I have been lurking here for a bit, and have read such useful information from everyone, I'm hoping you can shed some light on my questions about Cooper!
Cooper will be 1 in a few days, he's a male fawn w/gorgeous flash on his paws and chest. Ok, enough boasting!! We have a daughter who is 4, and Cooper is absolutely wonderful with her. We have been very vigilant about her respecting his space and pulling on him, and any other kind of "kid" behaviour we try to catch and take care of then and there (for both of them..as Cooper sometimes forgets how much stronger he is than her!!)
Now for my questions. Cooper has been socialized w/other dogs, and we are very social people as well, since Cooper was a pup, we've had gatherings almost weekly! In the past few months, I've noticed an awful aggression towards our mailman. Our mailbox is on our house, but Cooper will sit in the doorway, and look out on the street...as soon as he sees the mailman, his fur stands on his back and he "woofs" and low-growls. When the mailman approaches our home he goes all cujo and crazy! It is so uncharacterisitc of him. But then last weekend we were at our friends home across the street and we brought Coop along (as we always do). One of the neighbor's friends came in (8 y/o boy) and Coop jumped up on him; in a non-aggressive manner. But then he started the low growl and we pulled him down b/c we were so freaked out. He has never ever growled at a child before.
Then last night we ordered Chinese food, same thing as the mailman. Growled and hair standing on his back. We order out about once a week, but he never reacts this way. Help! How can we get our previously fun loving boy to stop being so aggressive, especially the incident witht he child!!
Thanks!
Cooper will be 1 in a few days, he's a male fawn w/gorgeous flash on his paws and chest. Ok, enough boasting!! We have a daughter who is 4, and Cooper is absolutely wonderful with her. We have been very vigilant about her respecting his space and pulling on him, and any other kind of "kid" behaviour we try to catch and take care of then and there (for both of them..as Cooper sometimes forgets how much stronger he is than her!!)
Now for my questions. Cooper has been socialized w/other dogs, and we are very social people as well, since Cooper was a pup, we've had gatherings almost weekly! In the past few months, I've noticed an awful aggression towards our mailman. Our mailbox is on our house, but Cooper will sit in the doorway, and look out on the street...as soon as he sees the mailman, his fur stands on his back and he "woofs" and low-growls. When the mailman approaches our home he goes all cujo and crazy! It is so uncharacterisitc of him. But then last weekend we were at our friends home across the street and we brought Coop along (as we always do). One of the neighbor's friends came in (8 y/o boy) and Coop jumped up on him; in a non-aggressive manner. But then he started the low growl and we pulled him down b/c we were so freaked out. He has never ever growled at a child before.
Then last night we ordered Chinese food, same thing as the mailman. Growled and hair standing on his back. We order out about once a week, but he never reacts this way. Help! How can we get our previously fun loving boy to stop being so aggressive, especially the incident witht he child!!
Thanks!