why is Tank so scared of this family?

[deidra]

Tank still has fear issues which i understand from the situation he was in before i had him. Tank now gets along with all most all of my cousins and uncles. the other day all the guys were here playing shoes and Tank went and and sat right down by my uncle troy and Troy don't like dogs that much but he petted Tank adn gave him a good ear rub! there is one uncle and his 2 sons and his wife that he just is abosulutley terrified of. he acts all mean and stuff but he usally barks while growling then runs behind my legs while still barking. I don't get why he is so scared of that family!? i am not frustrated but just confused. i am whatching my cousin and his dog sunday and Tank has to be kept seperate he loves the puppy but my cousin he is just terrified of and my cousin is only 11 years old. So most of the time we put Tank in my mom/dads room and he stays in there all day. Then when it is time for him to come out to potty his tail is tucked his pupils are enlarged and he runs staright towards the door it made me cry last time since he was so scared he peed the whole way to the door. My cousin meanwhile was in the other room completley quit. None of them look like his old owners or smell like him so i just don't get it. Tank is a sweatheart and my uncle,cousin and aunt want to be able to come over here and pet Tank and not have me put him up since they are dog lovers themselves and i am of course the same way. I know it may never be that he wants them to pet him but i want him to be able to go to more family cookouts without flipping out. Tank is so attached to me that he will follow me anywhere but he is terrfied and it is not healthy for him to be so terrified.

Should i have them turn their back from his and let him come up adn sniff them or see if he will without them looking,talking or trying to pet him? I am so confused.

[ScorpianAbarth]

It's late here and I'm tired so I'll respond properly in the morning, but one thing really stood out to me...I really don't think it's fair to put Tank in a room all day by himself. It's his home and the other dog/person is a visitor there, it's extremely unfair to 'punish' him for something he has no choice about. It's also entirely possible that he associates negative things happening with their arrival

[deidra]

I have tried to make them a positive but nothing helps he is to jumpy,reactive. i do not punish him by putting him in there, he enjoys it in there. I am also in there with him for most of the time unless my mom needs me. he always has found that room as his safe place. most dogs think their crates are their safe place but to Tank it is a room.

[ScorpianAbarth]

My comment was regarding this 'So most of the time we put Tank in my mom/dads room and he stays in there all day. Then when it is time for him to come out to potty his tail is tucked his pupils are enlarged and he runs staright towards the door' - No dog would enjoy that. Certainly no dog, particularly a Labrador, would enjoy being shut in a room for all/most of the day

[zoesmom]

I'm wondering if he had a bad experience with members of that family? Perhaps the children were a bit too much for him?

If he loves the puppy, perhaps get the puppy and Tank out to play while the family is not in sight.

Does Tank act up with ALL members? perhaps test them one by one to see which one he is afraid of?

[kaytris]

next time they visit, have tank on leash on one side of the room. Cousin comes in, sits on opposite side of the room, staying quiet and ignoring you both. Start feeding high value treats to tank, one after the other, for about a minute or less. At the end, take him out of the room and let him relax in the bedroom for 30 minutes or however long, until he is calm again and you have some spare time. Repeat throughout the day.. walk tank into the room where you cousin is, give treats, leave after a short time.

[deidra]

I'm wondering if he had a bad experience with members of that family? Perhaps the children were a bit too much for him?

Does Tank act up with ALL members? perhaps test them one by one to see which one he is afraid of?

I am thinking the same thing but I am not for sure. One year Tank didn't go on vacation with us and they had to watch him. They took care of him in the morning,letting him out to potty,feeding,playing ect... Then my neighbor came and got him in the evening to take to her house. I don't know if somethin happened then or not. He is afraid of everybody in that family..
I will try what Kaytris said when my cousin gets here tommrow. What happens if he freaks out? He can usually get out of his buckle collar so should I put the harness on him and see if it helps?

[kassabella]

I am sorry he is so scared.

Erns was scared of some people and Tessa is panics when she sees women who looke like her previous owner. A friend showed me a yoga move and kicked and Tessa paniced so we thought maybe she had been kicked.

Not sure if I am right in thinking dogs who react like this could be a sign something frightened them, or is it some people they don't feel comfortable with.?

Hope Nancey advice works quickly for you.

[Spike's Mom]

Could it be something so simple that Tank just loves you so much that he is afraid that he will go to their house without you? Can you bring him to their house to see how he reacts and just spend a little time there and say your goodbyes so he sees he is going with you? Maybe you can even look around and keep an eye on him to see his reaction - there may be something at their house that he relates with them that is making him scared.

[deidra]

if the other thing doesn't work i can try and see if he would act different if he wasn't on his territory. Thanks for the tips.

kris your webpage for kassa made me cry. I cried so much it is very buetiful full tribute.