[cigwyllt]

Quick recap - Bonzo is 5 1/2 months old and my parents have had him for 4 weeks. He is super affectionate, lots of typical playful puppy behaviours, great off lead and very submissive to people and other dogs no matter what size they are - he has yet to meet another dog as big as he is!

The only problem is that he growls at strange people when they come into the home. My parents have a narrow wooden deck around the outside with a gate. Because mum can't walk all her visitors know to open the gate and walk through to the door and let themselves in but Bonzo is scared of everyone he hasn't met before.

I saw his behaviour for myself today. A lady came to visit - a great dpg lover but not that dog savvy. He was outside on the deck and I went to let her in. I was trying to encourage her to ignore him but she was calling him in an excited voice as she had brought treats for him. He cowered on the deck growling with his head turned away from her.

Within moments he was taking the treats from her hand and wagging his tail but I was with him. I'm not always going to be there when someone comes to the door and I think people will be apprehensive of this big growly pup - even though he isn't agressive.

What is the best way to handle his nervousness?

[lange]

it's so quiet in here lately...

I think people should be apprehensive about a growl. Nervous or scared dogs are the dogs that are more likely to bite. Poor thing. I think he should be ignored by visitors until he changes. I know it's hard!! Or should I say people can be hard headed?

Can your parents leave some treats by the front door w/a sign that says something like, "Ignore the dog when you come in but please take a treat, drop it when the dog comes around and walk away." Or something like that? That way every person who comes in stops being a threat & starts being a treat. Especially since you can't be around to work with him.

**Just want to add..he might be going through his second fear stage so hopefully if no one traumatizes him, he'll get better soon.

[cigwyllt]

It is quiet isn't it! Maybe everyone is out enjoying their dogs. In our corner of the UK it is grey and horrible.

That's a great idea about the treats - I'll sort it out today. I've suggested it to people in the past when they are out walking or to keep by the front door but I hadn't thought of the gate.

He does actually like people - he is as soft as butter and wants affection but he is scared silly of strangers. I guess coming from the village where he was he didn't see many strangers. He'll get used it - has to in our household!

Off to town to get some suitable dog treats! Thank you!

[lange]

The weather is def changing. For some of us it's hot as summer then a few days later (like today) cold as winter! Crazy weather.

I hope it helps Bonzo (such an adorable name btw!! Is there a meaning behind it do you know?) I was wondering, if Bonzo is more scared of strangers at home verse public? I know my guys are so much more on guard at home but out in public relax with strange people much more.

[cigwyllt]

I think the problem isn't so much Bonzo's behaviour as my parents' reaction. They are all getting better. He still pees submissively when he meets someone new and when he is very excited. We had someone visit yesterday - the perfect doggy visitor. Didn't make eye contact, didn't look at him and just dropped a treat for him. Within minutes he was nuzzling up to her and rolling over for a scratch.

When we are out he takes his cue from my dogs, particularly my Patterdale who just adores people, but he still flinches if someone touches him by surprise. A young man on a skate board stroked him as he passed us and Bonzo threw himself to the ground but immediately recovered and carried on running with my dogs.

His recall is fantastic. I love to see a dog with an invisible bungee strap that will bring him back to his owner and Bonzo certainly has that. He runs ahead as though he will never stop then turns and rushes back to Dad. I must admit, after Ianto who was a lovely dog but never learned to come when he was called, I feel quite emotional when I see the pride in my dad's eyes when he lets Bonzo go in full confidence that he will come back.

Bonzo was a cartoon dog from the 1920's and was popular when my dad was young. The name was also used by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah band in the 60's - I am one of the coolest mums on the planet because my teenage daughter and her friends thought they had discovered the Bonzo Dog Band and when they found I actually had all their music on vinyl I could do no wrong!

Here in the UK Bonzo is the sort of name that everyone associates with a dog although very few people actually know a dog with the name - a bit like Rover or Rex.

[lange]

I understand. Kuma & Wrigley were both tinklers. Wrigley out grew most of it after a year but will still do it on rare occasions as a submissive gesture. Kuma stopped at about 7 or 8 months but surprised me a couple weeks ago when she did it again but only to people outside of our immediate family. She does it out of excitement. She loves friendly people.

Now I'm surprised I've never heard of the name Bonzo before! I must not be as well rounded as I'd hoped. lol

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

His recall is fantastic. I love to see a dog with an invisible bungee strap that will bring him back to his owner and Bonzo certainly has that. He runs ahead as though he will never stop then turns and rushes back to Dad. I must admit, after Ianto who was a lovely dog but never learned to come when he was called, I feel quite emotional when I see the pride in my dad's eyes when he lets Bonzo go in full confidence that he will come back.

That is just wonderful!!! I can completely picture seeing that.