. :-)

> we also have a boy who's 18 months he's really full of himself and not shy at all and she definatley rules the roost with him thats the confussing part. 
>
>
> Perhaps she  has had to learn to defend herself with this child, not meaning that he hurts her, but a loud, demanding child can unsettle many pups, having tails pulled, being told off for hurting a child all affect a dogs confidence, the first few months of a pups life mould it's character generally for life, if your pup has had screaming, boisterous children to contend with in it's socialising window this could well be why she is nervous of people to start with now. Many people make the mistake of getting a pup with toddlers and creating a dog with many basic skills missing or them becoming overly demanding. She may now be able to hold her own in the home with your children, but that is because she has learnt to live with them, she does not have the same authority outside the home, which may be why she is at first nervous of new people.
>

I think you may have misunderstood I believe the 18 month old is a male beagle :)

Very confusing, the OP has 4 children?

If the 18 month is a dog, why the reference when the dog is afraid of people? But to answer that question for the OP a bitch will generally rule the roost when old enough so is of no consequence to her dealing with people.

Thanks satincollie for pointing that out. :-)

I think because many people don't realise confidence in one area does not translate to the same in all areas.

Many people are really surprised when their dog who is good with dogs they know shows fear of other dogs and the same with people.

Sorry to confuss everyone, yes the 18 month boy is my other beagle.

My children are 3, 5, 7, & 10 they are all girls and none of the them are loud or boistrus they love the 2 dogs and are really good with them they respect the dogs and never do anything like pulling tails etc which I see with friends dogs and don't agree with. The bitch is closer to my youngest daughter than anyone she follows her everywhere.

That is really good to know, puppies in general will relate to the smaller children the most as they are of similar size and maturity and make better eye contact. So many people do not realise the effect young children can have on a pups character and insecurities, glad to hear this is not so in your case. :-)

Have we deduced whether this is a new (age induced behaviour) or whether it is a long running problem?

If it is long running, perhaps some more details of when it was first noticed and if you can think of anything that has triggered it or makes her more insecure, is it over friendly people, men, woman, people with dogs/without other dogs, there are many techniques to help once we can find a trigger, along with more people socialising it helps to get to her real fear.