Need some advice

so I've noticed a changed in Marley when out on walks, if he comes across a man not walking a dog and they stop to say hello to him (putting their hand out) he backs off and barks and sometimes does a little growl? Yet any woman and nothing he's fine? He's great approaching another dog always friendly even with a dog that snaps at him but I don't understand why he's doing this? I've tried caloming him stroking him telling him to be nice but he just hides behind me, once they walk off he walks behind and has a sniff, if a man is walking a dog again he's fine, ain't sure how to reassure him or correct it

Is this with every man he sees? There are occasions when there are people they just don't like for whatever reason. Suki will bark and lunge at one particular guy every time she sees him. I think I would just continue to socialize as you are.

Also, sometimes paying extra attention to him or trying to be reassuring makes him believe that he is right to be afraid. If you are nervous or holding the lead different that may also affect his behavior.

I've never held the lead different, but my oh was the one who noticed it first on a walk with him, I'd never seen it but I did get it the other day, went to a friends house he said hello to my friend (girl) and her mother yet when the father came out and sat on the chair he hid? It took a while before he would let him stroke him, he's fine with family members that are male and some men so maybe it is just something he feels? So how can I make him feel ok?

I did take him to a public place last weekend probably the most people he's been around and one old man. Who's owned staffs all his life came to see him and again he hid sat down away from him it did take him a while before he allowed him to stoke him, but kids women other dogs nothing he's great it's confusing

He is probably just building confidence in himself. If you can bring him around as many males as possible. Let Marley interact with them at his own pace and try to avoid having men approach him. It may also help if the males can feed him a treat when he comes to give them a sniff.

Suki was terrified of trains at that age and we just slowly got her used to them and now she is fine.

How old is he now Emma?

5 months rach

May be his second fear period a little earlier..

http://ice.ucdavis.edu/~robyn/Korina/BCIdeas/Criticalperiodsinpuppydevelopment.html

Ok I'll try that he seems to want to approach them once they leave, he's never nasty just seems scared I always stroke him tell him it's ok but it doesn't help him, a man on a bike yesterday stopped and was amazed at Marley even got off his bike to see him and Marley approached him but as soon as he put his hand out to him he backed off didn't growl or bark but hid, and in pets at home his first time being in there a man said hello to me and Marley and passed and Marley was fine went behind him had a sniff, but as soon as a man came towards him to say hello he barked and hid the woman behind the desk said that he looked scared,

Thank you rach I'll have a look at that

So I've read the link sounds like me being caring and stroking him may encourage him being like that but it says with patience and kindness they will succeed? So how will I go about that when it comes to it?

Mia doesnt like certain men i know the reasons behind it isnt so bad i always say to mia its ok in a sing song voice. Try handing the person a treat or ask the person to crouch to marleys level not make eye contact and hold their hand out so marley can have a sniff . Could be the sheer size of someone marley finds scary

They usually do go down to his level but give him eye contact I'll try what you've said thank you

Its the eye contact he may be finding a challenge when u stare at a dogs eyes they see it as a challenge but marley being so young he doesn't understand tell them to crouch relax and avoid eye contact and let marley come to them.

Okie dokie thank you

bless him emma

Was just about to say what Crystal has added - men are usually larger than women, with a different posture and deeper voice etc, which can be scary or intimidating to a pup. I would advise strangers to ignore Marley completely and let him come to them in his own time. If coming to the house, sit down rather than standing, throw treats to the floor if needs be, but don't force any interaction as this will likely make the problem worse. He doesn't necessarily need to "meet" everybody that he sees out and about to be well socialized, and I would especially avoid negative interactions for the sake of an interaction.

Regarding your reactions, you need to find a middle ground - don't ever correct him for growling, but I wouldn't overly reassure him either. Let him know that it's okay - as Crystal says use a sing song voice and act like there's nothing out of turn with the situation at all.

Thanx for the reply I'll give it a go

We've had this quite a bit with Millie, the queen of scaredyness. She'll take fright at random people, dogs, objects. What works best is to just stay where you are and, if you can, engage the person in conversation for a moment while she figures it out. By not making a big deal of it, she will very quickly feel the need to check it out herself and find it's ok.

Most puppies will work through this easily if you do it this way, so don't be worried by the fact the Millie still has her meltdowns. She's a bit of an odd one!

Staffs get worried about pretty much anything. Bo was scared of his water bowl one day last week and wouldn't even go in the kitchen when it was there. He's also scared of frozen waffles and my toaster, and terrified of the sound grit makes when it gets stuck between the door and the tiles.

But because yours is afraid of all men she doesn't know I'm wondering if a man could have shouted at him or scared him in the recent past. It may only take one incidence to make him lose his confidence.