Dog Community

New Rescue & food aggression (LONG)

Posted : 3/16/2011 9:14:58 PM

Hi,

I just posted my info in the introduction, I had a account here on I-dog years ago, have a APBT named Rory, maybe some of you remember me. Anyhow we rescued a 1.5 year old BT and named him Ryder. He is very calm and laid back and is excellent with my 2 year old son and other dogs.

Anyhow the first night we brought him home he bit me when I corrected him for trying to steal food out of my son's hand. I know I startled him and was a stranger to him. He had gone through a lot in the past 3 weeks. Anyhow, I rolled him on his back, set him on his bed and he stayed for about 13 minutes without trying to get up once. That was saturday, today is wednsday. Since then I have hand fed him all of his meals. He sits and wait for me to pour it, I walk to the other side of the kitchen and call him to me. My son has hand fed him twice also with great success. I've been setting our food on the table, directing Ryder to his bed (first couple meals he had to be reminded over and over) and the first two days he shook the whole time we ate. Today as soon as I set my food on the table he ran right to his bed and stayed he whole time.

SO.....I have always had pit bulls, am no stranger to NILIF but I've always started out with puppies and never rescued. I am cautious because I have a toddler ( he has great manners with dogs, no grabby hands and knows no to go near their food). Do you think the first night he was just ratteled? I am keeping a close eye on him but am still nervous. Everytime I've had to correct him he dosn't make the same mistake twice.

Aside from this issue he as been GREAT! He loves fetch, growled at me a couple of times the 2nd day when I tried to take the ball away but is doing great now. He drops it at my son's feet and they play all day. At home he is lazy bones and when we are out he is action jackson, he is a cuddler and fun fun dog!

calliecritturs

Posted : 3/16/2011 11:04:05 PM

Sorry -- I just answered your other post, and didn't realize you had another dog!

But -- everything I said there, I'll ditto here. You can get an absolutely GREAT dog from a rescue -- but you **do** have to have your all your brain cells working hard to keep it all safe and positive until you KNOW this dog.

It will take you like 6 months to a year to really get a handle on *this* dog. And you're still in the "honeymoon" phase.

Altho -- with some dogs the honeymoon can be the toughest time! some of them will see what they can get away with first -- or you may simply have touched a hot button.

NILIF is absolutely the way I'd go -- altho I probably wouldn't alpha roll him -- that can backfire in a big big way with a small dog (because they can have quite the attitude about *being* smaller so you don't go out of your way to increase your risk of the dog reacting to intimidation).

I take extreme measures when a dog's teeth touch my skin. It is never *ever* ok. You didn't say how you 'corrected' him -- and you'll have to analyze that carefully. Did he react to the hand motion or your tone of voice? Or to having food taken away from *him*?

All good things to try to get a handle on (and probably to sort of set him up in those situations under a completely *controlled* situation just to see how he reacts).

I'm sure others will have good suggestions for you.

rwbeagles

Posted : 3/16/2011 11:22:07 PM

My first thought reading this was this is not a dog to have around small kids. 2 year olds can be great but they are STILL 2 years old. A child doesn't deserve even a corrective bite from a dog because they forget the rules for a second and grab for something. IMO you need some more structure and segregation in the household while you get a handle on EXACTLY what will set this dog off. I would definitely keep a leash on the dog in the house and keep it crated when my child was running around in the same area. You just never know and like Callie says many times when the honeymoon is over it is REALLY, over.

CalMama

Posted : 3/17/2011 7:57:02 PM

I 100% agree, I was just in shock, I had never been bitten before. I really dislike the alpha roll and never have had to use it....I know its my job to remain in control but I was at a loss of what to do.

He actually had gotten the tater tot out of my son's hand and I grabbed him by hos collar from behind and walked him to his bed, when i let go is when he bit me. I rolled him and told him to stay on his bed.....which he did to my surprise and was shaking. Since then I have hand fed him and he stays in his bed when we sit to eat our meals. Yesterday and today as soon as i set the food on the table he went to his bed on his own. In my opinion that is fantastic for only a couple of days.

On the other hand I have dealt with some typical canine issues before but never been bitten. It really ratteled me.

I've been having him sit to be leashed, sit before we go through a door to the outside, only allowed on the couch when we tell him, and of course no pulling on the leash. Of course he sits and waits for his food....I walk across the kitchen to where I feed him and then call him to me. He is overall a good boy and I am happy with the progress he has made so far.

How long should I hand feed him?

I have had my son sit in my lap to hand feed Ryder.....is that a smart move?

I allow my son to direct Ryder to his bed before we leave and give him a treat. Is that a good move? Ryder takes it nicely from him and hasnt tried to snatch it out of his hand.

CalMama

Posted : 3/17/2011 8:01:31 PM

Thanks RW, the dog and my son arn't left alone. When I shower the dog is crated and monitored the rest of the time. I am surprised at how well Ryder reaccts to typical child behavior, ie balls being thrown, yelling and ruckus. My son knows not to put his face in Ryder's face, knows to stay away from him while he is eating, that his bed is off limits, not to grab or mistreat him. I don't want to sound casual about the situation at all.

I am happy to see them play fetch together, Ryder drops the ball at my son's feet and waits for him to throw it. I am pleased with that display of behavior from him.