I'm not sure if this belongs here, so feel free to move it if it doesn't. I have a behavior problem. Not with Tosca, but with a lifelong friend and her reaction to Tosca. She's afraid of her.
It's not that Tosca has ever done anything to her and she admits that, but ever since Tosca has gotten some size on her, she is afraid of her! She's so uncomfortable around Tosca that I really don't know how to handle it. I hate putting Tosca in another room and poor Tosca is very friendly and I can't cite her for being friendly. She doesn't jump on my friend, but she does greet her and bring her her toys. And my friend practically freezes. Tosca will also follow my instructions and lie down when she is here, but she wants to do it in the same room. It seems my friend is STILL not comfortable even with that.
I have talked to my friend about it and she can't really explain it. She did say that she never really interacted with bigger dogs. Her family has had dogs but they were always toy breeds. Tosca's not THAT big, but to her she is.
My friend feels bad about this and doesn't really WANT to be afraid but she just has this feeling that Tosca can hurt her. I have noticed she stops by less. This morning she dropped something off here and left really fast. So I think this is a real issue I would like to deal with.
I am hoping to resolve this in a way that doesn't make it necessary to remove Tosca from the area when my friend visits. I always had a problem with locking my pets out of a room for someone. But still, I do value this friendship. So...........how do I handle this?
It's not that Tosca has ever done anything to her and she admits that, but ever since Tosca has gotten some size on her, she is afraid of her! She's so uncomfortable around Tosca that I really don't know how to handle it. I hate putting Tosca in another room and poor Tosca is very friendly and I can't cite her for being friendly. She doesn't jump on my friend, but she does greet her and bring her her toys. And my friend practically freezes. Tosca will also follow my instructions and lie down when she is here, but she wants to do it in the same room. It seems my friend is STILL not comfortable even with that.
I have talked to my friend about it and she can't really explain it. She did say that she never really interacted with bigger dogs. Her family has had dogs but they were always toy breeds. Tosca's not THAT big, but to her she is.
My friend feels bad about this and doesn't really WANT to be afraid but she just has this feeling that Tosca can hurt her. I have noticed she stops by less. This morning she dropped something off here and left really fast. So I think this is a real issue I would like to deal with.
I am hoping to resolve this in a way that doesn't make it necessary to remove Tosca from the area when my friend visits. I always had a problem with locking my pets out of a room for someone. But still, I do value this friendship. So...........how do I handle this?