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My dog feels threatened by my brother. What can we
do?
Just like with people, dog behavior doesn't always have a
logical explanation. Dogs can sometimes simply dislike a person for no apparent
reason. Maybe your brother has a deep voice that makes your pup nervous; maybe
he has the scent of another animal on his clothes. Most likely, you'll never
know what it is about him that sets your dog on edge.
But don't lose hope; you can make
your dog happier to see men by making sure his visits are associated with
something pleasant. First off, you can ask your brother not to stand directly
over your dog in a dominant position; this can be threatening to some dogs. Ask
him to approach her from a sitting or kneeling position.
Supply your brother with a special treat that
your dog particularly loves, and have no one but him give her that treat. He
shouldn't make a fuss over giving her the treats; the commotion might make her
more nervous around him. Instead, he can just place the treats in front of her
whenever she is calm and behaving well. Once she comes to associate him with
getting an extra yummy treat, he can start giving her simple commands and giving
her the treats as rewards. Over time, she should come to accept him. Who knows?
She may even start to like him.
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