Nervous and protective behaviour - Westie

Hi all!

I am a first time dog owner so I don't know if this behaviour is normal or what I should do about it, please help!

I have a 6 mth old Westie who I have had since she was 8 wks old - she has been fine until around a month ago.

She is with me all day at home and she has access to the garden for most of the day. But she has started to aggressively bark at the neighbours when they go into their garden. This happens to all our neighbours - even the ones that make a huge fuss of her!

She has now started to bark at people when we are out on walks - today it was a little boy - she seemed to be protecting me.

She has got very nervous in the house and will jump up and bark at the slightest noise.

She is normally a very friendly dog (She would happily lick you to death given half the chance!) so this behaviour seems quite odd.

Can anybody offer any advice?

Hallo and welcome

Westies do tend to be quite barky and the ones I know of are quite barky in their gardens! Not saying they are all like that (it's just the ones I know, my OHs parents ones are like that and the ones belonging to a vet nurse I know are like it too...)

Anyway! firstly was your Westie well socialised by you? as confidence in people is part of dogs not needing to bark. Barking is often a sign of fear but it can depend, if she didn't meet lots of different people (key word is different) from a young age it could be part of the problem.

You mention it started a month ago - this could coincide with a period of her development where she's feeling more confident, or it could coincide with the neighbours using the garden more in the good weather?

Ideally you could get a reputable trainer to come and see your dog and give you some training tips where he/she can see you and your Westie in your home and on walks.

Try www.apdt.co.uk for someone in your area.

You could also try teaching Quiet, (whatever you do don't teach Speak! first as that usually doen'st work very well ) or bringing her in when she barks (every single time -however if she is scared, this will in fact be rewarding).

If she is fearful you'd need to desensitise her to what she barks at and conditoin her to associate that with pleasant things, works very well but you may need patience (and help with how to do it correctly).
Remember fearful dogs may look aggressive.

If she is frustrated, just territorial etc then you may need to do more obedience training (bringing her in from the garden may help if she likes it out there but that must be consistent).
Just a few ideas -hope they help a bit

Wys
x

Hi,

Thanks Wys for the warm welcome and informative reply!

She was quite well socialised from the very beginning - in fact we take her everywhere with us. But I did wonder if it coincided with the neighbours using the garden more myself - it could be that she was just used to being out there on her own!

I also wondered if she might be due her first season as I read that bitches can be quite nervous at that time.

I will definately try the obedience commands you suggest and look into a trainer if they do not work.

Thanks again for the ideas, and I'll let you know how I get on with the training.

Ruth

Great advice from Wys!!!

I did wonder about her season, has she had it or is it looking like it will happen soon???


If she is being terretorial its hard as for example...she barks at the post coming....post person goes away...behaviour rewarded....
She barks in the garden at the neighbours....neighbours ultimately go in...
It's best to try to nip it in the bud now...a behaviourist could help, if you want to try first you ill have to try to ensure she isn't rewarded for barking if it's her being protective...so remove her form it, rather than the neighbours moving...if you see what I mean.
Teaching a quiet would help but don't use the command in these situations til she is 100% on it...
Try not to shout at her or say anything to her...as if she sense you are uptight when she barks, she'll think there is a reason to bark....
Hope this helps too!!!!

Thanks Ramble for another informative reply!

She hasn't had her first season yet so that might be it.

I have been ready all morning to bring her in if she barks - and she hasn't done it once! She does normally bark when the postman comes - not a peep out of her this morning!!

Thanks again for the great reply,


Ruth