Silly axl

Just returned from my morning walk with Axl. He's taken it upon himself this morning to be my protector this morning he's protected me from a bin bag, a wheeley bin, a particularly nasty leaf blowing across the road and a menacing bush...

On a serious note we did see a man at a is stop quite a way away and he did start growling and barking he's never done it before. I turned him around made him sit and give me his paw. We walked towards the man as that's the way I had to go to get home and I thought if I showed him he wouldn't be scared. As we got closer I think he realised it was a human and he calmed down but I wondered was walking past the man the right thing to do or should I have crossed the road or found another way around?

It's only with me he behaves like this and it's worse in the dark he's always checking behind us and on alert I think he's scared of the dark. Back to training classes we go...

aww bless him,Axl your such a brave boy those leafs can be really nasty

Depends on his body language as you approach I think, and previous behaviour with strangers. I don't tend to walk Biscuit towards, but that's because she is a lunger and often freaks out last minute. Maybe walk him towards but keep him focused on you with a treat to take the pressure off.

Thanks Rach he was visibly calming on approach and shaking as if he got wet which I believe is a good sign? His ears relaxed a bit too. He's not usually aggressive with humans he usually wants to say hello. I think it's the dark that freaks him out.

Shaking is tension release usually hun, just means his adrenaline has built and he's feeling a little uncomfortable/trying to dispell it. Biscuit is batsh*t in the dark, even more so than usual. Understandable though, their eyes aren't as good as ours and I would probably get freaked out if I saw a big strange figure in the dark too doesn't mean the behaviour is always "acceptable" for our society though, so an alternative behaviour (as you did) is always best

Thanks again Rach I am going to take him back to classes to refresh his training and mine.

Pixee when we first had her was so scared of the dark, as time has gone by, she is so much better unless of course theres some thing lurking, and she goes mental. Its been a while since I have been on here, I have always loved the good advice given by Rach. Pixee is very over protecive of me in all walks. Axl looks so handsome.

Aww thanks Lynn. I was just reading something you wrote on another post and I was thinking how gorgeous Pixee's face is in that profile pic, she's a pretty girl

It's funny he only does this with you Debs, maybe he is protecting you.

Fortunately my Flo doesn't get spooked by anything that we've noticed so far

I think he thinks he can get away with more with me to be honest so he misbehaves a little bit. My dog walker told me yesterday he walked past two dogs on the same side of the road and Axl didn't take any notice whatsoever so I know it's something to do with me!

Aww Axl, maybe although you dont realise Deb perhps he is picking up a little of your tension through the lead xx

axls definitely protecting u debs i would say

you have to keep an eye on thouse leaves the basterds...they will jump you given hal a chance

Lol Nathan Axl would agree!!

I've been harder on him these past few days and he behaved himself this morning so I'm getting through that fat head of his slowly lol

aww he's just looking after his mummy debs,glad he's behaving this morning for you

Thanks Stella I don't want him protecting me especially because of the new dog laws.. not that he's really shown aggression to a person but you never know! I'd rather let him know that I can look after him and not the other way around