We just rescued a lab / shepherd. Knowing a little about his background, we know he was abandoned outdoors with his mother and siblings and has bounced around from the animal shelter to 2 different foster homes (not for any bad reasons). He is about 7 months old, and initially he was very skittish. Within a few hours, he went from being skittish to being like glue on my wife. He follows her around, licks her, cuddles up on her. He is gradually starting to do the same towards me - I can pet him, play with him, he licks me too. Overall he's a very sweet and smart dog - he loves other dogs and cats.
The problem is that it seems like this happens maybe 2-3 times a day where I will come in from outside, come up or down the stairs, or be playing with him and just stand up, and all of sudden he will start barking at me uncontrolled for several minutes. He will circle around me, just barking. He won't show his teeth, or bite, but seems to go into a panic state. So far it's always when my wife is around. Otherwise, if it's just me and him, things are generally good, he's just a mildly untrusting.
What we've tried is: 1) Is her coming up to me, hugging me. 2) Tried sitting on the couch and ignoring him. 3) I've also tried to challenge him (by just chasing him and not backing down) thinking he may think of himself as alpha. None of these have worked. What has worked: Is having my wife put him into submissive position until he calms, at which time I'll come up and pet him on his belly. This just works temporarly (for a few hours) - although he is really a smart dog, I'm not sure if things are really improving.
Reading many differet posts, it seems like he may have a combination of fearful and protective aggression. I've read a few things that this may go away in time due to his past. I've also read that he may think I'm Alpha, and he's 2nd, and my wife is 3rd, and he is protecting her (even though I'm not hurting her).
Has anyone had this issue before and has been able to solve it?
Thanks.
The problem is that it seems like this happens maybe 2-3 times a day where I will come in from outside, come up or down the stairs, or be playing with him and just stand up, and all of sudden he will start barking at me uncontrolled for several minutes. He will circle around me, just barking. He won't show his teeth, or bite, but seems to go into a panic state. So far it's always when my wife is around. Otherwise, if it's just me and him, things are generally good, he's just a mildly untrusting.
What we've tried is: 1) Is her coming up to me, hugging me. 2) Tried sitting on the couch and ignoring him. 3) I've also tried to challenge him (by just chasing him and not backing down) thinking he may think of himself as alpha. None of these have worked. What has worked: Is having my wife put him into submissive position until he calms, at which time I'll come up and pet him on his belly. This just works temporarly (for a few hours) - although he is really a smart dog, I'm not sure if things are really improving.
Reading many differet posts, it seems like he may have a combination of fearful and protective aggression. I've read a few things that this may go away in time due to his past. I've also read that he may think I'm Alpha, and he's 2nd, and my wife is 3rd, and he is protecting her (even though I'm not hurting her).
Has anyone had this issue before and has been able to solve it?
Thanks.