Cat vocalizations: What's on their mind?

Recent conversations on these topics

• 1 year old Lab/mix fear aggression

  My 1 year old lab mix has recently become aggressive toward people. We rescued her at 6-8 months old. She had been exposed to some children and teenagers before we got her, but we do not have any children. When she was younger she would let neighborhood children and adults pet her on walks. About a month ago I noticed an increase in barking at people walking on the street (from within our urban home). She has started to back away from dog-friendly strangers we encounter on walks and sometimes barks at them (adults and children). She even barked at a person at the dog park, although the person was familiar and not displaying any attention toward the dog. I am very nervous about our futures and want her to be a happy healthy mutt! There are a couple of outside factors that I think could be contributing to these behavior changes but I don't know if they would actually cause these reactions. First: we have had a construction crew working on our home for 2 months. They are mostly outside, but have had a few days of work inside. During the times the workers were in, I was also home and the dogs were aloud to greet but not remain with the workers. Second: My pup is in adolescence. I have read that these hormones have effect on dogs behaviors. However, I don't want her to retain the new aggressions. Most importantly, she needs to be happy! I take her for city walks once a week and she gets less people dense exercise throughout the rest of the week. I am unable to afford a trainer so any information you can share is extremely valuable! Thank you so much!

• dog park days

  We live ten minutes from an off lead sports oval where Lila has spent much time with dogs of all shapes and sizes, negotiating the quirks of their wildly ranging personalities. The two moodles (aka maltipoos) Topsy and Turvy have never once offered to play with Lila (too much brown dog), but she always greets them with exuberance. She loops round and round with delight undaunted by Turvy’s snarl-snap. But Turvy is also a romantic with a fetish when it comes to some of the girls. And then there’s Alf. A German shepherd-kelpie cross. Built like an elite athlete, he struts across the oval exuding his top dog status. Sometimes he will deign to engage in tug of war with Lila, each grabbing an end of her yellow rubber mallet. But mostly he keeps his eye on the nearby railway. Train spotting is his great passion. Celtie’s a rescue dog of unknown origins although there’s speculation that she may have some Irish wolfhound mixed with a bit of mastiff. She loves field mice. At least that’s what we believe. We’ve never actually seen them. When she spots one in the long grass woe to the dog who dare stick its snout in her business (Lila learned this the hard way). Full story and video of "dogs doing dog things" on http://dogdownunder.com/2011/05/28/dog-park-days

• behavior problems-please help!!

  I have a mixed breed (looks like chihuahua-papillon) dog that we rescued several years ago. When we got him he had never been out of a dog crate. Although his behavior got better for a while it has recently taken a turn for the worse. He has always been extremely timid and has some behavioral issues.He does not like to come out of my room and can frequently be found under the bed. He doesn't often "play". He is very agressive with strangers and has to be shut in a room when company comes. It took him almost a year to get used to my brother, who now lives with us. He barks and growls at family members if they are wearing a hat. He is never agressive towards me but occasionally growls at the kids (all teens)if they come in my room. He refuses to go outside unless I pick him up and take him there. If I go away for a weekend he will pee on my bed the minute I come back and he regularly pees on my daughter's bed if she leaves the door open. He hates my (future ex) husband. I have begun leash training and have started to have the kids give him treats when they visit my room or on the rare occasions he comes out of my room. When he is fully leash trained I would like to try some socialization on our local college campus. I am armed with treats and a few volunteers to be "random strangers". When and how is the best way to do this? Does anyone have any advice at all?

• My dog doesn't like men

  I just got a 3 yr old rat terrier/toy fox terrier from a rescue. He was super cool when he came for the home check visit but when we finally brought him home for good, he really didn't like my step dad. Hes great with my mom and I, and even my girl friends. But he barks and runs from my step dad, his friends, and my boy friend. What can I do to get him to warm to the men in my life?