Doodle scared of strangers

[Diana Allen]

Hello...we are having a problem with Cagney being fearful of people he does not know.... he seems to take awhile to warm up to someone even after numerous visits to the house.... Does anyone have any trouble with their Doodle and strangers? Cagney is 15 mths old.....he will back up and cower and bark and even growl at people he does not know... men and females alike... any help would be appreciated.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Sometimes when we are out with Ned, he will bark and growl at someone, usually not but... He will bark and growl if someone comes up behind him too quickly. We had him around lots and lots of strangers since we brought him home at 3 1/2 months. I think he has matured into this because he now barks when he hears a sound (even if we can't hear it) and when someone comes to the door.

[Chris & Boys]

I also socialized Fozzy from day one - I took him to work with me. At first he was fine, then slowly started showing the apprehension of strangers. At training classes he is fine, at dog parks he is fine, at romps or puppy parties,or if we come upon someone with a dog, he is fine with strangers. Most often he is fine with women, it is mostly men that he reacts to. Everyone else he tries to jump up on and kiss. We went on vacation recently and the dogsitters are very experienced, the man ignored Fozzy and within 3 days was fine with him, but he really bonded with the woman. I guess he is just partial to women! lol