Could Dogs Have Anxiety When Guests Leave?

[shelly]

Okay, so I have this GREAT dog!  She's smart, lovable, agile, a snuggler! BUT - she turns into Cujo when some people come over, and when my son plays outside with friends. Here's my tale of woe.... There are some people Tori just barks at constantly when they come over.  People say "Wow, I never had a dog NOT like me".  And these are DOG people.  I don't think she doesn't like them, she has no reason not to... perhaps she picks up a scent on them - their dog????  Sometimes she loks like an attack dog at the door, that people are afraid to come in.  Once they come in (if they're brave enough to attempt it)she's usually fine... until they leave.  She barks right up at their legs nudging them with her nose.  Once they leave, she runs to the window seat, jumps up and barks fiercely.   I'll try and  video tape her and upload it.  Forget it when a delivery person comes she totally freaks out barking and running from one window to another with the zoomies like you've NEVER seen before sniffing and pacing everywhere.  And just tonight she did 'her thing' (which I mentioned before) - herding my 5 year old nephew barking at him all around the house.  I really have to have a behaviorist come and see it... just hope it's not too late

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Some of what you're describing is fairly typical for a herding breed, which is what Australian Shepherds are. I have seen training tips that are specific to Aussies, because they can be extremely dominant and bossy. I'll try to find you a link.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here are some links that may help:
http://www.k9station.com/articles/raisinganaussie.htm
http://www.jabed.com/not4all.htm
http://www.maculated.com/educ.html

Pay particular attention to the parts of these articles where they stress the guarding instincts. After reading the other discussion about the Aussiedoodle who is biting the kids, I decided to do some research on Australian sheherds, as this was a breed I was not very familiar with. It seems their exercise requirements are much higher than the average dog's and without a "job" or an outlet for that extreme drive, they can apparently be very difficult to handle.
For a dog whose whole purpose in life is to keep members of their flock from straying away, barking and becoming agitated when people leave seems logical, lol. Ditto, if a dog's natural instinct is to guard and protect their flock from intruders, they would do the same when people come into their homes.

[shelly]

Karen....Kona? I thought he was a LABRADOODLE????
Tori's never difficult to handle. She's mellow - with us home and when we're out. She's home by herself with a couple of tennis balls and kongs -usually only with kibble in them when we're at school and work. However the agitation ( if you want to call it that) is only seen when she watches outside the windows and alerts us - loudly if a cat or delivery person approaches our property. Heck - she may even try to herd our fish in our pond.. she barks at them too when they swim away.. Thank goodness she hasn't tried to join them - lol

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'll check again, but I could swear he was an Aussie.
Yep, Kona's an Aussie doodle. That's what made me curious, when I read that discussion and then you commented that you'd had some nipping behaviors with Tori.

[shelly]

I just checked too... my confusion... I thought only an australian shepherd and poodle cross (as Tori is) was an aussiedoodle - I guess you call an australian labradoodle an aussiedoodle too???

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not sure. Usually people do say either Aussiedoodle for a mix like Tori, or ALD for the multigen's. When I saw "Aussie labradoodle", I assumed it was an Aussiedoodle. And there is a breeder in Oregon who only breeds Aussiedoodles. I've never seen an ALD referred to as an Aussiedoodle.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I just looked at Kona's mom's page. I was wrong, he is an ALD. How funny that I did this research on Australian Shepherds and the dog in question wasn't even an Aussiedoodle. I must have known you would post this discussion, lol! Maybe California Psychics will hire me!

[shelly]

Off topic! But his is sooo funny - one time - long ago- I had a psychic 'party' - hey it was the thing to do back then! lol.... Anyway... this 'physic' comes to my house and the dog we had at the time, ran over to him to welcome him, and he said if I didn't remove the dog - he would have to leave because the dog would take away his 'powers of reading'... so maybe it was JACK who pushed for the research! LOL
But thanks anyway! Those articles were GREAT!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just peaked at those articles Karen posted.

I have a question about Tori before I go on. Is she confident in her actions or does she display that she is unsure and act fearful?

[Ginny Nightingale]

I am butting in here--sorry--but my Australian Labradoodle acts the same way exactly as described and is also unsure and fearful, so I will be eavesdropping on this conversation with interest! I will check out the links, too. Thanks!

[shelly]

Hmmmm... this is becoming very interesting! But in and eavesdrop all you'd like! Love to hear your input too! :)

[shelly]

Well I just read all of the articles....Thank you so much Karen! Tori acts like she's VERY confident. Almost looks like she could go through the window sometimes. I think she really does think she has 'lost one of her flock' when someone leaves. While people/kids are here she jumps right next to them on the couch and lays across their laps. Especially when my nephew comes... she is very protective of him - she'll bark and nudge even ME with her nose if I pick him up. NEVER does she go to bite anyone. Perhaps because he is the smallest person who comes around - he is small for his age too. I teach my son's religion class and she LOVES when they come she lays next to them, kisses them, but when the parents come to the door, she freaks out - maybe she has learned that these 'visitors' are taking her friends away????? Those that are brave enough to enter receive a warm welcome. On another note, she does LOVE to run outside and play frisbee and ball. I am getting in touch with a school for agility that starts next month... maybe this will help with meeting 'strangers'. At which point I blame myself (as ALL moms do) for NOT socializing her outside my house enough... I was afraid to take her to the pet store incase some dogs were not vaccinated while she was young... then by the time she was spayed and recovered, and we took her to Petco for classes, she would NOT participate at all (afraid? YES she was!) ! I felt like one of the parents of the children in my class when I tell them their child has problems reading, and they say "well they read great AT HOME" - that's just what Tori did... she did everything at home, but NOTHING in class! Lastly, I know many australian shepherds that are not "practicing herders'. Perhaps the breeder that Tori came from used their aussies as herders ???? Not sure. But I would not hesitate to get another aussiedoodle (from another breeder I since have 'met'). I think I would just work on MY training better.. would LOVE to hear from other aussiedoodle owners out there! (SO sorry for the LONG response). I can't wait to hear what you find out Joanne!