Won't let me in the back yard

[ROMMEL'S MOM]

I just had a question and wondered if anyone else had this problem. Rommel is 10 months old and the only dog I have, so I think he gets alot of attention.

Anyway, I have a huge fenced yard and it's easy to just open the door and let him out. This is where the trouble is... whenever I go outside when him, he only lets me get onto the flush deck I have. As soon as I step onto the grass, watch out.

He immediately gets "defensive". He barks and growls and crouches down, then tries to pounce on me. Is he protecting his turf? I mean, walking to the shed is an ordeal.

Any suggestions?

 

[lafsalot]

I know that my dogs can be very verbal when they play and/or want something. Is it possible that your dog may just be attempting to play? - Cathy

 

[Putermom]

Sounds like what Otis did when he was getting into his "teenage" stage. Otis wanted to play! I just said no jumping and turned away from him. When he settled more, then we'd get the ball and start playing. Now, he's 15 months old and only does this ocassionally. When he does that, I tell him no jumping and turn away from him. He's learned that that type of behavior gets no playtime from me. It's really just their excitement about being outside with their favorite humans and knowing that it's playtime! Now, Otis does a few Boxer Burns around the yard before we get down to actually playing.

IMO, based on what you posted, he's not attacking you or defending his territory...he just wants to play!

When Otis first came to live with us, he was 6 months old and doing this, it was intimidating until I figured out that that was his way of getting excited and trying to play with you. He just needed to learn how to play nicely.

Good Luck!

 

[ROMMEL'S MOM]

Thanks for the advice. It can be alittle disheartening to think that I may have done something to enable him to act agressively. I've been reading through the posts and have picked up some tips that I might have to try.

I do tell him no jumping but that doesn't stop the growling and crouching. I guess I'll just always have to be armed with a toy or ball so we can play only if it is only on my way to the shed.

Thanks again. I feel better.

 

[sandy's mom]

My Napoleon did that for a while. I carried my spray bottle with me a couple of times and he realized quickly that he would get squirted if he became rough with me. I would also give treats when he didn't jump and growl.

It didn't take long.

Good luck

 

[ROMMEL'S MOM]

Thanks Sandy's Mom. My own Mother used to do that with our cats. She is deathly afraid of them. We lived on a farm when I was younger (lots of barn mice) and when she had to go get the mail, the cats would follow her, so she started carrying a squirt bottle.

Thanks for the advice and the memory. LOL.

I had a rabbit Napoleon.

 

[Scorpio]

Usually when a dog gets in a crouch position it means play. Maybe try going down the stairs with a ball to throw something that would get his mind of you coming down.