strange dog behaivour?

Question

we have imported a dog from italy, he was fine with us at first, and still is o.k with my wife, but he will not come near me at any price, I have never ill treated him in any way, all I have done is try to be kind to him, if he goes out with my wife he is happy to let strangers stroke and pet him and if I am outside he will come to me after 5 mins or so, but in the house he runs away from me , constantly, can anybody help ? he also has a habit of looking up to the sky constanly, almost like a nervous tick. I have tried tit bits they dont work.

Answer 1

You can't be sure of the treatment he received before he became yours. It sounds as if he is frightened of you. We could guess at the reason but as he has a history when you weren't there - we can't be sure.
What ever the reason you need time to win a dog's trust. Don't pressure him into coming to you, just go about your daily business and feed him at regular times. He will learn to trust you when he sees that you are a kind, fair and trustworthy leader.
Make sure that your family don't confuse him by arguing loudly with each other - agression towards other family members is quite hard for dogs to understand - even when we mean nothing by it. For example, shouting at each other is war and terrifying for a sensitive dog.
Looking away is a sign of submission and that could be the looking up to the sky thing. Some dogs refuse to look you in the eye and turn their head away whenever you go near them. This is saying - you are boss - although it comes across as strange to us!
These are things to take into account and I'm sure you'll soon win him over.

Answer 2

Don't worry, you haven't ill treated this dog - although its embarassing when a dog shy's away from you.
When an animal is mistreated, they often latch on to some physical characteristic as a warning for the future. Horses are famous for it - men in flat caps/wearing glasses/ with a moustache might get them acting nervous.
And the fact is an animal doesnpt even need to be abused by a man in a flat cap. If something shocking or painful happens when there is a man in a flat cap nearby, the man can get the blame for the event!

Just carry on acting patient and calm with him. And don't pay him any attention when he's acting up. Only reward him for normal behaviour.

You can actually train a dog to limp or cower using nothing but attention and treats. Its how they get canine actors to act all pathetc in films - the trainers don't beat the dogs to get them to cower!

It doesn't really matter how he was treated before. Its how he behaves now and how to get him confident that is important. Think ahead to the future, you can speculate endlessly about how he got this way but tyou'll never know for sure.
Take him to trainingclasses and get a trainer to check out your body language. You'll gain his trust when he has some tricks he can do to earn your treats.

Answer 3

It is possible that he was treated bad by a male in Italy. I fostered dogs and once in a while a dog would be fearful of all men because it was men who abused them. But it seems like he will let strangers(inculding men?) pet him, so I'm not sure what is going on.

When ever you talk to your dog use a happy higher pitch voice. Usually mens voices is very deep and commanding. Also try feeding and training your dog. Another thing that might help is "Nothing in Life is Free" method of becoming the pack leader, Yahoo! it.

Answer 4

Is this a breed that is generally considered a 'one-person pet'? Some animals bond with one person in the family (the caregiver, walker, feeder...) Try making a point to be the one who feeds the dog. Also - is the dog protecting your wife and/or the household from you? My parents had a border collie that was fine with either of them until my mom got pregnant, then he became aggressive towards my dad. The dog bit my dad after my sister was born. Not saying this is the case in your situation, but I've heard of it happening from several people.

Answer 5

The first answerer thought the same as I did. Maybe you look like a previous owner. When my son was a baby, he just flat got scared of anybody with a mustache! Who knows, just hang in there, be kind, and he'll eventually realize that you are great!---Are you very tall? kneel down to his level. Deep voice? try a higher pitched "talking to a baby" voice---So far as the "looking at the sky" thing, I don't know what to say. I had a dog once, that would climb on the back of the couch, stare at the white wall above it, and whine! I couldn't see a darn thing on the wall. Eventually he stopped it. Maybe his eye had a "floater", who knows? good luck

Answer 6

It sounds like ha may have been mistreated by a man before if he has and cannot trust men then he may never trust you. Try taking him out more on your own without the wife give him loads of titbits and affection play ball with him, try him with football my JRT is warey around men but you show him a football and he's anyones friend, right little traitor. He is still settleing in too so don't worry too much I'm sure he'll come round to you.

Answer 7

I volunteer at a Humane Society. i'm consistently coming in touch with unusual dogs. and that i'm not in the slightest degree intimidated by using ninety 9% of the dogs I meet. whether, i'm consistently careful. i don't pass around purely grabbing stray dogs. and that i don't think of you could the two. by using you asking this question right here, i will inform you at the instant are not overly "dogs savvy." whether, because of the fact which you in all likelihood won't pay attention to an answer like I purely listed, listed right here are some advice. variety one, do not make eye touch with an odd dogs. Eye touch is perceived by using the dogs as complicated the dogs. additionally, in case you're in a position, get on the element of the dogs and turn your back to the dogs. enable the dogs concepts-set you. maximum dogs will concepts-set you out of curiousity in case you act disinterested. the different advice on right here some loop on the top of a stick is a very good concept. dogs catches use some thing comparable. interior the previous 365 days, I even have in all likelihood "caught" 4 strays that I even have stumbled on. each and each became into distinctive and actually unpredictable. the finest one became right into a pitbull who rolled onto that is back as quickly as I approached it. good success.

Answer 8

If you are a big person, you might be intimidating to him. If you are loud, not yelling at him or even anyone else, just loud,, this can again cause intimidation. Try to speak quietly to him while on the ground, so you are not loud, nor so much bigger then he is. This will help him get over his fear, then give him treats for being good and work with him on his commands, sit, down, heal, etc. Also dogs love those who walk them, so walks would be good too.

Answer 9

I suggest when you call him to you that you go down to his level. He might be intimidated by your size and dominace.
I also suggest that you try to bond with him on your own by walking him without your wife being present. Give him lots of praise and Cheese! Dogs love cheese.
Be very playfull, get toys that use tug of war etc. If your dog see's you as a play buddie he will always come to you.

All the best.

Answer 10

sounds very much like he was badly mistreated by a male person in Italy. This is going to require loads of patience and loving on your part to regain his trust in males. He is obviously very firghtened. Please give him lots of time and never raise your voice to him or make any movement that could easily be mistaken for a threat. You'll get there in the end. Good luck.