I have an 5yr old female EBT...most weekends a man from the local community comes round to my house for a cuppa...Molly used to be so excited when he came round, he could stroke her & she used to sit beside him on the sofa. But the other week I went away for the weekend & my Mum looked after Molly.Mum said everything was ok until John turned up..Molly hide behide the sofa at first shaking & then ran upstairs & hid down the side of my bed & didn't come down for hours. John only stays around an hour.
I thought everything would be ok when I returned home, but the next w/e it started again. Today she wouldn't cross the road as he was standing outside my house, she pulled in the opposite direction with her tail between her legs. I had to get a neighbour to ask him to wait around the corner.

She is at the bottom of the garden as we speak & wont come in because he is here....John has a slight learning difficulty so doesn't understand that perhaps he should go home & let Molly come back in doors.

Any ideas??

Very strange that he has come for most weekends and there has been no problem, something has happened in her mind to view him differently, shame you don't know what it is, but dogs don't suddenly act fearful for no reason your mum has not indicated anything different? Just seems very strange, would be good to know where to start with the healing process.

Not knowing the route cause I guess all you can do is make him 'friend' again, the best way to do that is for him to give her something she likes a treat for instance so that she associates him with good things, not scary, you also need to make sure you do not give out any angst around him and act upbeat and normal, you may need to pop her on lead when he is coming so that he can get close enough to give her a treat to start with, but there is always the worry she could become fear aggressive towards him and snap at him, you won't know until you try how she will go, so be vigilant and very careful just incase.

Hopefully after a few treats she will wag her tail when she sees him, not tuck it between her legs. :-)

Hi
Molly has known him for about 2 years. Mum can't think of anything that could of started it...the only thing that when she first when to hide behind the sofa when I wasn't here, is that he did shout at her for hiding..but she was scared before that.
I can't get her near him, even on a lead, as she pulls away with great strength, as you can emagine for an EBT, :-)
Molly is a non aggressive dog, even when a dog bit her nose. So hopefully she wouldn't snap at him, but then again she doesn't get that close.
I know it's bad, but some w/e's I say I'm not here, so to give Molly a break.
I'll be taking him home soon & then she'll eventually come back indoors...it does worry me that she's so scared.

Molly has known him for about 2 years. Mum can't think of anything that could of started it...the only thing that when she first when to hide behind the sofa when I wasn't here, is that he did shout at her for hiding..but she was scared before that.

Sometimes owners can't see what a dog is upset about, but clearly something has upset her. Has she ever been left alone with him? Or has he accidentally kicked her or trodden on her? Not saying it would be on purpose, but clearly she is now very scared of him.

I can't get her near him, even on a lead, as she pulls away with great strength, as you can emagine for an EBT,

Are you trying to get her near to him? I'd not, to be honest. She knows her own mind and if you can't get her to relax in his company then it's not good to force anything, because a scared dog will snap if it has no other way of getting away. (Even a really sweet dog may do this, it's part of the flight/fight thing we all have.

There is a chance it could be medical - it may be an idea to pop her to the vet and get her eyes and health checked out. Just in case.

Lindsay
x

Thanks Lindsay
No he hasn't been alone with Molly... but just talking to Mum about it again, when he did shout at her it was very stern.
I don't force her to be near him, she goes & hides. But I did notice she doesn't shake anymore as she used to when he came in the house.
It's all such a shame..she really loved being with him & used to get so excited .
I thought if she met him outside of the house it would help, but if he is outside when we come back from a walk Molly refuses to carrying on walking...she stops a good 100 yards away from him.
Molly is fine with everyone else that comes in the house, even if she hasn't seen them for a while.
Only Molly knows the secret problem & she's not telling :-)

I agree with Lindsay get her checked out at a vet but she could have accidentally been trodden on but if that was the case my lot would have all left home the amount of times they have been trodden on although they have got their own back !!

Is she treat orientated as I wonder if her favourite treat given by the chap may lure her back into trusting him again ?

Thanks LJS
Apparantly there wasn't any time for paw treading...as soon as Mum answered the door & Molly heard his voice she was gone like a rocked behind the sofa & then bolted upstairs...but like I said she doesn't shake like she did before, if that's any consolation.
If you try a treat with her..she wonders what you're upto :-)  I think body & paw wise she's fine..she leaps around enough when she plays with her friends.
Perhaps I'll ask him not to come round for a while :-{