HELP!! New Bad behavor

[Tom B]

Tonka

Who is our 15 mos old male boxer and a big love started doing something new this summer when we were on vacation. We were in Canada in a very populated area having lunch, Tonka at our feet. A passerby saw him and was complementing him on his dashing looks () she pointed her finger very close to his snout and he nipped at it. We blamed it on the crowds and maybe his uneasiness.
Well he did it again last night. We were out having coffee. This time we were asked if he could be patted? We said he is friendly and it was ok, the person came at him open handed and slowly pushed their hand towards his face and he nipped at the hand.....Anyone have a dog go through this? We love to take him places but I’m worried about him nipping and someone pulling back fast and getting hurt.........I work with him a lot, but its hard to recreate this behavior what do we do?

 

[BeckyNC]

Maybe he felt threatenend by the way these people approached him. I've read that as a rule, dogs do not like to be pet on the head. I think it's threatening. They allow it from their owners, as they know and trust us. What if in the future you suggest the person hold his/her hand out, palm up, and lower than Tonka's mouth. that way he can sniff the hand and maybe they can scratch him under the chin. My girl Tae loves the chin scratch!

Just my thoughts.

 

[mcfarljc]

I have also heard that dogs do not like being pet on the head, especially by strangers. I guess if you think about it, we rarely see a dog pleasantly greet another dog by thumping it on the head with it's paw. I read a book titled "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell which addresses this and other common human actions which dogs do not like, but are forced to tolerate. While I do not buy into everything she says, it does provide some interesting perspective. It sounds like your boy just may not be as tolerant of some strangers as he is of others. Of course, if I think about what I would do if someone walked up to me and smacked me on top of the head, it wouldn't be pleasant either. I make a habit of doing what was previously mentioned; greeting dogs with my palm up, under their chin. Just some thoughts. Perhaps having some neighbors or other people he doesn't know too well practice petting him on the head will help him get more used to strangers doing it, as we all know it is impossible to keep strangers from patting our dog's heads.

 

[BeckyNC]

I"The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell QUOTE]

Great book. I probably learned the pat on head vs. palm up thing from that book. I enjoyed reading it a lot!

 

[Tom B]

thanks

He is the best most difficult dog I have ever owned.....I want him to be ok out in public. I hated telling people not to pat him....

 

[jaimie]

Maybe he is "hand shy" my girl Baylee was like that she HATED it when someone would touch her head. She is finally better about it but she STILL doesn't like the hand coming toward her head. I suggest you let (whoever wants to pet him) put the back of their hand by him so he could sniff them FIRST. Then if he is ok with them then tell them to pet him on his side or where ever his favorite place is. I also would carry treats in your pocket or where ever and have the person that wants to pet him give him a treat FIRST! Then Tonka knows this person is a friend...the way to a dogs heart is through their stomach! :rolleyes: