Hi
Our springer puppy, Digby (5 months old), seems to be doing well in general but we recently had our first male guest to the house and encountered a problem. He would not stop barking and growling for 20 minutes. He did not go near the guest and made no attempt to snap or bite, but still the noise as deafening. A lot of the time, he just wanted to be near myself or my husband.
He did quieten down for quite a while but every now and then, when the male guest moved, he would start up again.
The male friend's wife was with him and although Digby did bark at her at first, he soon calmed down and was eventually lying at her feet calmly.
We had my mum to stay recently and it was the first time that she had met him. He got a bit excited but no growling or anything similar.
We have been out and about and attend training classes taken by a man, and we have not encountered any male-related issues. The trainer can pat him etc. and Digby even shows him his belly. He has never growled at any men when we have been out.
I wondered if this was because if was the first time a male (not my husband) was in HIS house or whether it might be testosterone related (I think he is getting to that age now).
We definitely want to train this out of him before it gets truly aggressive.
any tips or advice greatly welcome.
ThankA
Our springer puppy, Digby (5 months old), seems to be doing well in general but we recently had our first male guest to the house and encountered a problem. He would not stop barking and growling for 20 minutes. He did not go near the guest and made no attempt to snap or bite, but still the noise as deafening. A lot of the time, he just wanted to be near myself or my husband.
He did quieten down for quite a while but every now and then, when the male guest moved, he would start up again.
The male friend's wife was with him and although Digby did bark at her at first, he soon calmed down and was eventually lying at her feet calmly.
We had my mum to stay recently and it was the first time that she had met him. He got a bit excited but no growling or anything similar.
We have been out and about and attend training classes taken by a man, and we have not encountered any male-related issues. The trainer can pat him etc. and Digby even shows him his belly. He has never growled at any men when we have been out.
I wondered if this was because if was the first time a male (not my husband) was in HIS house or whether it might be testosterone related (I think he is getting to that age now).
We definitely want to train this out of him before it gets truly aggressive.
any tips or advice greatly welcome.
ThankA