|
Post by boxerlover on Mar 11, 2004 15:36:01 GMT -5
I hope I am posting in the right forum... My dog growled at ME today! Initially, I wanted to Kick his A** But instead...I am here asking for help with a training plan. We have went through the basic Obedience Course. I still have my 'prong collar'...which has not been used recently...obviously by his behavior! So any advice is welcome. Just give me step 1, 2, & 3....I will take it from there!
|
|
|
Post by sibemom on Mar 11, 2004 18:24:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by boxerlover on Mar 11, 2004 21:03:34 GMT -5
Thank you for your response! When I first adopted this dog....we did these exercises regularly. Obvious to me now....it is time for some refresher courses! Honestly....I have taken anything and everything out of his mouth several times before! "no growling!" NONE.
He took me by suprise and my reaction was to stick him in his crate with his bone and say "Here you little a**hole!" I was really pissed!
My children have also taken things from his mouth, bones too, "no growling" (dont worry I supervise closely)
He has been acting protective and weird since our puppy is becoming a dog.
That is the only thing I can say has changed around our household. The puppy is bigger than him now!
|
|
|
Post by boxerlover on Mar 11, 2004 21:11:23 GMT -5
I also wanted to add....At the split second he growled, I didnt even think, I grabbed him by the scruff and yelled "NO" He did drop the bone. The more I think about what you said, I cannot believe I gave it back to him! I must be !!! A couple hours later, the dogs were coming in from outside. He had a bone in his mouth. When he got to the door..."sit" he sat...."drop it" he dropped it. I am taking this very seriously, I am going to start re-training him on this right away. Should I go outside and collect all the bones? Not sure how many there are... plus some buried I bet.
|
|
|
Post by Brooke on Mar 11, 2004 21:22:29 GMT -5
Other than not taking the bone away for the day I would say you did great! You are thinking along the right lines in a corrective manner. Thats how I would have handled it or correcting with the pinch collar. If he growls for guarding anything take it away for the day.
|
|
|
Post by Aussienot on Mar 11, 2004 23:25:11 GMT -5
One, perhaps the only, absolute not-negotiatable things both my dogs know is "Aus" meaning Drop It Immediately.
And with Finn, yes, it did take some compulsion to make him realise he needs to switch off his prey drive and obey without question when he hears Aus, because more than once he's been holding a living creature that I neeed to save.
One the other hand, I try not to set up situations where food guarding, especially bones, will become an issue between us, or between them. Bones are given outside only, and each dog has a separate yard to enjoy their treat without worry. I give them the bones, but I also take them away when the dog is done with them.
At meal time, each dog is fed separately in a quiet spot, and left alone to eat in peace. They aren't allow to bug me when I'm eating, and I don't bug them when they are eating. I have established that I CAN take food away from them, but I don't do it. Meals are the highlight of their day, and I want them to enjoy it.
I know food is a trigger for fights between my two, and while I can stop them from fighting, I figure there's no point in adding unnecessary stress.
Changes in the pack, like your younger dog reaching adulthood, are likely to spark reactions in the first dog. That's normal. Expect him to push the boundaries a little. Stay focused on NILIF, be a strong alpha, and plan ahead to avoid the battles you don't need to have.
|
|
|
Post by Laura on Mar 11, 2004 23:33:25 GMT -5
Actually, giving the bone back is not such a horrible thing (maybe not at that moment tho ;D). It teaches the dog that you are the source of all good things, you can giveth, and you damm well can taketh away too ! But, it's better to work that excercise when your not PO'ed at him . It's a fine line of training, I want my dogs to know that they must give me anything I ask for at any given time, but I won't do it just for the sake of doing it either, and leave them be to enjoy the resource. Teach him the command " drop it" too, comes in handy in all kinds of situations.
|
|
|
Post by Laura on Mar 11, 2004 23:34:30 GMT -5
And apparently Linda and I posted at the same time .
|
|
|
Post by Aussienot on Mar 12, 2004 1:15:51 GMT -5
Yes, but I'm thinking you said it better.
|
|
|
Post by sibemom on Mar 12, 2004 5:54:07 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by sibemom on Mar 12, 2004 5:55:10 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by boxerlover on Mar 13, 2004 18:32:23 GMT -5
Well...had my first training session with "Jack"... I dunno for sure? He is either collar smart or he knew how upset I was with him? I will try again tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by Iluvmypup on Jun 24, 2004 17:00:00 GMT -5
When a dog growls, its a warning. Its what takes place before they bite..sort of like a "stay away, you're getting too close". I worked with a food aggressive dog before that protected everything...toys, food dish, bones..you name it, he guarded it. Stock up on a bag of treats, and walk by your dog while he's chewing on a bone. If he growls at all, walk away and start over. You want to walk far enough away so he DOESN'T growl. Drop a treat as you pass by, showing him that walking by is a GOOD thing. After your dog begins to look forward to your presence, you can bend down to his level and offer him the treat from your hand. Keep doing this for about 3 days. After he's used to it, take the bone after saying "GIVE" or "DROP IT", immediately give him a yummy treat, and return the bone to him. Walk away. Job well done. Keep doing this, and ask fellow family members to do it as well. I wouldn't correct your dog for growling. You're just saying "Don't give me a warning". That now means the next time he's feeling threatened, he won't growl. He'll simply go straight to the next step..biting. Good luck! If all else fails, consider hiring a trainer to help you out.
|
|
|
Post by Iluvmypup on Jun 24, 2004 17:01:21 GMT -5
Oopss!! I didn't realize that a :.) symbol came out as a I'm a newbie, cantcha tell?
|
|
|
Post by amyjo on Jun 24, 2004 18:46:23 GMT -5
Hi and welcome to the board....
Not sure I am buying this - If you back off when your dog growls and then offer a treat from a distance then it seems to me that
a. You are teaching him that he can growl at you and you will back away - thus reinforcing that growling not only works but is acceptable.
b. You are tossing treats at the dog for no reason other than he is just there chewing a bone - there is no work involved for the dog. This seems "suck uppy" to me and wouldn't really help the dog see you as a leader - sure he might see you as a giant treat dispenser who he will generously permit to hang out with him - but a leader? I don't think so.....
Why wouldn't you correct a dog for growling? - my dogs aren't allowed to "warn" me any more than they are allowed to bite me. I am always willing to learn something new - but it would take alot of convincing. I mean I understand the concept of desensitization - but in this case it just seems counter-productive to me.
|
|