Next door neighbours

[Dogsareme]

There is a girl next door and she is mentally handicapped. For the most part she seems nice, I say hi to her when I see her, and she says hi to me.

But I have ran into a problem. None of my dogs like her. They all growl and snarl and I swear they would tear her apart. None of them will go near her, but they have never outright tried to bite her or anything. Kaede I know does have problems with strangers, but I have never met a person my other two did not like. It just baffles me. Mudd ran from her and bared her teeth and Kyrel growled and bared his teeth. Then the other week my aunty came down to visit me and she has a younger service dog. Well the girl came over to say hi, and her service dog, Sasha growled and actually bit the girl on the hand (good thing Sasha is pretty small and didn't do much). My friends dog has also bared her teeth... and all these dogs are usually super friendly. I just assume it has to be something she is letting off....
For one, her eyes are really strange, I'm not trying to be mean, but they are all over the place and never together. One can be up, and the other at the side etc....
Also they have dogs and use harsh training methods. I've seen them hit there dogs and I can't tell you how many times I've heard them yell at the poor things.

I'm assuming it's the eyes, what are your thoughts on this??

[sammy]

Sad. Sometimes the body language, the sounds, movements, the weird eyes all those things make some dogs really nervous.

Sammy has seemed nervous of some of the special needs kids he has met but not aggressive as your describe. He just sort of looks up at me kind of nervously as if to say "you sure this is ok mom?"

If the dogs are going to be in conatct with this girl (and even if not) I would consider a counter conditioning, desensitization program if possible.

[Novel]

In my experience, many dogs have this issue. It is not that your dogs are necessarily aggressive or really doing anything wrong. They simply know that this person is not behaving like "normal" and they find it disquieting. Remember, there are no "group homes" or "hospitals" in the canine world. Those that do not fit in because they are deficient or strange or disabled are usually culled by the pack.

You can teach your dogs to accept this, but it will take some time, and it would be best to work with someone that knows what you are trying to accomplish and what you are training.

Topper encountered a man at a show that had a severe limp, and used a cane, and this bothered him, and he was taking a great deal of interest in the man. I told him it was "OK" and then asked the man if we could please sit next to him. Topper sat next to him and after about three minutes, was fine with it. I then asked the man if he could please pet my dog, and he did. He said that he had just been bit by a Great Dane on the other side of the expo building. I explained to him that he would need to be careful, and explained that the dogs were unsure of him, and he presented a different person type. He thanked me for the explanation, and moved on.

We also show to a judge somewhat often that has only one arm, and another that is severly hunch backed. I notice many dogs act differently to these judges, especially puppies.

[mulroony]

Jackson has a def problem with anyone that walks (or moves) out of the normal (including people that walk w/ their pants half way down to their knees). I always feel bad when he barks, but it is not the easiest thing to socialize.

I would try to make their experiences w/ her as positive as possible, and try not to let on that it is any special situation.

[Carrie]

It all pretty much boils down to early socialization. If dogs haven't experienced something or some kind of person, some very unusual place, grooming procedures etc....haven't been exposed to what you want them to be exposed to as adults, they tend to fear those things. If your dog had been around someone like this a lot as a pup, had tons of exposure, he'd most likely be fine and see that as normal. Dogs can totally sense differences in people. Some dogs are afraid of men with beards or hats if they never saw one.

It's hard to fix that. Counter conditioning/desentatization may help somewhat. But it probably can't make up in whole, the feeling of normalcy to the dog that early exposure/socialization would as a very young pup.

You can try asking the neighbor to toss him a treat and just sit and talk with you....not that she intrudes in your dog's space, just sits with you. Don't fuss over your dog or act concerned. If you did this every day for just 10 minutes and associated her with treats and a pleasant, relaxing time, your dogs would probably get better. I'd practice at first with one dog at a time.

It's too bad how they treat their dogs. Maybe you can train your dog (s) in your yard and show them how it's done.

[Raised By Wolves]

Great post, Novel. You hit the nail on the head.

Dogs are creatures of nature, they lack our human compassion and empathy in situations of this sort.

[RIo&Nickysmommy]

yeh dogs are very sensitive to diffrence in people. My Step dad had a stroke and the first time my dog had seen him he was really leary of him and nervous because he walked with a cane at times and his gaite was diffrent then most humans. Took a few good visits now they sit on their grandpas lap. They are very intune to diffrence in people. My dog RIo saw my Dad take his teeth out (dentures) and the look and reaction he had backing up and not knowing what happen was actually pretty funny. Moral to that sotry dont take your teeth out in front of your dog.
If I was introducing my dog back to this person I would also do it one dog at a time. Whewn I introduce my dogs to people I make sure I talk like this person is my best friend in the world and my dogs seem to pick up on my comfort level too. Hope they all become friends.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[Dogsareme]

Thanks guys, this helps alot.

My dogs have been around quite a few people with different problems, but never a mentally challenged person. My gramma had a stroke and they are use to her, my cousin has spinabifita, my uncle has huntingtons and he twitches alot and they don't mind him at all. I'm really really thinking it's the eyes. She doesn't do any weird body movements that I have noticed, but she is a bit stooped over when she walks. I will try and get her to cooperate. But I think it might be hard to do, she has a really hard time understanding what you are trying to say, and then changes the subject. Actually she always jumps from one subject to another. I will try though. I am only going to be in this house for 2 more weeks, so I will try to accomplish what I can within that time.

Thanks again everyone

[richnrissa]

including people that walk w/ their pants half way down to their knees) ROFL!

I think it is definitely the different "vibe', and there are many things we as humans DONT percieve in sight, sound and smell that the dogs ARE picking up on. I know its not the same thing, but my dogs can absolutely sense things in us, mood, behaviors, ilnesses and act differently..........
and then there is the fact that as humans, WE tend to act differently around people who are different, especially handicapped. We talk differently, our body language changes, WE are nervous-afriad to offend or misunderstand, etc, which would only heighten the dogs reaction to the differences they sense.