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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Dog Breeds > Cocker Spaniels > fearful 20 month male (n)
Expert: Delores Beck
Date: 6/27/2008
Subject: fearful 20 month male (n)
Question
He was kept in a kennel with litter mates til 1 yr old, so badly undersocialised. Now copes well with traffic etc; copes ok (if cautiously) with people. beginning to relax with bouncy children. Utterly terrified of cats (except our own, who he's happy with if a little prone to jealousy when we pet her). If he sees a cat he turns tail and runs, howling. if he smells a cat he gets very anxious and I can't get his attention. He used to be brilliant with other dogs, but now behaves the way he always did with cats. For the 8 months I've had him I've had the policy of ignoring his fearfulness and carrying on as if everything was just normal. But this hasn't helped, and he's now so bad that I need to re-think the whole thing. He has never been attacked by either a cat or a dog, so I don't understand why he's got so much worse. And he used to invite all dogs to play. Still does sometimes, but I can't figure out what the fear trigger is. Any advice?
Answer
It seems as if he's improved a lot on some levels (traffic-people-children) and now is fearful of other dogs?
I need to know how he demonstrates this? Where this happens?
Just on walks or when another dog visits? What do you do when this happens? How well trained is he in general?
You've taken the right attitude in not comforting but "carrying on" as if all is fine. And it sounds like you've done a great job with him in general. Take heart - this is solveable.
Delores
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