How do I react to growling or biting?

• Janey Posted : 8/3/2006 10:11:06 PM With your dog's refusal to sit, remember that dogs don't generalize well.  He may know sit in one set of circumstances, but be completely at a loss in another.  So you might have been forcing him into a sit position, when he didn't understand what you wanted - therefore the growl.   Definitely agree with hands-off clicker training.  It is a great way to get results! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xerxes Posted : 8/4/2006 9:50:22 AM Also, you stated that your dog received shots yesterday.  Touching an area that is tender could get the growl response.    I have to agree with everything that spiritdogs has said: Teach the dog that you are the benevolent leader and that all good things come from you.  In my experience dogs are more compliant and willing to please if they know that it benefits them directly. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mudpuppy Posted : 8/4/2006 3:00:42 PM "He was being stubborn as usual"   oh, never think of your dog as "being stubborn". If dogs don't obey a command, usually it's because they need more training. Let's see, you got a growl/bite when you were manipulating the dog's paw, when you were pushing on his butt, and when someone was doing something to his belly. After these incidents he ran away and hid. These sound like "defensive" reactions in response to pain and fear. The belly incident in particular. If this behavior suddenly showed up in a three-year-old dog, I'd be really concerned about pain somewhere. Hips? arthritis? lyme disease? thryoid problem? how carefully did the vet check him out? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Matt Birth Posted : 8/4/2006 7:54:36 PM We just got back from the behaviorist. She put him in a muzzle and we got to watch how he reacted to just petting. He is fearfull of everything. He did not like being touched AT ALL and made it known with some hard looks and even tried to bite her. It was a very enlightening experience. The behaviorist recommended a full physical just to make sure it isn't lymes or anything else. He does make regular trips to the Vet but only for shots and check ups. He hasn't actually had a full blood work up.....Yet. She also recommended that we get a wire basket muzzle so we can work with him at home without the fear of being bitten. We also plan to continue seeing the behaviorist every couple of weeks.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• willowchow Posted : 8/5/2006 5:10:51 PM Would you rather be asked to sit, or would you like me to push you into a chair?   Oh, come on!  He said he lightly pushed, not slammed the dog down.    I also put Willow into a sit if she doesn't do when I ask.  Repeating commands is not the way to go. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Pauline Sutherland Posted : 8/5/2006 7:26:33 PM Diffintly keep up the work with the behavorist. A good resorse is the book cesar's way by Cesar Millan. He has done some great work with agressive dogs. Bulid confidence for your self in handling you dog and that will help you dog build confidence. Obedience and Agility training are great to help your dog build confidence. Keep up the good work and keep us posted 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Matt Birth Posted : 8/5/2006 9:54:45 PM Thanks for the kind words. I actually have the Cesar's Way audio book. I listened to it twice in 3 days. I just ordered the muzzle and should recieve it later this week. Once the muzzle is on him the behaviorist said we should just pet him everywhere so he understands that there is nothing to be scared of when we pet his paws and other areas that he is not comfortable with. My only concern now is finding a way to put the muzzle on him without him seeing it as a negative experience. He used to hide when we cleaned his ears until we started giving him a slice of cheese. Now when we want to clean his ears there is no problem. Maybe a slice of cheese will work with the muzzle. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xeph Posted : 8/5/2006 9:58:22 PM Did you order a Basket Muzzle?  If you order a Basket Muzzle, you can still stay safe, but you can also give him treats through the slots.  Also, basket muzzles hold up better than nylon 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• willowchow Posted : 8/5/2006 10:01:01 PM I know a lot of people do give treats thru the opening of the muzzle before you put it on.  I know you have to first show it to him and let him check it out and then you could give a treat thru the muzzle (so in other words stick your hand in the way his nose would go in).    But, I honesty didn't do any of that stuff.  I just treated it like it was no big deal just like a collar or a leash.  I held it up, told her "put your nose in" and she did.    I think whatever way you try just keep it low key, no big deal or else he's going to really react. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Matt Birth Posted : 8/5/2006 10:56:34 PM I ordered the wire basket muzzle so he can still drink and I can give him treats. I appreciate everyones input and will keep everyone posted on Sam's progress. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Pauline Sutherland Posted : 8/6/2006 10:57:17 AM jerky style treat(long skiny ones) work well with a muzzel. I agree to treat it like no big deal. What you want to avoid it the association Muzzel=unplesentness(touching) So have him wear the muzzel at first without doing any behavior work. and then scatter muzzel wearing sessions with other activites, so that is sometimes i wear this nose thing when we...... and not o no here comes the muzzel somthing i do not like is going to happen. Good luck and keep us posted 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• nfowler Posted : 8/6/2006 12:55:30 PM It seems like Sam has had some issues for awhile, true? I wasn't sure of this from reading the first few posts here.   He doesn't like his ears cleaned, isn't really comfortable being touched "a lot" (and some dogs aren't), and tends to run and hide when he's "in trouble" (or thinks he is).   Did the behaviorist think he's had long-term issues? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 8/6/2006 6:48:18 PM First, to Lori...dogs have an oppositional reflex, and will often revolt against physical manipulation, especially if the dog is assertive or fearful.  The fact that I would suggest hands-off training has more to do with not wanting the OP to get bitten than with whether I think the dog should sit on the first request, which of course I do.  But, there are non-confrontational ways to see that that is the case.  Some of what is being described in the OP sounds like it may be fear related, as almost 80% of aggression is.  Muzzling is fine, and I would simply make it a fun thing - i.e., stick your shnozola in here, and get some liver - yay!  You can desensitize the dog to a muzzle in a few short sessions.  He will not thing it's awful if he's getting garlic roast beef shoved in, or a squeeze cheese can is shooting him in the molars LOL. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Matt Birth Posted : 8/7/2006 12:01:22 PM He did have recurring ear infections for a while but once he started taking the cheese he became fine with getting them cleaned and medicated. The only thing that has been a constant has been his fear on thunder, lightning and fireworks. When we used to dry his paws off he would bite the towel, I always thought he was playing but I guess I was wrong. The biting has just been in the last couple of months. I'm afriad that he has learned that he can bite to get what he wants. The behaviorist has said that he is "fixable" but it will take some time. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Matt Birth Posted : 8/7/2006 5:35:53 PM I just got the muzzle today. I'll let him get used to it so he doesn't feel ambushed and I'll start feeding him treats through it tomorrow when I get some that will fit through the wires. Anyway here is a better pic of Sam if anyone wants to see "Cujo" at Halloween. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login