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What would make a dog go overnight from being tolerant of someone he sees 3-4 times a week to hating their very existance?
Gambit has suddenly decided he dislikes a male coworker, who I will call "Max". In the beginning, Gambit hates every new person who comes to work at the daycare. He likes to do the 'stand 10 feet away and bark like a moron, but oh my God don't look directly at me because I'll slink an additional 5 feet away and bark louder' routine. At this point, we're all used to it, and know the steps that must be taken to get him to accept new people. Usually, if they do things right, he warms up in a day or two.
Gambit treated Max the same way at first, but grew to accept him after a few days. Note that he has never been particually fond of Max, but he feels that way about some people, and Max has never had an issue with moving Gambit around or having Gambit listen to him.
I had a plumber to the house last week, and left Gambit at daycare for everyone's sanity. Max was controlling Gambit's yard. When I came to pick Gambit up, I couldn't find him and had to call several times (Very unusual for him, usually he's flying across the yard as soon as he hears my voice). He finaly came out of one of the play tunnels, and came to me, but he was obviously very tense and upset. He didn't want me to leash him or to say goodbye to the other coworks. According to Max, nothing happned to upset Gambit, he just hid in the tunnel all day.
Ever since then, Gambit has hated Max on sight. He barks hysterically and will not let Max touch him. If he has to pass by Max, even if Max is 10 feet away, he does it at a dead run. He's treating Max like a stranger again.
I do not like to think that Max did anything to harm Gambit. He's not a man I'm fond of, for many reasons, but I do not think he is an animal abuser. But what else could cause this behavior?
As a side note, Gambit settled down once he came home, and is his usual self to everyone else. Since that incident, he has also accepted other new people, so its not his general stranger issues acting up. He does not act afraid of going to daycare, and has a lot of fun when he's there.
Clearly, I will no longer be leaving Gambit unattended at daycare, though I have done it previously with no similar issues.
Thoughts?
Gambit has suddenly decided he dislikes a male coworker, who I will call "Max". In the beginning, Gambit hates every new person who comes to work at the daycare. He likes to do the 'stand 10 feet away and bark like a moron, but oh my God don't look directly at me because I'll slink an additional 5 feet away and bark louder' routine. At this point, we're all used to it, and know the steps that must be taken to get him to accept new people. Usually, if they do things right, he warms up in a day or two.
Gambit treated Max the same way at first, but grew to accept him after a few days. Note that he has never been particually fond of Max, but he feels that way about some people, and Max has never had an issue with moving Gambit around or having Gambit listen to him.
I had a plumber to the house last week, and left Gambit at daycare for everyone's sanity. Max was controlling Gambit's yard. When I came to pick Gambit up, I couldn't find him and had to call several times (Very unusual for him, usually he's flying across the yard as soon as he hears my voice). He finaly came out of one of the play tunnels, and came to me, but he was obviously very tense and upset. He didn't want me to leash him or to say goodbye to the other coworks. According to Max, nothing happned to upset Gambit, he just hid in the tunnel all day.
Ever since then, Gambit has hated Max on sight. He barks hysterically and will not let Max touch him. If he has to pass by Max, even if Max is 10 feet away, he does it at a dead run. He's treating Max like a stranger again.
I do not like to think that Max did anything to harm Gambit. He's not a man I'm fond of, for many reasons, but I do not think he is an animal abuser. But what else could cause this behavior?
As a side note, Gambit settled down once he came home, and is his usual self to everyone else. Since that incident, he has also accepted other new people, so its not his general stranger issues acting up. He does not act afraid of going to daycare, and has a lot of fun when he's there.
Clearly, I will no longer be leaving Gambit unattended at daycare, though I have done it previously with no similar issues.
Thoughts?
