She is a 12 year old collie-shepherd mix. I have had her more than 7 months. She formerly belonged to an elderly disabled woman who seldom left the house or had visitors. I took pity on her because she had never had a life, not even a yard to play in. So when her former owner died, my brother and I took her in. She was extremely afraid of us at first. When we came near, she trembled and hung her tail between her legs. But soon, she bonded with me. She becomes ecstatic whenever I come into the room, but she growls when my brother comes in. He has tried everything to make friends with her.
She is very well behaved otherwise; has no bad habits; doesn't jump on you or sniff your crotch; doesn't jump up on the furniture; minds when you tell her something; doesn't bark excessively (she barks at the mail carrier and meter reader, of course, but wags her tail at the same time.)
Why doesn't she like my brother?
2006-08-04 05:13:41 · 8 answers · asked by Susie 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Both my brother and I are senior citizens, if that makes a difference. I don't think her former owner had any male friends, but when I took her to the vet (the same vet her former owner used) she growled at him. That was actually the first time I ever heard her growl. Now I take her to a female vet. But she doesn't growl at any other men, just my brother and her old vet.
2006-08-04 05:23:52 · update #1
She may still be scared of him. I would suggest him ignoring her and ignore that she is doing it. Give absolutely no reaction to it and she should become more accustomed to him or at least accepting. Im sure as it is now you give a little baby talk and tell her its okay. That is soothing to her so she will continue to do it while you comfort her for the behavior.
2006-08-04 05:24:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The dog just might not like guys because it has been with a woman most of its life. My mom had a dog that loved her dad and her brother but growled at her. On the other hand it seems some dogs only bond with certain people and don't like anyone else.
2006-08-04 05:22:18 · answer #2 · answered by tycomputerguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some reason your dog doesn't like men/boys. Could be because she spent a lot of her life with a woman, or it could be that some boy or man abused her or teased her too much at some point in her life. She may warm up to him eventually, but she may never like your brother. Tell your brother to keep his distance if he hears her growling, and under no circumstances should he ever try to play or rough-house with her within the near future. Good luck!
2006-08-04 05:19:17 · answer #3 · answered by sarge927 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
May have been abused before or had a bad encounter with a male....or is used to seclusion and sees your brother as a threat because the dog is not used to having males around.
Having them spend time together might help.
2006-08-04 05:20:38 · answer #4 · answered by Greg Hegler 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it might be that ylour brother is younger. I have 4 dogs and they just growl and bark and bite me. But when i grew older, they became nicer. or it might be the type of dog that only knows its owner
2006-08-04 05:18:39 · answer #5 · answered by alicekim1995 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably your brother did something to her that she never forgot. Like accidentally hit her real hard. My dog doesn't like my dad because he always bothers her when she is sleeping.
2006-08-04 05:21:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dogs growls at people who smoke pot.
2006-08-04 05:17:35 · answer #7 · answered by therego2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be that a male abused her in the past. Animals can sense what they perceive as an "unsafe" person, even if that person isn't the one who's hurt them before.
2006-08-04 05:20:11 · answer #8 · answered by 60s Chick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋