Re: Need Some Help

[Sweetypye]

1 Hackles going up are a sign of the 4 Fs, flight, fight, freeze or fart about in other words hackles are the visual sign of anticipation.  The dog is getting ready for trouble; hence my statement that a confident assertive dog does NOT raise his hackles, he is not anticipating problems.

2 Passing dogs reinforce the behaviour (similar to the postman syndrome, dog barks, postman leaves ergo dog thinks his behaviour has been successful so does it even MORE the next time).

3 dog displays even more territorial behaviour as it a) thinks that it is under constant threat b) its behaviour is rewarded by removal of the perceived threat