Dannyboy220 Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) I have a yellow Lab Dylan, he's 4.5 years and we have had him since a pup. Always been fine with other dogs, people and kids. Yesterday we took a parcel in for my neighbour who came round to collect it. My neighbour is an African lady, now the dog has barked a couple of times when we have been around other black people but to my knowledge has always been on the lead and controlled quickly. Yesterday when she came to the door I was doing some decorating and my dad was by the door. He opened it and the dog ran out. He apparently growled a bit at my neighbour who clearly isnt keen on dogs and was noticeably agitated. I came down to the door and Dylan ran out the front gate into the road. I followed and tried to call him back, which he wouldn't. Then my neighbour after collecting her package left my garden and went on the path to her own. Dylan caught site of her 100 yards away and got past me towards her. She again was scared and ran to her garden but didn't close the gate. The dog got to her and was barking, yapping his teeth and jumping up. He didn't touch her but she was upset obviously. I took him for a walk today and kept him on the lead (whereas normally he wouldn't be) While our he barked and growled at another dog and on the way back as we got home my neighbour was walking to her garden. He tried to bark again and growl but I had him on the lead and under control. Anyone have any ideas. He is normally reasonably ok with recall and as I say we don't have this problem with any other visitors or people we meet in the park. It does only appear to be those of a different background to our family. I am worried this could be a real issue in public should a child ever be around. Edited April 3, 2013 by Dannyboy220 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 I would take him to vet for a health check up if nothing else has changed and he has just started this for no reason, in case there is an underlying health issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy220 Posted April 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 Okay that's the first step. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) The person he is growling at has a different skin colour,and this has confused your dog,and when confused he going into protect mode by showing he is not afraid. Could you explain your predicament to your neighbour and get her involved by introducing the dog to her while she has a few treats on her person, he will soon associate different colour with good things. Edited April 3, 2013 by welsh1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 If the barking at the dog is an unusual occurrence then I would suggest the dog may have a health issue you need to get diagnosed. I don't think dogs particularly differentiate people by skin colour, but if your neighbour is afraid of dogs and acts in a frightened way around them that can cause dogs to act aggressively. If the dog is normally calm though, something has happened to the dog that probably needs investigation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 The person he is growling at has a different skin colour,and this has confused your dog,and when confused he going into protect mode by showing he is not afraid. Could you explain your predicament to your neighbour and get her involved by introducing the dog to her while she has a few treats on her person, he will soon associate different colour with good things. This is familiar to me. I had two springers years ago. Both fab dogs around people. They went to work with me in the truck and were great with all the clients. One day I was working at a place owned by Joan Armatrading. I was chatting to her other half and all was fine until Joan walked up to join in the conversation. The dogs went ballistic, the younger of the two flew to the back of the truck obviously terrified. A weird experience. They hadn't even heard her music Seriously, good call by Welsh1, follow the advice it worked for mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 4, 2013 Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 Oh, dogs do react different to people who look different, its inbuilt into them for both defence and hunting (strange is scary, different is the weak one). If the Lady was African then its highly likely she has a real fear of dogs (large black ones more so culturally) you teach your kids never go near dogs period in a land were Rabies is common, this fear dogs also pick up on and exploit unfortunately. To the OP- the actions described will put your dog on the dangerous dogs list if the lady complains, they do not have to actually bite! Get help to control it correctly and quickly, if its genuine nasty and not sick or needing training then do the right thing before someone gets hurt dogs can do a massive amount of damage to a human adult or worse a child. Just a note, has the dog got a purpose in life other than to be a pet? Working bred dogs without an outlet can become hell on legs. It might well be needing one and its something many town based trainers fail to recognise in correcting the dogs behavour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy220 Posted April 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 Ok thanks again some good points. I'm not sure she will hold treats for him but I have a customer who would I think. I don't ink it's a health issue as I said he has always had a growl at anyone black we go past. But the vet appointments booked for a checkup. Turbo. I'm possibly a bit young or uncultured to have heard of Joan but I get your point. Kent, yes he is a pretty good gundog when I'm out alone with him. He's out every week all day being worked and then while I'm at work be has the wife around so she walks him to the shops ect. Was bought as a pet originally but since I have taken up shooting he has become an active prt of that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 4, 2013 Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 Ok thanks again some good points. I'm not sure she will hold treats for him but I have a customer who would I think. I don't ink it's a health issue as I said he has always had a growl at anyone black we go past. But the vet appointments booked for a checkup. Turbo. I'm possibly a bit young or uncultured to have heard of Joan but I get your point. Kent, yes he is a pretty good gundog when I'm out alone with him. He's out every week all day being worked and then while I'm at work be has the wife around so she walks him to the shops ect. Was bought as a pet originally but since I have taken up shooting he has become an active prt of that too. Sorry but a good gundog stops when told. Do not under any circumstances allow strangers to give the dog treats at best you will end up with a dog running up to strangers begging ( still disconcerting and frightening to a dog phobe) at worst a dog that runs up to them to commandeer and steal any food that they might have. Treats have their place but not here, some trainers give and recommend treats for anything- fine if you want a dog to dance or walk on its back legs, this is not the issue here though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted April 4, 2013 Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 There is something wrong with your dog and you need top get him a check up at the vet. If you have had him since a pup he should know well that when you (his master) want him to come back to you, that is exactly what he is to do. I would not be confident in taking him out if he was not going to listen. If this is allowed to go on unchecked he may just take it to the next stage up and actually bite someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 4, 2013 Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 There is nothing that unusual about not being sure about peoples skin colour, I've had jack russels like it and a colleague who is South African reckons it works both ways over there so basically the dog is racist. In my first house this was seen as a good thing as the crime rate wasn't great round there and we never had problems However you do have to make sure it doesn't go that step further so you'll have to start walking in different areas and it does wear off, the having a go at another dog while on the lead isn't actually that unusual. If yours is normally off many change entirely when given the security of a lead my current one is spot on off with other dogs but get one that growls at her while on and thats that she is a bit keen to settle things so the key is not to over react but be prepared and work with it. There is a chance it could be related to a health issue but those two events on their own I wouldn't be taking it out and shooting it just yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 I have to say that the best dogs will not recall with the correct stimulus on occasions. If there is a tasty bitch to bother I don't even try recall as it will only teach disobedience I go and get! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted April 5, 2013 Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) Here you go Dannyboy..... Joan Armatrading. Edited April 5, 2013 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy220 Posted April 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 (edited) Haha I have been educated thanks Turbo. Edited April 5, 2013 by Dannyboy220 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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