Why is she cowering?

[nikkichan]

I have a 11 month old, female autralian shepherd. We have had her since she was old enough to leave her mom so I know she has never been hit or abused. Lately, whenever I try to give her a treat, she will approach me for a second and then turn around and cower under the table or something. Like how some dogs you have been hit do. I don't understand this since she was very quick to learn to sit and shake by using treats.

I'm also attempting to start brushing her and she does the same thing.

It makes me feel so bad to see her act this way! Does anyone know why she does this?

 

[Doberluv]

We have had her since she was old enough to leave her mom

How old? Do you remember how many weeks old? How long was she with her littermates? Do you know how much socialization she had while still with her mom and littermates? What kind of setting was she in during those first weeks before you got her? Was it with a family in their house?

How long has she done this? Has anything happened or changed in her routine that might have stressed her out? Could something have frightened her that you're not aware of? Does she only do this in certain areas of the home or everywhere? Could she have pain or be ill?

Did you brush her from the time you got her or is this a new experience for her? What all have you done with her to get her use to all kinds of things up to now?

Lots of questions, I know, but it helps to get as much info as possible. Most important one: What do you do when she cowers? Can you explain in detail?

 

[nikkichan]

We took her home around 10 weeks or so. I didn't see her original environment so I can't comment on that. We lived in a house with 2 other dogs for a while and she was very playful and social with them both, as were they.

We have moved in the past three months but she seems to be adjusting nice and has a lot more room to run and play. That's the only change I can think of.

The cowering thing hasn't always happened, it just started recently. It's baffeling me. I can understand the brush thing because I just started it with her (wish I'd done it a while ago). When I brush her I do it when she's calm, almost asleep. I talk softly to her and pet her for a while before I even bring out the brush, but as soon as she sees it, she's running under the table.

When she does cower, I usually lay on the floor kind of near her and talk soothingly to her to try and coax her out. Once she's out I cuddle her.

I just can't figure out why the treats are doing this to her. She certainly likes them once she gets it!

 

[Dizzy]

Could she have had a fright recently? Even as much as a peculiar loud noise? Or an insect sting - something that has given her a shock, and made her feel insecure? A run in with a neighbour?

 

[Jynx]

well aussies CAN be kinda quirky. something they were never afraid of one day, may scare the crud out of them the next.

Socializing these dogs is a MUST,

when you treat her are you bending over her? try hiding some treats in your pocket and sit on the floor, call her over, treat her..IT could be that you are "towering" over her,,certainly not saying you "mean" to,,try getting down on the floor to her level.

I would NOT coddle her or try to comfort this behavior, doing that, you are inadvertently reinforcing whatever her reaction is. I would ignore it.

Hope this helps
diane

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

For the brush situation, I have a suggestion.
Assuming she is quite food motivated, try putting the brush in her food bowl when you feed her. As she gets accustomed to it being there, put it next to her food bowl and so on. If all goes well, in time you can brush her while she's eating and eventually whenever you want.
Hope this helps.

~Tucker

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

And on a side note, I agree with Jynx.

DO NOT coddle or 'reassure' your dog when she acts scared.

~Tucker

 

[Doberluv]

I agree there with Jynx...great post. That making a fuss over her when she is reacting that way not only tells her you like that behavior, but that you may be worried about something as well and now there are two "people" who are worried and no leader. A-h-h-h-h. LOL. So, you're reinforcing that behavior inadvertantly. Try to act confident like things aren't a big deal and go on about your business. When she comes out and looks calm and OK with things, that's the time to give her attention and cooing.

As long as you don't think something is hurting her, try not getting bogged down with what may have happened. She's not back in that time anymore so just go forward. Be a confident, standing tall kind of leader and stay on your toes. LOL. It's hard, but it seems like we have to always be thinking each time we interact with our dogs so we don't inadvertantly reinforce some behavior we didn't mean to. But it will become second nature to think that way.

Tug of war is a fun game which tends to build confidence in a dog. BUT...there has to be rules in place first. The dog must know to "give" when asked. Dog must not set teeth on owner accident or not or else the game is immediately over. It can be a partnership thing too...you're sharing in the "kill" and working together. Sometimes the dog gets to win and sometimes you get to.

Games like hide and seek, retrieving, finding things also help.