Why did his dog not come to him when he called? she went off towards the door! It was like she didn't recognise him. I've seen YouTube videos whereby dogs are reunited with owners after years and go absolutely mental. I found it really odd. Not a great moment for James my rabbits show more love!

I,m a canine behaviourist and veterinary nurse but haven,t seen the clip so not sure...lol, i,m a big help aren,t i?

There was probably too much distraction. I saw a brief clip and you had Aubrey squealing a little and it was a new environment. I think if my husband brought my dogs into my place of work it would take them a few minutes of sniffing the floor before they gave me the time of day.

Because there were a lot of people around the dog plus those other dogs in the pen, she was frightened, my dog would have been the same. James has always had Bischon Friche dogs, he's always been a dog lover. He always had two dogs, I don't know if he still has, obviously has one.

She did recognise him, she started wagging her tail, but the people around him were strangers and making noise. She looked nervous until he picked her up.

It looked to me that she was very pleased to see him but was nervous about venturing forward into the large unfamiliar space. He had to go to her and she was clearly delighted.

All dogs are different. They won't all rush over with obvious love flinging themselves on you. Mine would have given me a quick hit on the leg before taking off to sniff and investigate every inch of the area, completely ignoring me - she loves me but is very 'environment oriented' but my Mum's dog would have reacted as James' did.

Is his a Bichon frise? Mum's Bichon has a wee a nervous thing and wouldn't race into an unfamiliar environment either. She'd stay back wriggling, excited but unsure like James' dog. I thought it was very sweet. A quiet room would have been better though.



Edit: took so long posting I missed all the posts above ....ah, so she is a Bichon. She's so fine and dainty compared to Mum's beast.

She was fair licking him and tail wagging when he picked her up. She even licked the top of his bald head - which I'm sure everyone will say is sweet... And yet when Heavy D was rubbing it we all got offended.

...Double Standards?

The dog was disorientated. There was too much going on for it to settle.
My Bro has a BF dog and he runs away at the slightest little commotion.

The dogs on Youtube are often filmed in the safe environment of their own homes, and if not, the person leading them is also someone they love and trust. (like going out for a walk.)

James's dog was with strangers [or he would have been delighted to see them too] and already somewhat confused. She was probably missing him at home too and been a bit confused since he was gone (depending on how much time she is usually with him, of course).
She VERY soon came round.

The smell in that house is probably enough to confuse a dog

Aaah I get it now. Animals are strange creatures aren't they? I often wonder why sometimes my baby rabbit is all over me then the next day I go to the hutch and she sits with her back to me the whole time I'm stroking her lol getting the cold shoulder

If that dog had been a lab or an alsatian it would've come straight to James regardless of distractions. I don't think that Bichon breed is renowned for intelligence or obedience.

The dog looked nervous - strange surroundings, strange people and other dogs. She was OK as soon as she got close to James. I think my dog would still have been sniffing around the house - it must stink in there!

I didn't see the show, but I have a Border collie, he would have been nervous at the strange noises and smells in that environment. I would probably have to go to him and then be bowled over with uber tail shaking

By the look of the house and mess and the stuff that been spilt or thrown about I reckon it stinks to high hell

Paddy The Big Brother Dog (BB2) was a Bichon Frise and a legend.

My Jack Russell probably would have started a fight with a few housemates.

We've seen similar - the dog is so distressed by the foreign surroundings , new situation etc and overwhelmed - it goes into a corner - completely opposite reaction to what it's expected normal behaviour would be.
Later when he held it - the dog seemed very affectionate- I think because it was held so close to his face, excluding visuals of all the other distractions.

Hee hee . As a dog lover you should know that all dogs respond differently to different environments. Don't forget the BB house will be full of sounds and various smells which depending on the dogs age will be very confusing. Dogs don't behave to order.

It's just the nature of his dog, not a confident little thing in strange environments etc. My retriever would have been all over everyone and trying to get in with the other dogs, checking everything out but my old westie wouldn't go down *one* step when I moved house - just depends on the dog

My Bichon X would have knocked everyone over running to me and drenched me with her licks.

My Jack Russell however would have been very unsure and I would have to go to him.

My dogs personalities are a bit mixed up compared to most

My dog would have been looking for anybody who had food

I love jack Russells. They are such loving dogs but you don't mess with them so no surprises they'd loathe bear and Lewis

Mine would have weed on everything and made a holy show of me.

It might have been sulking. A dog of ours when I was younger, very deliberately kept coming up to me and sitting down with her back to me, when I returned from a two week holiday.