[HelenAg]

Our lab is sweet and loving but very attached to us. She barks at anyone who comes to the door, even friends she has known for a long time. In that case she will bark less. When strangers come, we have to put her in a closed room lest she bark and jump on them. Well, she got out of the room one day and jumped on the Fed Ex Man and nipped at his sleeve. The animal control people came over, of course. Our vet was shocked that our dog would do this. Well, she did it again when I wasn't holding in her leash tightly enough... someone walkled by wanting to see the sweet little lab and she jumped up and nipped at his sleeve.

We are mortified by this behavior and she has never done this before. What is the best way to correct this behavior? She has barked at non=family members since she was small. She definitely has some separation anxiety--follows us around, is underfoot a lot. She is, as I have said, very protective of her family. This must stop lest we have to put her down for safety reasons.

Can someone please please tell me why she would do this type of thing and what kinds of behavioral training may help. Labman, if you are out there, it'd be great to hear from you. Thanks and all help is welcome. HelenAg

[twinkiedooter]

My Shepard started to do this and when the vet checked her with x-rays he found a brain tumor. She got worse and worse and I had to put her down. Sudden behavior changes like snapping, etc should not be overlooked medically especially in an older dog. This could be your dog's problem - maybe not but it's not a bad idea to have the vet really check your dog over for something like this to be suddenly happening.

[HelenAg]

She just went for a check-up and was meek as a lamb for the vet, although she was very hyper waiting to get into the exam room. She is going to be nine years old so maybe age is a factor here. The vet found two fatty tumor-cysts, nothing to worry about. Other than that, she passed the physical with flying colours. If this happens, god forbid, again, I shall definitely look into her health again. But I have a gut feeling this is behavorial. Any other ideas? Thank you so much. Helen