Hi XXXXXXXX~
Does your Malinois ever show this kind of behavior otherwise (ie: when eating, ect)?Would you say she's a fearful girl?Have you had her since puppyhood, or did you get her as an adult?Has she ever gone to any obedience classes?
Just recently, when she finishes eating, she'll growl at the cocker as the cocker tries to enter the living room after eating. The malinois is a fearful girl. We adopted her when she was 1 year old and we've had her for 2 years. She was extremely fearful and timid when we got her. She has come out of her shell since then but still a little fearful at times.
Another example, when she barks at people or cars outside the house (when she is inside), first she jumps up from laying position, runs to the cocker and barks in her face, then moves toward the window to bark out the window. It's weird and I can' figure it out?
It sounds to me as if your girl would absolutely benefit from attending some self-esteem classes...better known as obedience training. Most people view obedience training as a way to teach their dogs to sit and stay..but these types of classes also help instill a self confidence in some timid dogs that they just can't get any other way. Fearful dogs tend to do really well with structure, so getting her in a routine is vital as well. Feeding at the same time every day...walking at the same time every day...even kenneling at the same time every day will help her realize what is required of her on a day-to-day basis so she won't have to fret about it.
With the fearful/anxious rescue dogs I work with (I rehabilitate power breeds such as Pitbulls who need to have all their bad habits un-learned) I've found using a couple different products that are made solely for anxiety also help:
A couple things you could try would be:
Melantonin is an over-the-counter drug that can be used to treat some anxiety issues in dogs. The dose you would give would be up to 3 mg given orally whenever necessary up to every 8 hours. More information can be found here: http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/melatonin-melatonex/page1.aspx , which includes risks, warning signs to watch out for and other bits of useful information.
Try a DAP collar. These are collars that are impregnated with a man-made version of the dog appeasing pheromone, which is a pheromone that nursing bitches give off to their pups to help them feel calm and secure. It's something that humans can't smell, but it has an amazing effect on dogs with anxiety and other issues. Although you can find them at your vet's office..you can also find them online at places like Amazon.com and Ebay for much cheaper. Just make sure they're DAP brand, as they seem to work better than some other versions.
If I were working with your dog in my home, I'd get her on the strict schedule...get her into an obedience class and probably try the DAP collar to help take the edge off. If you don't see results with these things in a couple weeks..then it might be time to talk to a behaviorist...
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