Hello everyone!
So we've had Mr. Bubba now for about a month and a half now. We all love him. He's a total ham. He's had a couple of bumps along the way. Snapping at our little shihtzu "Baby" over food. Hubby has worked with him now for 2 weeks with only 1 snapping. He got him back in check. He has "Baby" eat first. Bubba has to sit and wait. We've had really good results. With our huge Boxer/Lab "Viva" was not so good. Bubba fought with her over food. Viva is about 100 lbs over Bubbas 55lbs and he nipped her on the neck. Now we put away her dish and as long as we are not playing with them all at once they are good. They play well outside the two of them for short periods.
Our biggest problem has been Bubba's barking....not his every other day of non-stop bark at the squirrel next door, bark at the dog down the street, bark at the birdies...bark at a leaf falling to the grass..u get the picture. LOL. We also know when he wants to play..he will bark at us..because he's bored. He loves to run and fetch. The problem is when he starts rough housing with the kiddos a bit much. He's a real big boy at 7months. He loves the kiddos but doesnt realize they are quite small. He knocks them down and doesnt realize it because it's all play time to him. When I tell him to stop, and to settle down. He starts barking at me. Then he barks louder, and louder AND louder. Hubby and thought we have shown we are Alpha. I have to take him out of the room sometimes b/c my son is only 6 and small and cant get him off. Then Bubba keeps on till I tell him no, and to stop it. I have tried treats as a reward for getting him to sit and behave. He'll sit for the treat and even high five, but he will go back to the barking. He barks so aggressively it makes me wonder if he's only playing or not. Its much louder than when he usually plays. Like he's snapping back for being scolded! He scratched my son on the side of the face with his paw a few weeks back. We've had his nails trimmed since then. He licks my son and has never bit any of them. My son wouldnt go near him for days and Bubba was heartbroken. He'd lay with head down near him. They made up, but he's so silly. I never leave them alone. But he starts barking and jumping in the air...and he gets very very riled up. I cant tell if he's playing or not. We adopted him at 7 months, so we have no prior history as far as discipline, training, etc.
Everything else is good. He's potty trained. He cant be left alone..mass destruction!
. Loves to go for rides and walks. But the weather has been quite nasty.
Any help, or suggestions would be welcome!
Angie
So we've had Mr. Bubba now for about a month and a half now. We all love him. He's a total ham. He's had a couple of bumps along the way. Snapping at our little shihtzu "Baby" over food. Hubby has worked with him now for 2 weeks with only 1 snapping. He got him back in check. He has "Baby" eat first. Bubba has to sit and wait. We've had really good results. With our huge Boxer/Lab "Viva" was not so good. Bubba fought with her over food. Viva is about 100 lbs over Bubbas 55lbs and he nipped her on the neck. Now we put away her dish and as long as we are not playing with them all at once they are good. They play well outside the two of them for short periods.
Our biggest problem has been Bubba's barking....not his every other day of non-stop bark at the squirrel next door, bark at the dog down the street, bark at the birdies...bark at a leaf falling to the grass..u get the picture. LOL. We also know when he wants to play..he will bark at us..because he's bored. He loves to run and fetch. The problem is when he starts rough housing with the kiddos a bit much. He's a real big boy at 7months. He loves the kiddos but doesnt realize they are quite small. He knocks them down and doesnt realize it because it's all play time to him. When I tell him to stop, and to settle down. He starts barking at me. Then he barks louder, and louder AND louder. Hubby and thought we have shown we are Alpha. I have to take him out of the room sometimes b/c my son is only 6 and small and cant get him off. Then Bubba keeps on till I tell him no, and to stop it. I have tried treats as a reward for getting him to sit and behave. He'll sit for the treat and even high five, but he will go back to the barking. He barks so aggressively it makes me wonder if he's only playing or not. Its much louder than when he usually plays. Like he's snapping back for being scolded! He scratched my son on the side of the face with his paw a few weeks back. We've had his nails trimmed since then. He licks my son and has never bit any of them. My son wouldnt go near him for days and Bubba was heartbroken. He'd lay with head down near him. They made up, but he's so silly. I never leave them alone. But he starts barking and jumping in the air...and he gets very very riled up. I cant tell if he's playing or not. We adopted him at 7 months, so we have no prior history as far as discipline, training, etc.
Everything else is good. He's potty trained. He cant be left alone..mass destruction!
. Loves to go for rides and walks. But the weather has been quite nasty. Any help, or suggestions would be welcome!
Angie
