Aggression issue? Biting...Help

[Boxer_21]

Originally posted by Nicole510
Also...knock it off with the baby voice. I KNOW you make it because so do I. The 'who's mommy's little Cowboyyy?' voice. LOL!! I had to stop doing that with Shelby for a while because like Cowboy she ignored anything I said to her when my ex-husband was home. Irk!!

I just wanted to say that I think this is one of those "every dog is different" cases. I'm constantly talking to my boy in a baby voice and he does listen to me. He knows that I'm the boss and that what I say goes. It doesn't matter if I do baby talk or not, because I'm the boss.

I just think that as long as you teach them that they are not running the show they will and should listen to you regardless of the tone of voice you use. Again, this is my own personal experience. I could be in the minority here, but I just wanted to say my piece.

 

[Nicole510]

I hugely agree with you that it's an 'every dog is different' case...WHEN the dog already knows who's boss.

In AJ's case however, as was in my own, when the dog doesn't know who's boss it's a better idea to not baby talk the dog. Dog's respond better to a firm tone and a deep voice (men) when learning obedience.

Often times a woman's cheery tone, a child's voice, or 'baby' talk excites the dog and distracts him. AJ's goal at this point in time is to get Cowboy to know who's in charge. Once Cowboy and AJ establish their roles in the household the baby talk won't make a difference.

I was able to resume sounding like an idiot to Shelby after she understood who ruled the roost.

 

[SloppyKisses]

Nicole! HA HA! Thanks for making me smile. You targeted that right on about the baby talk!! I have on occassion tried to talk in a deeper voice and find he does respond better. I know, I think you are completely right in this situation with the baby talk!!

Also...knock it off with the baby voice. I KNOW you make it because so do I. The 'who's mommy's little Cowboyyy?' voice. LOL!! I had to stop doing that with Shelby for a while because like Cowboy she ignored anything I said to her when my ex-husband was home. Irk!!

Cowboy also responds so well to other male voices better than mine.

Funny you mention the uniform thing...we had noticed Cowboy gets raving wild when hubby is in uniform! Not so much agressive as SUPER MOUTHY!! He does a ton of *yelling* and prancing - that whole Woo Woo thing real loud with his ears back. We had a friend watch him while we were away once, and her fireman boyfriend came home and COwboy wouldnt let him in the house. He wasnt growling or anything, just holding a stance so the hubby couldnt get in. He wa also very mouthy - but again not moving torward him or outright aggressive - just holding his stance.

We have wondered if the male in his previous home (who beat his wife) was a man in uniform - but it seems i have read some other posts that for whatever reason some dogs responded wildly to dark clothing?

Funny -- after we began to notice this I stopped wearing dark clothing and found Cowboy calmed a bit.

SOME PROGRESS ALREADY (today) -- normally I let him sit in the room as I feed the baby in her height chair - inevitable she will drop food to him, and he licks her fingers and such. So tonight I made him wait in the kitchen with the gate up. I calmly (I tend to yell when he doesnt listen) said "Cowboy sit" he looked at me funny, calmly I said it again "Sit" and he sat...the goofey man then went one step furhter and laid down -- looking at me like "see I am a good boy..."

I also made him sit and stay before I fed him and he actually listened.

In my head all the advice the trainer gave us a while ago is ringing in my ears - I have really let is go too much.

Then I went into the kitchen to get some more food to feed baby and he still sat --- then when we were done I opened the gate and said "Come Cowboy, it is okay" (by the way - the name Cowboy -- he is a white Boxer and looks EXACTLY like a calf!! We laugh about how confused he'd be around the calfs on my best friends dairy farm, thinking he were one -- he even moo's!).

I think just this little bit of establishing dominance has begun to help. As I recall in Nov. when I had the growling incident I began these training techniques and saw quick results -- so (holding my head in shame) I was the one who regressed and let him take over again....(bad AJ).

Dan also opened my eyes up to the whole Baby and dog competing for attention and that this morning it sounds he was acting out on her his frustration with me.

Once again thank you so much for the ideas. One things I hadnt tried before was telling hima command once - if he doenst respond walk over and place him in position. I tend to repeat commands getting Louder and Louder and LOUDER till I am frustrated...

Thanks again so much! I so appreciate the advice.

Feel free to add more thoughts!!!!
AJ

 

[Nicole510]

AJ...

You're a sap just like me...good to know!!

The command once thing works for different reasons. With puppies it's like when you know someone is deaf and you talk louder...HELLO!! They stillllll don't hear you dummy! Just because you're yelling it doesn't make the dog know what you're saying. With older dogs that KNOW the command...they're ignoring you and you only saying it once and then making them follow through refreshes the "I'm the boss" role you have.

Bad AJ is right! Good for you that you're seeing progress though. Maybe it's only because you slipped a little. Believe it or not, dogs are most comfortable when the pecking order is established. When they get confused about their place in the house the get anxious and YOU get problems.