Comments on: Can Someone Help With An Aggressive Dog?

By: TEL BOY

TEL BOY — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:17:39 +0000

Take it straight to a vet and GET IT PUT DOWN

By: saz

saz — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:16:48 +0000

I AGREE WITH KATE H. ALSO TRY PUTTING HIS TOYS IN A CUPBOARD AND LET HIM WATCH YOU TAKE THEM OUT AND MAKE HIM SIT BEFORE HE GETS ONE TO PLAY WITH. HE SHOULD ONLY HAVE ONE AT A TIME. ROTATE WHICH ONES HE PLAYS WITH. THIS MAKES HIM UNDERSTAND THAT THE TOYS ARE YOURS AND NOT HIS, THAT YOU ARE THE BOSS AND HE CAN ONLY PLAY WHEN YOU SAY SO.
IT ALL SOUNDS A BIT BOSSY BUT IT REALLY HELPED MY DOG, WHO GROWLED ANDWOULD NOT RELINQUISH ANY OF ‘HER’ TOYS. ITS BETTER TO BE A BIT FIRM WITH YOUR TRAINING AND THEN YOU DONT NEED TO TELL THEM OFF ALL THE TIME AS THEY KNOW WHO IS BOSS AND DONT TAKE THE MICK.
HAVE A LOOK FOR JAN FENNEL BOOK, THE DOG LISTENER. ITS PRETTY GOOD. BUT AS WITH ALL TRAINING YOU HAVE TO STICK WITH IT AND BE CONSISTENT. GOODLUCK .

By: Elly

Elly — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:09:42 +0000

For aggression issues it is usually best to get in touch with a positive reinforcement trainer who can come over to your house and troubleshoot the problem for you. http://www.apdt.com/po/ts/default.aspx
In the meantime, you need to establish yourself as the authority figure to your dog and teach him that certain behaviors, like biting humans, are inappropriate.
1. Always put a drag lead on him. Use a light lead, and clip off the loop at the end so it doesn’t catch on anything. Make sure to use a flat collar and not a training collar. When you dog does something inappropriate, non-mark him (ack, ack) and stop him with the lead. The lead gives you control of your dog without having to touch him or pick him up.
2. Time-out. If your dog continues with his bad behavior after you have told him to stop, then say “time-out” and remove him to a time-out area (a safe but boring room, e.g. laundry room). Leave him in there for a couple of minutes and let him out. If he starts up again, non-mark him (ack, ack), and say time-out and put him back in time-out. This time lengthen the duration to about 10-15 minutes. Note that if your dog stops the bad behavior, make sure to praise him a lot and give him good treats. Keep this up and your dog will learn that certain behaviors get him rewards while others get him into a boring room with nothing to do.
3. Hand-feed him
You can try and teach him some bite inhibition. Only do this if your dog is not food aggressive. Hand-feed him some kibble one by one. If he bites too hard while trying to get at his food, yelp in a high pitch, and ignore him for a few seconds. Then start feeding him again. This way he learns that biting hard can hurt humans and when he does that, the food and attention stops. Hand-feeding is also good for bonding and establishing your leadership.
4. NILIF program. A great way to establish yourself as leader is through the control of resources. Don’t give anything to your dog (including pets and affection) unless he does something for you first. For example ask him for a “sit” before you give him food, toys, or freedom.
5. Obedience training. Try and do some obedience training sessions everyday. Enroll in a class or get a good positive reinforcement obedience book, and practice with him for short sessions (10-15 minutes) every day. This will help establish you as a leader, improve your bond with your dog, exercise your dog’s mind, and give you good tools that you can use to help control him in the house.
For now, your dog has bad associations with people picking him up so it is best to not pick him up for a while. Once you have his aggression under control, you can slowly desensitize him to handling and restraint (picking-up) by associating it with positive things like fun and food.
I have tried the mist bottle and it did not work well for me. My dog started attacking the mist bottle and becoming more aggressive.

By: mollylol

mollylol — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:45:57 +0000

I think he is having dominance issues, a lot of little dogs do this, i have a yorkie who is a loving little dog but can be a little short tempered!! You just have to make sure you are in charge, there are a lot of things you can do but its best to seek professional advice, your vet is a good first point of call.The water bottle is good but it has to be used right, as soon as he starts growling over the toy spray him, it has to immeediate or he wont learn to associate the water with the behaviour. Also dont let him sleep on your bed, dont let him get on the sofa until he is asked, feed him last out of everyone in the family and periodically take the toy away from him, make him sit and then give it back to him, you are the alpha not him!

By: ayumi~

ayumi~ — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:47:34 +0000

or just let him bite you

By: Basset Puppies Imminent

Basset Puppies Imminent — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:06:43 +0000

Please consult with a professional trainer, in person.

By: cougarde

cougarde — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:47:06 +0000

my wife’s little dogs use to cut a fit when we first got married. so i sent her to the store. when she got back they didn’t do this anymore. who says you can’t teach a old dog. but i never told her how i did it and i can’t tell you. but good luck.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:03:22 +0000

We have just had to completely retrain our dog as she has recently started being aggressive and growling and the vet said if she growled at her once she should be put down. We were mortified and my husband called a “behavioural therapist” and we had to ensure that she knew her place – that she was not the leader of the pack as such. I am sure they help out with training pups and giving general advice on how to get them to know their place. My dog is now as soft as she was when we first got her. Good luck with whatever you decide,

By: Stephani

Stephani — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:00:35 +0000

With the toy situation its just like kids. Don’t want to share. You must persist and keep making sure that he knows that you are the dominant one and not him. When you pick him up does he growl at your other pets or relations? If so it’s a form of protection which he must learn who the people and pets are that will not hurt you or him.
Good luck
Dont listen to tell boy, thats iresponsable, that can’t be the only solution. You shouldn’t answer with rubbish answers

By: Lauren M

Lauren M — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:44:42 +0000

Punishment should be avoided unless absolutely necessary as your dog will grow to dislike you and therefore listen to you less. It’s easier said than done, but by re enforcing his good behavior instead and simply ignoring him when he’s bad should get the message across. For dogs, particularly puppies, being ignored is punishment enough. He’s only young, once he learns the rules he should be fine. Puppy obedience classes work a treat too. Good luck!