In our house, she is wary of any strangers, but eventually calms down enough. She does not take kindly to strange dogs entering our home. She has one doggy friend who she plays very rough with (besides her sister), a large black german shepherd.
She has never bitten anyone, dog or person. Just growled (and never at us), which is when we usually try to get her away until she is calmer, then try a slow re-introduction. When we went on vacation last year, we had to train her not to bark and growl at passerby in the small cottage. Eventually she only did so to the occasional dog passing by. But she will lung both towards and away from other dogs while whining and barking, and she does not like people coming up to her in public, unless properly greeted and with a treat, and then it still takes about a half an hour for her to be calm around them.
Could very well be a dominance thing too, but I'm at a loss on how to treat it. We have tried different methods, and everyone who meets her and us tells us something different- trainers, experienced dog owners, vets. They all say something different. The trainer at a pet store who tried to help me teach her "heel" told me I should bring her in to the free puppy socialization classes they offer, but I am afraid of her going after one of the young dogs. She tends to lose it the second she hears a bark.
Little example of our problem with her and other dogs. A boxer was loose at the top of my street, and we were approaching my house on a walk. He sprints towards her, and since she didn't see him coming she didn't react right away. He sniffed her, nose to nose, him wagging his stubby tail enthusiastically. She is standing very still as this is happening, and I tried not to make any sudden movements with her, trying to coax her away in case she were to react. And then, he puts his paw on her shoulder, and she loses it, growling and snapping at him. Suddenly they're both going at it as I try to lead her away and the owner finally comes out to get her dog. (Right away, the woman asked, "Is that a pit bull?" in a slightly accusing tone. All I told her is that she is half boxer). Cass is not as calm around little dogs. She lungs towards them, always towards them. And if she gets close enough, she snaps at them as if they were a squirrel.
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