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Post by Summer Magic on Jan 28, 2006 8:14:02 GMT -5
Now that Magic is on a beefed up program of NILIF and I am sternly correcting her for her unacceptable behavior she has begun to wait till I or Mom has turned our backs on her before she snaps at us.
I have heard that this is a good sign of a fear biter. If so how do I deal with this. I can't spend my life backing away from my dog to insure I won't get it in the butt.
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Post by Nicole on Jan 28, 2006 9:23:25 GMT -5
Under what circumstances is she snapping..or is there not a trigger. There was a thread recently on the Leerberg site about this same issue titled "sneaky biter." Take a look at it. www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4162632/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1The recommendation was to set the dog up and use an e-collar. It did work. You may also be able to do the same thing with a prong...setting the dog up and correcting. Obviously you should continue strict supervision around people. It sounds though that you have made some wonderful progress.
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Post by Summer Magic on Jan 28, 2006 9:37:16 GMT -5
Her stimuli is the same as always, the door bell or the phone. She is usually ordered to her crate first. Then I take her out of the crate (so punishment isn't associated with it) and make her lie down and stand on her leash so she can't get up and then I can answer the phone. The door is the real problem now, she goes to her crate when ordered to place, and we close the door of the crate so we can answer the door but she will lunge and snap at me or mother when we let her out of the crate. But always from the back side. I did purchase an e-collar for her and have introduced it to her, however since she has been so good with the NILIF I did remove it and replace it with her martingale. My neighbor is working with me about her lunging and snapping at people outside. She still jumps up and tried to lunge but I have a good hold on her and give a good leash pop and make her sit. We are making progress but it's slow. She knows better because she looks up at me after she has quieted for my approval. I wait till she is quiet and the neighbor is far enough away that I can loosen my hold and praise her for her good actions. If I loosen my hold and she bolts for the neighbor again she gets another leash pop and has to sit quietly for twice as long (maybe a minute or two)
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Post by Richard on Jan 28, 2006 10:09:41 GMT -5
I don't know about the fear biter thing it sounds more like she's not totally accepting of the NILIF and being corrected and her snapping at your back is her way of showing that fact.
I agree, it sounds like you're making good progress with her. Just don't give her too much freedom too soon cuz if she's not ready for it (with lunging, jumping and snapping at your back) then you may have to go back to the start with her again to make sure what is expected of her is firmly in her mind.
The leaping and jumping part outside is a separate issue. You're doing well having the neighbor help but the inside issue of the snapping when being let out of the cage needs to be addressed head on. That is when a short leash and prong (or ecollar) comes into play. The minute she tries any funny stuff, it should be a firm "knock it off" with the correction. She needs to understand that as alpha, you won't tolerate such behaviour in your pack.
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Post by willow on Jan 28, 2006 10:52:15 GMT -5
I agree with Nicki and Richard. Magic still isn't getting the message that you are the Alpha and she is not respecting you.
I think "setting her up" is a good idea and here's what I would try.
I like using the "body block" to control a dog who lunges forward for what ever reason...going through a door ahead of you, lunging to get dropped food on the floor etc., because it isn't necessary to have a collar and leash on them to correct them.
I would have your mother let Magic out of her crate and turn away. If she goes to lunge/nip, you step in front of her, blocking her from going forward while saying, "ssssssssssssst" and then make her lie down.
If your mother can do the body block thing, I would also practice with you letting her out and your mother body blocking her so she learns to respect both of you.
If that doesn't work....call Cesar Milan. ;D
Seriously, if you do that every time you let her out of the crate, she should get the idea after a couple of times that you mean business! Also...instead of making her go into the crate when the phone or doorbell rings, I would just snap her leash on her as a means of control, and whenever you have the leash on her, do not hold it tightly so you are forcing her to stay close with a taut leash.
A tight leash to a dog means there is something to be afraid of...the person or other dog approaching etc., and it teaches them to be fearful of these things, so you have to keep slack in the leash and when she tries to lunge etc., give her a "ssssssssst" and good, meaningful pop correction and immediate slack leash again.
You can also do the body block while she is on leash. Keep slack in the leash (she's in a sit or down beside you) and if she tries to get up and lunge forward, step in front of her with a "SSSSSSSSSSSST" and make her sit/lie down again.
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