Lockie will be 18 months old this month and over the weekend there were 2 incidents that really spooked him. One was when we were in the ring. I don't know what it was but something spooked him and he lost the plot in the ring. The next day we were in the race waiting to go in and a fellow exhibitor started to take off their coat and he spooked again nearly doing a back flip in the race and then he looked at her and gave her a disgruntled bark.
I was just wondering if this was normal around this age as he isn't a timid or nervous dog at all.

I had a strange episode a few months back. I was road walking, my dog is not nervous at all, when in the distance a car back fired. It was one of hose old cars, souped up. My dog reared up onhis back legs and went a bit loopy. Just at that time a woman had stopped to stroke him, just seconds before the car back fired. As she walked over he growled. She thought it was her, but I did assure her he doesn't growl at humans, it was the car.
We walked on to our field and I let him off the lead, when in he distance the car coupld be heard still, he was so spooked he didn't leave my side, so I took him back home, he wasn't enjoying hsi walk after all.

If anyone was at Crufts this year, did they hear the fireworks? My poor daughter had the misfortune of holding our dog at the time! Someone let three big ones off, the ones that hurt your chest, just as we, and hundreds of others, we walking past the lakes at the NEC. My boy slipped his collar, but thankfully didn't go far, just cowered by a bush. What idiots would do that, someone said it could be animal rights, but how animal friendly would it have been had my dog run into the path of a car or coach?

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago, when Orrin was 12 mths old. We were at a show and in the ring. The judge did not give me time to stack Orrin, did not talk to her and went straight into her mouth. Orrin flew backwards and sat down. She had never done this before. Orrin usually stands like a rock. It took a couple more shows and some explaining to the judges (who were very gentle with her) before she would allow a judge to go over her. It could have put her off showing for life, needless to say we have not shown under that particular judge since and will not ever enter under that judge again, with any of our dogs.

I can say that I've never had this problem with my Deerhounds. I had a couple of American Cockers that did the same thing to me at around 8 - 12 months, BUT it's easy to hold a little dog in place - not like trying to hold back the full weight of a Deerhound that doesn't want to be there!! I think my Deerhounds are now exposed to so much noise and people that nothing phases them. Canberra has a fireworks weekend every June (Queen's Birthday longweekend) and anyone can buy and use fireworks for two nights. My guys just look around like "not sure we like these noises" and go and put themselves to bed.

Having got the Cockers through these phases, all you can do is persevere. Keep taking them out. Stack them up and get friends/strangers to go over them (like a judge) BUT make sure they don't hesitate. The worst thing they can do is be tentative - the dogs sense it and respond accordingly. Just get them to walk straight up (once stacked) and go gently but firmly over them. Praise their good responses. Ignore their bad reactions. Food, food, food - if they'll take it! Persevere!!

Hope this helps
Mel

My dog seems oblivious to load noises, even when out walking and lightning struck nearby he hardly reacted nor when a very low flying RAF jet flew over the house.
He is absolutely terrified of wasps and bees as he was stung on the nose by a wasp when he was a puppy. If he sees one he will start to shake and go and find somewhere to hide. For a while he was frightened of helicopters when out walking and one flew over but he seems to have got over that now. I think that for a while they reminded him of wasps.

I was asked to take Lockie to the trainee judges prac exam yesterday. I thought this would be good practise and since it is in the indoor area which he hasn't been in before, he could get used to it. It is a rather long and boring time for a dog, being stacked and just standing around. We were asked to do a triangle and then go round. He did the triangle beautifully but when we went to go round, something about the female judge caught his eye. He wanted to stop and and have a better look. I coaxed him on but as soon as he could he turned his head and looked at her and gave a low hurrrmph bark. He was ok with her going over him. I'm not sure if it is fear or is he just showing attitude.
None of my previous bitches have ever done this

Sounds as if he got a bit unsettled with the indoor experience. I must admit that I find showing outdoors a lot easier on the dogs and me as I don't like all the noise inside. Have you tried any natural/homeopathic remedies at all? They might help for next time he goes indoors. It might be that you don't find these things effective but we sometimes use the Doreen Paige remedies www.doreenpaige.com/5.html for one of our bitches who gets quite nervous in the ring. I don't know if it's all in my mind or not but when we havn't used it I have found her more unsettled.

It certainly is a thought. Someone suggested Nervatoner just to help him settle. He does get excitable at shows.

Rescue Remedy is pretty good. My wife swears by it ...

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