Does your dog start barking every time someone approaches you while you're walking your dog? This behavior is due to jealousy. Your dog doesn't want to "share" you with anyone else and is constantly trying to get your attention.
Jealousy can cause anxiety in the animal and even cause he alth problems. That is why it is very important that you try to solve this attitude as soon as possible by going to an expert if necessary.
Si your dog won't let anyone near you keep reading this article on our site where we give you some guidelines to try fix it.
Symptoms of a jealous dog
If your dog shows any of the following behaviors when someone approaches you, it is a clear sign that he is jealous:
- Barking: if it starts barking uncontrollably every time another person or even another animal approaches, it is trying to catch your attention so that you will also pay attention to him.
- Urine all over the house: When a visitor comes to your house, your dog urinates everywhere. It is a way to mark the house and make it clear to the "intruder" that this is his territory while drawing your attention
- Does not leave your side: Does he follow you wherever you go and get between your legs when you talk to another person? That's because he doesn't want to lose sight of you and wants you just for himself. When the dog is not aggressive, we can see this gesture as endearing and even funny, but the truth is that it is a jealous and unstable dog that needs to learn that it can "share" you with other people and you will not stop love him for that.
- Aggressiveness: This is the most acute and dangerous phase of jealousy. When someone approaches you, they show their teeth, growl at you and even try to bite you. Your dog is showing signs of great instability and in this case you should consult a professional.
- Other behavioral disturbances: Each dog is different and each one shows jealousy in a different way. Many times this jealousy causes anxiety in our furry friend that makes them engage in obsessive behaviors such as licking their paws, overeating or not eating. When the situation becomes unsustainable, it is better that we consult a professional who can help us solve the problem before our dog's he alth worsens.
How to deal with the problem?
If your dog won't let anyone get close to you, you should take his training very seriously so that problems don't escalate and do not cause he alth problems or become aggressive towards third parties.
Every time your dog starts having a jealous tantrum you should be the one to tell him a resounding "No", never the other person. You should make him see that you don't like that attitude but without paying too much attention to yourself, since that's what he's looking for
You shouldn't totally ignore him either, teach him the basic command of "sit" and "stay" and when another person approaches tell him to be quiet. When he listens to you and is calm, give him a treat or pet him.
The use of positive reinforcement is fundamental to dealing with these problems, never punishment or violence If you are too harsh with him, he will reinforce feelings. If you see him approaching the other person curiously, let him sniff it and get familiar with it, that's a good sign.
If your dog is not aggressive, we can do trial exercises with acquaintances with the aim that the dogassociate the presence of another person with something good The three of us can go for a walk, that the other person gives him love and trinkets or play ball between the three of us. If it works, we can ask other friends to help us, so that the dog gets used to the presence of different people.
If he is still reluctant and your dog won't let anyone get close to you, don't force the situation and move forward little by little. The most important thing is that he must take the initiative.
Borderline situations
If after trying it with positive reinforcement and with the help of friends, your dog does not let anyone near you, it is time to visit an ethologist or a dog educator to help us control the animal's jealousy.
If it is an aggressive dog, and especially if it is large, you should put a muzzle on it in the street to prevent it from biting other people until you are recovered.
Remember that jealousy is a problem with a solution and with the help of an expert your relationship with your dog will be he althier and he you will be more balanced and happy.
