Doesn't like strangers

by Dawn
(Greensboro, N.C.)

He wants to bark and growl when he sees someone he doesn't know. I'm actually afraid that he would bite someone, if given the chance. How can we stop this? How can you stop aggressive dog behavior?

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Jan 20, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Strangers
by: Anonymous

I let my dog know "we are safe". As soon as he knows I feel safe & he's "checked it out", he stops barking. I tell him I am "safe".

Inside the house, he can't see out. When he hears something & barks, I open the door so he can "check it out". When no one is there, or not near, I say "we are safe". He's done his job. He stops barking.

When we walk, he doesn't bark or growl.

It's my job to protect him when we are out. It's his job to protect the home when we are home.

Hope this helps. It worked with my other dog too. "We're safe".



Oct 04, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Doesn't like strangers
by: Dawn

I saw Jonah's picture. Our Brady looks a lot like him. They're such cute dogs. I know we've spoiled him, maybe that's why we're having trouble with him. As of now, we're being strict with him. We do plan to use the muzzle on walks in the neighborhood. I', not letting him in the living room, that's where he gets in a chair and barks at people and dogs walking by. He's having to stay in his backyard with me......he won't stay out there by himself. We're just doing one walk a day. Hopefully, we'll find a doggie park. Thanks again for all the good advice.
Oct 03, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Dawn
by: Vicky & Jonah

You r welcome. I am talking from experience @ a little over 1 yo, Jonah turned into CooJo when we would walk weather they were on the other side of the street or mine. I tried turning around walking the other way etc bc if he even went into a sit certainly stay was not in his agenda.

Since he had not been around alot of other dogs it was his easy fix of being afraid. I knew I had not socialized him alot so I went to the dog park. He was very shy at 1st but we keep going. I meet so many really grt 8 ppl & eventually he even moved from my side at the park. It did not happen ovr night. I aimed for twice a week.

Pretty soon we were walking & low & behold other dogs were not a big deal. I also thought of a muzzle so what u r thinking is normal. I was so grateful that I owned a Coton, a dog I had my eye on for 20 yrs I forgot they were not some fluff ball to spoil but they also needed to b good citizens. (-:

Jonah is the one up on the right of all the Coton pics up above on this website w/ the light green backgrd from grass @ the dog park.

Angelic face & wonderful breed but as we, far from perfect.
Oct 03, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Doesn't like strangers
by: Dawn

Many thanks to Vicky and Jonah. We're backing up and starting over with our Coton's training. He has been in control too long, therefore we're taking control by being firm with him. In time , hopefully, he'll start behaving in a good way. We loved your suggestions.
Oct 03, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		agression
by: Vicky & Jonah

Just one more thing. Everyone has a preference but I am not fond of choke collars. I do like harnesses. It does not need to b fancy or a no pull harness just one that fits well w/your Cotons hair type since using one does cause their hair to mat where it rubs.

Control of their bolting & aggression can b as simple as stepping in front of them or using your left foot to block their forward bolt. The harness prevents unnecessary pulling around their neck & for myself easier to control pulling them back to my side along with a happy let's go, back or Ah Ah.

I'm not saying my way is the only way but they really r small dogs & once u get the focus back on you in retraining they aim to please & want you to b in control.
Oct 03, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Your dog is afraid of strangers
by: Vicky & Jonah

How 2 walk a dog. Know sit, stay(stay means stay period). Stay does not mean wait their is no tolerance of movement when it comes to stay. This command can mean life or death to a dog if it does not understand this command. Walk w/a 4' or 6' leash only not retractable. The dog walks by your side on left. Walk means walk not sniff & pee. Let him per & poop out front b4 you leave your house.

If u can use a friend to practice w/their dog walking back & forth in front of you in front yard preferably, once they know STAY practice w/your dog so they learn impulse control against aggression. (Can also b used to teach not chasing cars or bikes)

Use Animal Planet Its Me Or The Dog Victoria Stillwell u tube video to help learn how to teach. The more u research a video you tend to pick up items you may have missed 1st time.

If u have been talking to your dog & treating after aggressive behavior you have been rewarding him for bad behavior.

The more you socialize a dog w/ other small dogs bc your dog is small the more they will learn not to fear them. You cannot socialize enough!!!

When your dog sits & barks in a window @ passer bys as they move away the dogs thinks "Yep I did that I chased them away". You r the pack leader you need to portray that you r in charge & will protect them. Always b aware of what's coming & going on your walks & when you see the problem approaching put them in a sit stay. When they lunge step in front of your dog walk toward them which forces them to move backwards & back in sit stay.

Remember if you get them out of the house in a socialization dog scenario it will make aggression easier to control bc they won't care that another dog is out walking bc they r not so afraid of the unknown.

Big dogs will b a separate scenario bc of course it's a new challenge. If for now u feel more comfortable w/the muzzle use it bc something in side of you has already warned you that you have lost control & you also need to build back up your confidence that you can do it.

Cotons r wonderful dogs but they r dog's. They r a dog that if chewing a rawhide or dog bone & you want them to stop that they know the drop command bc if you try to take it out if their mouth they will try to take it back & May nick your finger. Mayb an over exaggeration scenario but dogs see yes or no. Their is no maybe in their vocabularies.

Good Dog U Joel Silverman r also good u tube videos. If your dog is apprx 3 yo compared 2 human yrs is 21. A person's brain is not fully developed at that age saying they r still learning. So is your dog. They want, need & thrive on direction.

Some ppl do not realize that teaching tricks teaches impulse control. Go to your local book or pet store & read through 101 dogs tricks by Kara Sundance & see if this may b the book you'd like. If not Find find one. Give yourself time to read through b4 purchase so your happy w/your investment.

What you r describing what your dog is going through Jonah went through & most dogs do. I think maybe it's been going on for awhile & since your dog thinks he in charge has been getting worse. Well he is just your typical teenager & time to reel him back in to proper house & public behavior just like you would a child.

Dogs r just children with fur. The easiest way to take control is go back to the beginning & start over as if he knows nothing & relearn sit/stay. As you walk every 100 steps make him sit/stay to practice then say let's go move on. Practice practice. Start fresh as w/a clean slate & retrain which is easier & less frustrating.

Good luck you will b fine. Dogs r forgiving & very willing to relearn w/u.


Oct 02, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Doesn't like strangers
by: Dawn

Our Coton is 3 1/2 years old. He seems to have been acting like this for the past year. We do correct him by diverting his attention away from people that come close to us. We talk with him and give him a treat. He loves all of the family and seems to be too protective. I purchased a muzzle today, b/c I'm afraid he'll bite someone. We haven't used it. We really hate to do this. We'll only use it on walks. Do you think this will help?
Oct 02, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		walking
by: Vicky & Jonah

Let's start w/walking. How old is he? Did he start off walking fine & he would let ppl come up to him & pet him.

Then in between 1-11/2 he now has turned into the crazy dog that when he sees a person or dog & person even on the other side of the street he sounds like he wants to tear them apart.

As a puppy from 0-approx 1yr dogs may do the bark growl play but r not aggressive even in your bigger breeds. Then approx 9 mo a yr they hit the teenage yrs where they will start the bark this is my turf & I will do this if I want. What r u going to do about it.

Where is your dog at exactly?

Oct 02, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Doesn't like strangers
by: Dawn

Our Coton is so good when he goes to the Vet. He's groomed every 6 to 8 weeks and they always say how good he is. Even when we board him......there's no problem. It's just with us, especially when we walk him or when someone comes to our house. We don't know how to handle this. Maybe a muzzle would help. Has anyone tried this?
Oct 02, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Strsngers
by: Vicky & Jonah

If you can visit the dog park on the week days in the morning you will find that (No offense) the people r older like myself where most of us have had dogs or the breed mix of little dogs is not so high strung since we r older (-:

Remember that you need to b comfortable or your dog will not. Start in small dog part where I'm hopeing they r separated by big & small.

If the people that r their make you nervous it will also effect your dog.


Oct 01, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Doesn't like Strangers
by: Stanley's Mommy

Even though he might get comfortable. I would still be very vigilant. I would not want your sweet baby get put down, because of someone else s behavior.

One day we were at the park and a little wanted to pet him, I was like no way and moved him to the other side. he doesn't growl at children but i know he growls at men and only men, I don't want to take a chance.
Oct 01, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Socialization
by: Vicky & Jonah

Start getting out to your local dog park where he learns that strange people aren't so bad after all. Anyone at a dog park will help if you tell them what's going on that he's afraid of strangers.

Every time he growls & they go away he says to himself "Yep I did that" (-: Now their gone".

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