Hi all,
My 2 year old female Dogue de Bordeaux, who just got spayed in July, still shows hesitation around men and kids, no matter how much I've socialized her. She is given daily walks in a very well traveled park nearby, has been taken to the dog park often and is very playful with most dogs she meets - all of this since we got her at 4 months. Some dogs she meets she will give the business to if they are jumpy or too forward on the leash. In general, she is an independent yet very obedient girl who we've raised from a pup and has been given the best of care. Even men that she's met before and likes (neighbors, trainers and such) are not greeted with calmness or enthusiasm (which I don't expect) but more shyness/fear. It's disturbing. Has anyone else had this experience? Is it just the female tendency or was she not well socialized before I got her at 4 months? I don't know what the imprint window is for dogs. She's never really taken to children, unless they are very calm. I've tried everything to try to socialize her but I feel I have failed. To be fair, a lot of the men she meets are overly aggressive in their approach to her as are children. As we know, these dogs are not Labs. I always try to let people know that she does not like to be "manhandled" or approached with a stick in hand.
In addition, for a guardian breed she seems much too edgy. For instance, we walked in between two people last week on a walk and one of them made a gesture with their arm as they passed and my female reared up on the leash, bucked and wanted to run. This is not what I expect from a Dogue de Bordeaux. By definition, they should be not easily aroused and vigilant. To be fair, almost all other times that we walk past people with reactive dogs or people who behave strangely, she has no reaction at all. I'm puzzled. I certainly don't expect her to attack a person who behaves strangely unless they are threatening me.
Any help or insight would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
My 2 year old female Dogue de Bordeaux, who just got spayed in July, still shows hesitation around men and kids, no matter how much I've socialized her. She is given daily walks in a very well traveled park nearby, has been taken to the dog park often and is very playful with most dogs she meets - all of this since we got her at 4 months. Some dogs she meets she will give the business to if they are jumpy or too forward on the leash. In general, she is an independent yet very obedient girl who we've raised from a pup and has been given the best of care. Even men that she's met before and likes (neighbors, trainers and such) are not greeted with calmness or enthusiasm (which I don't expect) but more shyness/fear. It's disturbing. Has anyone else had this experience? Is it just the female tendency or was she not well socialized before I got her at 4 months? I don't know what the imprint window is for dogs. She's never really taken to children, unless they are very calm. I've tried everything to try to socialize her but I feel I have failed. To be fair, a lot of the men she meets are overly aggressive in their approach to her as are children. As we know, these dogs are not Labs. I always try to let people know that she does not like to be "manhandled" or approached with a stick in hand.
In addition, for a guardian breed she seems much too edgy. For instance, we walked in between two people last week on a walk and one of them made a gesture with their arm as they passed and my female reared up on the leash, bucked and wanted to run. This is not what I expect from a Dogue de Bordeaux. By definition, they should be not easily aroused and vigilant. To be fair, almost all other times that we walk past people with reactive dogs or people who behave strangely, she has no reaction at all. I'm puzzled. I certainly don't expect her to attack a person who behaves strangely unless they are threatening me.
Any help or insight would be much appreciated.
Thanks!