Help! I don't know what to do!

[Nikkichele]

Hello,
I know it has been months since I have posted anything, but I have been really busy. My problem is this, actually it is a few problems, one: Jaeger(9 months) chews on everything. I mean electrical cords(not ones plugged in, he's found out how to unplug them), my children's toys, clothes, towels, whatever he can find. He has chew toys, and refuses to mess with them. I have tried everything I can think of and nothing works.
Two: Jaeger runs away every time you go near him and if you grab his collar or get to close to him he attacks you. I mean biting, clawing, histerical, foaming at the mouth. I don't know what is going on with this, we have had him since he was a puppy and no one has ever laid a hand on this dog in spite or to correct him so I am confused.
Third: He is trying to dominate my 2 almost 3 yr. old son Tristan. He chases him until he falls over and then runs around him biting him refusing to let him get up. While he does this he is growling and doesn't listen to commands. At first I thought it was play but, now my son is getting hurt. He has been bitten several times hard enough to leave marks and twice hard enough to break the skin. My son may be young but he is very gentle with the dog and loves him to death. I am worried that this will make him afraid of dogs and I do not want that. I am at a loss as to what to do, Can anyone help?

Nikkichele
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jaeger - flashy fawn 1-28-02

 

[EMWAZ]

some ideas

Well first I think I would try to crate your dog, its the best way to save your puppy and your household items from harm.. It takes time and you must make the crate a good thing.

http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/cratetraining.htm

If you can contact a trainer or a local rescue agency, they can help you with his dominating behavior or refer you to someone who can. It takes work but I've used some of their ideas for my foster dogs and they do work with time. For the time being too I would keep him separate from the child until the behavior improves..

Do research on the web too, there are lots of animal behavior sites, just try to remember some of the information isn't the best, but there is some wonderful sites...

http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/e-vets/yelpline/yelpline.html

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/health/behav1.htm

 

[martins]

I would recommend reading The Dog Listener by Jan Fennel. I'm sure if you read much on here, you'll run across lots of references to it. I don't have personal experience with a problem like yours, but it sounds like Jaeger may think he's the pack leader around your house. From your description, he seems to think he's above your son in rank, and what you say about getting too close to him, etc., sounds like he doesn't much respect you either.
If you can, check out the book - it tells you ways to ensure that YOU are the pack leader in your house and should also explain ways to show that your son is also above Jaeger in pack order.
Good luck!!

 

[Chris W.]

outta control?

sounds like you've hit the terrible teens. I survived this faze with "boot camp" adjusting pack order in my house.
I would put the dog on a leash in the house or hold the dog in a down position if it were behaving that way to my 3yo. You should be able to catch this behavior prior to it getting out of hand. If the dog gets outta control, remove it from allowing to act like that. Make him sit or heal or be nice, something. There should be a command on how he is to greet people so small, and people in general for that matter.
If you take him to obedience class, it would teach you how to teach him as well. If you don't take him to obedience class, you still need to know how to train this dog. If he does not get training, things will only get worse. Use the search button on this site for help with training. You'd be surprised how far 10-20 minutes a day of consistant training will get you.
As far as getting crazy when you approach or try to grab his collar, I was taught to always treat with one hand while grabbing the collar with the other. This is also how I was taught to train the "come" command. That way, the dog knows it will get it's treat, and expects you to grab it's collar also.
Here's a helpfull place to start:
http://www.angelfire.com/mb2/boxerrescue/PetCare.html

 

[Nikkichele]

Hey everyone,
thanks for the advice. Jaeger is crate trained and has had obedience training. He has been taught to "come" on command and is used to getting treats in response to good behavior. When he is being dominant over Tristan though, he just doesn't listen. Sometimes I have to crate him, just to get him to calm down. I try to work with him every day for at least 30 min. on his training to keep him responsive and listening, but apparently I am missing something. When we picked him out he was the "middle ground" dog you are told to pick, not too dominant or submissive, but I just found out recently that before we picked him up he was separated with 2 other pups as the ones that were being sold. Apparently, they established a pack order and he became the dominant male. He has become difficult to control ever since he got bigger than my kids. Honestly, I have been attacked so many times, my arms look like a road map. I am only 120 lbs and he is going on 65lbs. I have to do something. My son told me today that he doesn't like Jaeger anymore because he is mean and because he bit him "on the wee-wee." He was fully clothed at the time so it didn't break the skin, but my son is afraid of him and that bothers me. I will read that book and pray that I can do something to fix this. He is mostly a happy go lucky dog and we really love him, but my husband is getting worried for the kids. I also have a 2 yr old that he hasn't touched yet. I know that most of you will say that your dogs are your kids, and I agree, but I can't replace my skin kids and they are the most important thing in my life. I am going to try my hardest to remedy the situation and change his behavior. Wish me luck.
Nikkichele
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Jaeger - flashy fawn 1-28-02

 

[ASTNC]

When I was in obedience class the trainer passed out some information on alpha dogs and dog aggression to read. I seem to have misplaced them but from what I remember it was based on nothing in life is free. The dog has to know that you and your children are at top of the pack so....he has to earn what he gets. At meal time he needs to sit before he gets fed and he gets fed after you. If he wants to go outside he has to sit for that too. For anything and everything he gets- he needs to know he is dependent on getting that from you and the family members...he knows this because you are first and he is last, and he has to do something to get what you have and what he wants. He goes on the couch because he is invited...not because he is in charge. This does work! It did for me with a pup that was climbing the dominance ladder with my children and trying to control us when he did not want to get off the couch.

 

[EMWAZ]

Nikkichele

Well it sounds like to me he is running the house. Are you going to contact a trainer or someone who can help you with this problem, it does sound very serious and needs to be resolved!!

They say its as simple as making the dog sit when they want to go out, sit when they want to come in, sit when they want to eat, etc.. I've also seen the recomendation that when you feed the dog, the food is only available for a short period of time, then you remove the bowl as long as he's not food aggressive too. The other suggestions are to keep the dog separated until the behavior improves. He needs to know that you are the pack leader and not him..

I would say only to do these things with the advice of a more experienced person, trainer. Good Luck and let us know..

 

[Chris W.]

Nikkichele

ok, sounds like you're on the right track, but something is obviously missing. Have you tried boot camp? Where everything the dog might want or need he has to sit for? This has to be done by all family members, especially your 3yo. Little guy sounds kind of young, but I did start my boy out at 4yo when we got our dog. Have him work with you in issuing commands and treats to the dog. The dog has got to understand that this little man is in charge. Take away all playing priviledges between the two. I would start with Zero interaction between kids and dog unless you are within a foot of them, you can try tethering the dog to you to keep him with you and in your supervision. Also, I suggest getting a gentle leader instead of a muzzle. It takes some getting used to, but my crazy dog understands that when it is on, she is to be nice/gentle with whatever she comes in contact with. It gives you complete control of your dogs head.

 

[Kim Y]

Everyone has given you excellent advice---obedience training, Dog Listener, etc. As per others, I perceive this as the teenage years and also the fact that your dog views himself as alpha or is trying to be the alpha of the pack. This is the time in a dog's life when the issue of dominance comes into play instinctively. Read the book (Dog Listener), practice strict obedience (all family members participating with uniform/consistent rules/commands---my grandchildren as young as 2 years old participate). You have to be very consistent about *your* behavior and training and not let up for a minute. I think if you practice the above CONSISTENTLY, you'll be surprised at the change. If this is something you don't feel you can handle on your own, find a GOOD behaviorist who is well-versed to handle your situation. It is well worth the money and time.

We've been there, done that with Oscar and have found that we cannot slip in our behavior with him as he is still training. Even though we read the books and had obedience classes, our behaviorist was able to help us more than anything as he knew what to look for and tailored Oscar's training specifically to his needs.

Please give this a try, I know from experience that it will make tremendous improvement in your dog.

PS--The only correction we use with Oscar (Per our behaviorist) is a firm NO!, loud and deep voice immediately followed by praise--high pitched "good boy!" There were things I could not get his attention to stop but this has worked remarkably. I believe the Dog Listener has a chapter (Loaned out my copy so I can't look) as to your tone of voice, body posture, etc, which play an important role in how your dog *reads* what you are actually saying to him with body language, voice tone, etc.

 

[KELLY W]

No kids or smaller dogs

We have noticed that Muggsey has a problem with little kids and also smaller dogs. He will jump all over the kids and scratch them to death. The kids start screaming and this seems to get him even more excited and he just mauls him. This only happens when he is one on one with them, like when there is only one kid around and not alot of other people. If there are other people or dogs around, he leaves them alone, but whenever a kid comes around, we get nervous. He has been around children since he was a pup so it is not like he wasnt socialized with them. The other problem, is that he will maul dogs that are smaller than him. When we are at the park, we have to be careful if we see a smaller dog comming, because he will just demolish them. How do we stop this behavior? He will be going to obedience classes soon, will this help??

Sorry, This was supposed to be a new thread!!!!!!!!!