I have a question. My BT Junior is great with people and dogs inside the house and running around in the yard. Now when we get outside of the yard he will not let anybody pet him. At agility don't know if it is all the people and dogs or what but he likes to growl at the other dogs. He does get along with an intack male shepherd a bit. But does not care for people coming to close, he will growl. I have had them offer treats but to no go, but will take it from the shepherds owner with out a problem. When we walk all 5 dogs he will barks at people sometimes. If we just walk him and Taz he is fine. When my husband is out with him he said that people can pet him no problem. He must feel insecure with me, yet he does follow me every where and listen's to me pretty good since I'm the one doing all the training. We have had him through obedience, novice, Kaos 101, and now agility. My problem my fault I never really took him out any where and only had people come over and visit, I was more a home body with him. Would this have alot to do with it and why he is only friendly with everyone when they are in the home? Taz and Tiva went every where with us and are fine in the home and out. MY vet said he's scared and does not feel confident in himself when he is out and to work more on his obedience when we r out, problem now it is winter and they get cold real fast. I did in the summer and now we live close to a park. Agility is coming up soon here to. Do u think he will soon learn to know he is safe outside of the home too. I know I should of socialized more outside of the home, I thought it did not matter till I really started reading alot. My fault. Does anybody have anyother ideas that may help, sorry so long? Just curious on what u all think. he does let the agility people near him, pet, and give him treats. I'm stumped. :(
thanks ttfn :)

Hi Doll,
I think the key part is when you say your husband can take him out and everything is normal for other people. Is he just as accepting of other dogs then?
What happens when you and your husband go out together with Taz? Does it seem to have an affect on his behavior when the 'handler' changes? Try it out to see what happens. If you can, arrange with some friends to approach you each time after you've switched over.

If his bad behavior is only when you have him, it could for several reasons...but related to you.
1) You are feeling afraid or uncertain when others approach and he's picking up on it. It's either a 'protect' mode to make you safe or he's afraid because you are. (feelings are contagious.
2) He doesn't have confidence that you could 'handle' the situation of other dogs/people and he's taking charge in his doggy way to warn anyone off.

He is obediance trained... so you might try putting him on a 'sit' and if he growls at anyone approaching, say "no" in a loud firm voice. Have the other person stand there, while you put him on a heel and do a large 360 right back where he started to 'meet' the other person/ or dog.
It might help to show him that you have things under control, but that he will always end up right back where he started no matter his behavior.

The other method is rather indirect.... join someone who is sitting on a park bench (friend?) and put him on a sit/down stay in between you both. Just ignore him until he loosens up a bit. Then practise doing the same when walking up to other people.
hth give you some ideas, :)
good luck,
toodles

He does bark at other dogs when out of the yard, if they r in the yard he is ok.
When we go out with just Taz I have Junior and hubby has Taz. We did have a dicky dee man (icecream man) come over and I told him to be careful and he said don't worry if he bites he bites I know and love dogs, well he just bent down and petted him with no problem. I noticed that Junior does act up lots when we have the other boston's with us, we did do alot of walks this summer in the park with just him and Taz. Maybe I do tighten up on his leash because I know he will start misbehaving :(, could I be the one triggering this behavior?
I will try what u suggested, that sounds like a great idea.

This would of been my fault for not properly socializing him out of the house right? Rather then that in the house he is perfectly fine, everyone's friend. I have talked to owners of their (Tiva and Junior's) pups and they said that they are fine, but they take them every where. I have a couple who has 2 of their pups (male one is intack) and they have never left their house or been on a leash (I have told them they may have problems then, no socializing. We are all planning on going for walks this summer in the park). They brought them over one night and all my 5 dogs and their 2 played great together, except their intack male did mark in my house and I told them they will have to keep him on lead.
Thanks again for the ideas. I'll even try them when his agility starts up again, lots of people and other dogs there.
ttfn :)

Well Doll, between you, me, and the internet, I do happen to think that the paranoia regarding 'socializing' a dog is rather overblown at times. I've known enough dogs when I was growing up who spent the majority of the time in their large yards or houses from puppyhood. Occasionally, they'd get out for walks and behave just fine around other people and dogs. Sure, it usually takes a moment for settling down, esp. with a younger dog. But there wasn't this 'pressure' to raise the perfect dog that would be 'wrecked' if a single step was left out.

Yes, your apprehension can transmit itself down the leash to your dog. He also feels how you react from being right next to your leg. He might be more 'assertive' when the Bostons are with him because of simple pack mentality of safety in numbers :) There's a lot of things that he could be 'thinking'...but it's how you treat his behavior that truly matters, imo. :)

Remember, every spot he's in, he will view differently. Inside your house, your yard, your car, even certain parts of the walk... it depends on his feeling of security, territory, other 'buds', and his mood. Watch him and learn where he's predictable... then anticipate his reaction, and last minute, do a quick change of your behavior that forces him to pay more attn to you than someone else :) I like to keep my crew off balance... It's when I grow complacent and predictable that they tend to act up :P :)

hth makes you feel a bit better... just remember though, I"m no expert and this is just 'stuff' that I've felt out over the years, so it's not gospel truth. Just go with what 'feels right/natural and the two of you will be able to find out the right 'path' for you :) Geesh, I'm sounding like an evangelist now :P :) :D
regards,
toodles

Thanks for taking the time. Maybe if I do things a little different each time it will get better. I always follow a schedule, that I never really knew I had till hubby pointed it out. Me schedule freak here :(, so that could be one thing. He knew what I was about to do all the time because I never changed anything. Guess hubby is right should let loose once in awhile and not always be so predictable. Thanks for the replies and I will try them, and also have hubby walk him more to. It's nice to get other opinions because it does point things out that u never realized, thanks.
ttfn :)