bckrazy
12-06-2004, 09:14 PM
I was walking Gonzo earlier today, and we saw a lady that we know drive by. She just got a Border Collie puppy, named Kayla, and she always says hi to me and Gonzo. Well, the first time we met them they were walking a neighbors BC with their little boy Matthew, I think he's 4-5 years old. Gonzo seemed skittish with the little boy and woofed a few times when he first saw him, but I gave the kid a cookie and Gonzo took it from him and seemed ok with him. Today when I saw them, the lady got out of the car and came up, and Gonzo was fine with her... then, the little boy jumped out and Gonzo immediately woofed at him softly, then growled softly and backed away. The little boy was about 10 ft away, and wasn't running up or anything. I was really frustrated with Gonzo, I cannot figure him out sometimes, and it was totally embarassing :rolleyes:...
The thing is, Gonzo is great with kids when we are not in our neighborhood. We take him to farmers markets and stores and Petsmart and he will wag his tail and try to pull me toward kids when he sees them, and he will give them kisses and be a very good boy. BUT, when we are in our neighborhood, he often growls or flat-out barks at kids that are near us or approaching him. When we got Gonzo he was petrified of all kids, in general. We believe his breeders either had kids that were mean to him, or he was undersocialized with children. He would growl at all kids, in the store or anywhere. Now he is much better and hasn't growled at any kids for a long time, until now. He has also barked at a few men in our nieghborhood out of nowhere, but he backs away and has his tail tucked when he barks, so I think he is acting afraid of them. It's always little boys or men he barks at, never teenage boys or females at all.... we have been to a behaviorist about kids in the past, and I thought we had worked it out. I don't want him to be viewed as "child-agressive", because I know he isnt.. he lets my baby brother roll all over him, and my 1 year-old neice. Anyone have any input on this, or have been through it? This *only* happens when we are in our neighborhood...
The thing is, Gonzo is great with kids when we are not in our neighborhood. We take him to farmers markets and stores and Petsmart and he will wag his tail and try to pull me toward kids when he sees them, and he will give them kisses and be a very good boy. BUT, when we are in our neighborhood, he often growls or flat-out barks at kids that are near us or approaching him. When we got Gonzo he was petrified of all kids, in general. We believe his breeders either had kids that were mean to him, or he was undersocialized with children. He would growl at all kids, in the store or anywhere. Now he is much better and hasn't growled at any kids for a long time, until now. He has also barked at a few men in our nieghborhood out of nowhere, but he backs away and has his tail tucked when he barks, so I think he is acting afraid of them. It's always little boys or men he barks at, never teenage boys or females at all.... we have been to a behaviorist about kids in the past, and I thought we had worked it out. I don't want him to be viewed as "child-agressive", because I know he isnt.. he lets my baby brother roll all over him, and my 1 year-old neice. Anyone have any input on this, or have been through it? This *only* happens when we are in our neighborhood...