Lately, Hubby and I have noticed that Muggsey is VERY overprotective of us and the house. He will go crazy barking and growling whenever the doorbell rings. He is ok once the people are in the house, he just jumps all over them. However, sometimes he lunges at people for no reason. He lunged at the little girl next door when she was on our porch. Thank God Hubby had a hold of him. Then yesterday, I was in a store, and Muggsey was in the car with Hubby. A man came over to the window and was talking to Muggsey and letting him sniff him and he seemed fine. Then I came out of the store and came around the front of the car and all of a sudden, as soon as Muggsey saw me, he tried to lunge out the window and attack the guy. He then proceded to snarl and growl and snap at the window at the guy. I guess he thought the man was going to hurt me. Once again, thank God Hubby had a hold of him, or he would have torn the poor guy appart. I dont understand why he is doing this all of a sudden. He has always been socialized around people and children. Why now is he so fearful. I am really afraid that he will hurt someone. He is only 7 mths old and he is just about 60lbs and very strong. I am too little to control him anymore when he pulls on leash so Hubby has to take charge. Why is he doing this? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, when he went to get neutered, the vet said he snapped at one of the tech's faces.
Over protective and fearful (long)
- Thread starter KELLY W
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Chris W.
Super Boxer
Mine too
I know exactly how you feel. Embarrassed and scared at the same time. My Tommy has been doing this recently too. I don't know exactly why he does it, I do believe it is attached to adolescense tho and the dog becoming a bully and wanting to push people around. I have found something that works completely and is foolproof. It was suggested by many knowledgable people, so I bought a gentle leader. When I know we will be in a situation where he will act like this, I put it on him. I do not attach it to a leash, but you may have to. He becomes subdued immediately and all of a sudden, mister nice guy! I have also gotten my female rescue to the point where all I have to do is show it to her and her behavior improves. She knows if she acts rough around strangers, she will have to wear it, if she is nice, it will come off. I worked with her on it first, in one year she has become a brand new dog.
With a gentle leader, it is impossible for the dog to pull you while he is pulling his face towards you while you have a leash attached to it. Just make sure you put it on correctly or your dog will be able to get out of it.
People in the rescue orgs swear by it as the greatest tool to help socialize the hardest mannered dog. They wear it out to the dog parks, to the pet store, everywhere in public and in their house when company comes over.
I'm pretty convinced slowly I will be able to wean Tommy off his gentle leader.
I know exactly how you feel. Embarrassed and scared at the same time. My Tommy has been doing this recently too. I don't know exactly why he does it, I do believe it is attached to adolescense tho and the dog becoming a bully and wanting to push people around. I have found something that works completely and is foolproof. It was suggested by many knowledgable people, so I bought a gentle leader. When I know we will be in a situation where he will act like this, I put it on him. I do not attach it to a leash, but you may have to. He becomes subdued immediately and all of a sudden, mister nice guy! I have also gotten my female rescue to the point where all I have to do is show it to her and her behavior improves. She knows if she acts rough around strangers, she will have to wear it, if she is nice, it will come off. I worked with her on it first, in one year she has become a brand new dog.
With a gentle leader, it is impossible for the dog to pull you while he is pulling his face towards you while you have a leash attached to it. Just make sure you put it on correctly or your dog will be able to get out of it.
People in the rescue orgs swear by it as the greatest tool to help socialize the hardest mannered dog. They wear it out to the dog parks, to the pet store, everywhere in public and in their house when company comes over.
I'm pretty convinced slowly I will be able to wean Tommy off his gentle leader.
myrocky
Boxer Insane
That is one huge baby if he is already at 60lbs :eek:
Have you read the Dog Listener? It seems Muggsey feels he is alpha and has to protect you and the pack. This is defenitly something that you need to work on at home and with a specialist. Have you taken him to any kind of training classes? Is he aggressive to other animals?
Have you read the Dog Listener? It seems Muggsey feels he is alpha and has to protect you and the pack. This is defenitly something that you need to work on at home and with a specialist. Have you taken him to any kind of training classes? Is he aggressive to other animals?
We are definately going to take him to obedience classes, we just have to find the right one in our area. I do have the Dog Listener, although we have not really adhered to the advice. I was telling Hubby that it is time to do so. I was thinking that this may be because he thinks he is alpha. He loves other dogs. We have to watch him with little dogs, because he is very rough, but other than that, he loves to play. I am just sad, because people used to come up and pet him all the time and we had no problem. Now, I am very weary of letting people pet him because I dont know what he will do anymore.
Kim Y
Super Boxer
Oscar has also behaved this way after an unfortunate incident this past summer (see my prior thread under territorial aggression). We had a professional behaviorist help us. Even though we've been through obedience training and read the books, it sometimes helps to get outside professional opinions.
You dog is feeling questionable about who is the alpha of the pack. When he/she can't decide who's in charge, they step in to protect the pack. Given the incidents you cited along with the car aggression, you need to get the books the Dog Listener and Culture Clash along with obedience training ASAP. Stick to it and I promise that'll you'll notice a huge improvement. The ultimate outcome will depend on your ability to remain consistent with your training.
PS--A little insight as to car aggression and when your dog isn't sure who is alpha. Think of the car as a temporary den for the pack. When it's questionable who's alpha, the dog steps in to protect the pack. In the small enclosed area such as your vehicle it's quite frightening to the dog when people are approaching and they're confined--thus, the scary display of barking, growling, lunging, etc., in an effort to try and scare potential threats to the pack away. Hopes this helps and made sense (it's been a long day).
One more thing---your dog is also picking up on your fear/nervousness when people are approaching. The only thing your dog senses when you are feeling this way is danger and once again must act as the alpha to protect you. Really read your books and get into obedience ASAP. Practice the methods religiously in the Dog Listener and I promise you will see dramatic results.
You dog is feeling questionable about who is the alpha of the pack. When he/she can't decide who's in charge, they step in to protect the pack. Given the incidents you cited along with the car aggression, you need to get the books the Dog Listener and Culture Clash along with obedience training ASAP. Stick to it and I promise that'll you'll notice a huge improvement. The ultimate outcome will depend on your ability to remain consistent with your training.
PS--A little insight as to car aggression and when your dog isn't sure who is alpha. Think of the car as a temporary den for the pack. When it's questionable who's alpha, the dog steps in to protect the pack. In the small enclosed area such as your vehicle it's quite frightening to the dog when people are approaching and they're confined--thus, the scary display of barking, growling, lunging, etc., in an effort to try and scare potential threats to the pack away. Hopes this helps and made sense (it's been a long day).
One more thing---your dog is also picking up on your fear/nervousness when people are approaching. The only thing your dog senses when you are feeling this way is danger and once again must act as the alpha to protect you. Really read your books and get into obedience ASAP. Practice the methods religiously in the Dog Listener and I promise you will see dramatic results.
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Thanks for all of the advise. I will start to re-read the Dog Listener tonight and hopefully we can successfully apply the techniques this time. I hope we can take care of this behavior because Muggsey is such a great doggie and I want everyone to be able to pet him and love him like we do.
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