Kind of frustrated with the split personality thing... lol

[brattina88]

I've had my Bailey since January - and she has come a LONG way since I've gotten her She's also really attached and affectionate with me, I love her to death.

Here's a little backstory to our current problem... We've been working closely with a (PR) trainer, and doing lots of clicker training. We meet 2, sometimes 3 times a week - and one of those times are an 'outing' where we meet somewhere in public and work on manners and working with distractions as well. Outdoor malls, dog parks, the beach, different parks, pet stores, regular stores, etc etc. She has become beautifully socialized despite her past, and is one of the most well behaved dogs in the class.

Bailey has become very confident, and is generally VERY well behaved - she has a nice, natural heel and great focus/eye contact with me. We've been working on lots of CGC work - letting strangers handle her. But its very situational. If I walk up to someone, put her in a sit-stay, and ask them to pet her, she's fine. But if someone asks to pet her, or acts like they want to pet her, she gets very freaked out and flighty, hits the end of the leash, and can not calm down or listen until I walk a good distance away

But she ONLY does this when it is just me and her. I'm not joking! When the group or trainer is around, she is the picture of confidence. So, I've asked for advice from them, and I've tried what they've suggested, but its hard for them to understand because they litterally NEVER see her acting like that.

We were working with offleash stuff (in a fenced in area) which we've done MULTIPLE times before (with the group). I new person walked in with a very friendly dog, I'd actually met them before with Maddie... She got so flightly that she wouldn't come to me, or allow me to approach her to be leashed. I tried to coax her over with yummy treats, and she just took off in the other direction. I had to put her in an 'emergency down' and approach her oh so slowly... This is VERY concerning to me because we've done/do so much work offleash, especially with her treibball training the more its progressing the more offleash work we will do... I'm not exactly sure what it is that triggers it, because she's played with dogs of all sizes, different temperaments and everything at the dog park... and here one little dog (who was ignoring us) freaked her out so bad she couldn't be calmed down until we left.

Also, my one (close) friend has a scottie and a westie that I love to walk with. Bhen I meet up with her, Bailey is instantly flighty and scary, she tries to slip her collar and won't come out of the car if she knows where we're at. I had the trainer meet up with us to observe this behavior... and she didn't do it So I was pretty frustrated!!! It's like she''s making me out to be a liar LOL. But her dogs are very friendly (the most friendly terriers I've ever met lol) but its kind of frustrating so I left her at home yesterday and just took Maddie... but I'd love to take both of them!

Any suggestions? TIA

ETA: The trainer has been wanting me to get her CGC tested for the past couple of months... she's sure she'll do fine, but I am just not so sure. Or, if she does pass, I feel like it would be a partial lie. lol

 

[Caro]

Often dogs are less fearful when there are lots of other people and dogs around. There is so much else going on its either sensory overload or they are just too focused on everything else to worry about being scared. This is exacly how my female was.

Something I found useful was to teach Tully to go between my legs when she is worried. I had a number of incidents where she ran off in fear (and one time ended up under a car) and have had no problems since teaching her this. It is quite easy, every time she is a little fearful or could be fearful you just stand over the top of her with you legs close on either side. They get the idea pretty quickly that its their safe place to go and it becomes their default place to run to. I also find its useful for me because then I can tell when Tully is scared.

Check out the body language and position of the person when they are patting, it sound like a lot of her reaction is to do with that. Most people when they approach you to pat a dog will be indicating toward the dog and probably standing in front of the dog, they may still be talking to you but the dog is likely picking up the other signals. She is still uncertain what is going to happen. But when you walk up to someone to ask them to do a pat you are probably directly in front of the person and the person will be focusing on you.

Can your friend bring her dogs to you rather than you going to her? At least then bailey will be on familiar ground. Also consider letting the other dogs walk ahead of you to begin with, then they aren't closing in on her personal space and she can watch them without being observed herself. I did a lot of walking like this with Tully when she was fearful and nowadays Tully actually prefers to be in front.

It sounds like you are doing really well anyway, maybe wanting things to happen more quickly. Tully has also developed confidence as she has gotten older. It is still hard to imagine she is the same dog, but good training, persistence and time make a huge difference.

 

[SheltieChe]

she is telling you she is uncomfortable at certain point. Break it down to small parts and work on the edge of comfort zone.
Game is treat -retreat. Whoever she is afraid of sits and starts throwing food on the floor/ ground- one for safe zone- next closer- next further. Point of game- let the dog decide what is comfortable for her and if you ask her question- are you ok with this? she will answer.
You seems to be getting good results and doing great training. Listen to what your dog is saying. Ask someone to videotape you guys, you might learn more once it is in slow motion.