poodlefan Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 (edited) DRC one more thing. It may be that a professional evaluation by an experienced behaviourist may conclude that your pup is unlikely to grow into the kind of dog that's suitable to have safely around very young children. Dogs with short tempers and low bite thresholds are not a good combination with toddlers. It may not come to that but you need to know what you're dealing with. The more information you have now, the better you can decide on the best future for your dog and the household. Personally, I'd be ringing Jane Harper today. Obedience training and socialisation will in all probability not solve these issues. You need behavioural assessment and a program of modification. If your behaviour towards your dog is provoking him to bite more, you are making the problem worse. His counter attacks may not be 'pushing the boundaries" but him defending himself from you.. gee I hope not. Edited June 19, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 KK:As for snapping and biting - I used the dog whisperer "poke". If he snaps at you, poke him firmly and tell him NO. My puppy and I had an instance of an issue over a chew bone - he wouldnt let me take it off him without growling and trying to bite me. So I poked him, and took the bone. Gave it back to him. He wouldnt give it back. Poked him and took it. Repeat repeat repeat. It took 15 minutes before I could take the bone off him without any protest. And he's never barked, growled, snapped or tried to bite me since. Try this on the wrong dog and you'll be on the receiving end of a very serious bite. What works on a dog of one temperament doesn't automatically work on another. A serious resource guarder would be provoked by such actions. I'd never ever behave in a way that deliberatley provoked a dog to to bite me. Ever. Hi poodlefan What is your method for a biter? Belinda Summon a qualified professional with a lot of experience in dog aggression. No other method is recommended by me. I don't believe in online diagnosis of these kinds of issues. Its dangerous. You need to know WHY the dog is biting. Currently you don't and anyone here would be guessing. If its dominance then you work generally on the relationship. If its resource guarding then you work on lessening anxiety about losing food or again work more generally on the relationship. If a dog is growling or snapping at you these are warnings. Ignore the warnings and the behaviour may escalate. Discipline the warnings and they may disappear, leaving you with a dog that bites without any. You've got to remember that your dog will not differentiate between one member of that household and another. If you're poking him and taking resources, what do you think his reaction will be when your grandson comes near him and he has something he treasures. When a dog bites hard, it learns that unwanted human behaviour stops. What you can see with dogs that have learned to bite is that the bite threshold plummets - they bite earlier and harder for less provocation. Dont' play with this DRC.. get professional help now. This is a safety issue - for your grandson AND for your dog. The results for both of them if a serious bite occurs will be tragic. This is precisely my concern with TV training shows. Watching a professional with hundreds of hours of experience in both evaluating and training dogs work with one dog will not give you a surefire method of solving your own dogs's problems. More physical forms of correction are fraught with risk for amateurs. :p ETA: Over do the corrections and you're teaching your dog that confrontation with you provokes a physical response from which he needs to defend himself. That's a lesson you never want to teach. If you'd not be game to use these very same methods on a 40kg Rottweiller dont' do it to a pup. To do it because he's smaller is simply bullying IMO. Completely agree Poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I would also contact Jane Harper- obedience school is not enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonrexcatz Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 DRC one more thing. It may be that a professional evaluation by an experienced behaviourist may conclude that your pup is unlikely to grow into the kind of dog that's suitable to have safely around very young children.Dogs with short tempers and low bite thresholds are not a good combination with toddlers. It may not come to that but you need to know what you're dealing with. The more information you have now, the better you can decide on the best future for your dog and the household. Personally, I'd be ringing Jane Harper today. Obedience training and socialisation will in all probability not solve these issues. You need behavioural assessment and a program of modification. If your behaviour towards your dog is provoking him to bite more, you are making the problem worse. His counter attacks may not be 'pushing the boundaries" but him defending himself from you.. gee I hope not. Hi poodlefan I have never thought Justin was defending himself from me...he has been told a lot of firm 'no's' up till now but nothing that I can see as warranting his erratic behaviour. Justin came to us at 6 weeks of age and from day 1 was a biter. The breeder I bought Justin from had small children and she told me the puppies spent a lot of time with them. Perhaps it all began there; I don't know; he has never recieved harsh treatment from me that's for sure. We have 4 rescue cats in this home; we love animals and treat them with respect. I will call Jane Harper. Thankyou for recommending her. Cheers Belinda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 (edited) Hi poodlefanI have never thought Justin was defending himself from me...he has been told a lot of firm 'no's' up till now but nothing that I can see as warranting his erratic behaviour. Justin came to us at 6 weeks of age and from day 1 was a biter. The breeder I bought Justin from had small children and she told me the puppies spent a lot of time with them. Perhaps it all began there; I don't know; he has never recieved harsh treatment from me that's for sure. We have 4 rescue cats in this home; we love animals and treat them with respect. I will call Jane Harper. Thankyou for recommending her. Cheers Belinda Belinda, it's not only what we think that matters here, but what Justin thinks. For all we know (and this is where Jane comes in) he's saying.. "well I told Belinda what she was doing wasn't acceptable and warned her to stop and she attacked me!" I don't doubt for a moment that you love Justin.. your efforts to resolve this issue are testament to that. Jane's helped a lot of DOLers.. lets us know how you get on. 6 week old pups don't create much of a threat to small children. For all we know he's been roughly handled by them and that was the start of it. I would suggest a vet check up and a chiro visit to rule out any physical issues but no doubt Jane will cover that. Edited June 19, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seita Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 hi, did someone PM you Jane Harper's contact details? I haven't yet and I seem to have lost them, if no one has yet I think Huski has them send her a PM and she'll be able to give them to you. Jane comes highly regarded not only amoung the public but also from other trainers, she's definitely one of the best people in Brisbane for you to contact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 hi, did someone PM you Jane Harper's contact details? I haven't yet and I seem to have lost them, if no one has yet I think Huski has them send her a PM and she'll be able to give them to you. Jane comes highly regarded not only amoung the public but also from other trainers, she's definitely one of the best people in Brisbane for you to contact. I will have to have a look for her mobile number when I get home but her email address is [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonrexcatz Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 Hi poodlefanI have never thought Justin was defending himself from me...he has been told a lot of firm 'no's' up till now but nothing that I can see as warranting his erratic behaviour. Justin came to us at 6 weeks of age and from day 1 was a biter. The breeder I bought Justin from had small children and she told me the puppies spent a lot of time with them. Perhaps it all began there; I don't know; he has never recieved harsh treatment from me that's for sure. We have 4 rescue cats in this home; we love animals and treat them with respect. I will call Jane Harper. Thankyou for recommending her. Cheers Belinda Belinda, it's not only what we think that matters here, but what Justin thinks. For all we know (and this is where Jane comes in) he's saying.. "well I told Belinda what she was doing wasn't acceptable and warned her to stop and she attacked me!" I don't doubt for a moment that you love Justin.. your efforts to resolve this issue are testament to that. Jane's helped a lot of DOLers.. lets us know how you get on. 6 week old pups don't create much of a threat to small children. For all we know he's been roughly handled by them and that was the start of it. I would suggest a vet check up and a chiro visit to rule out any physical issues but no doubt Jane will cover that. Hi poodlefan I have just had a crying session; I bought Justin into my room to be with me while I posted my Ebay items onto the net. I heard some paper being ripped; it must have been instantaneous and I don't know how I didn't see it but he has managed to pull out another of my antique books and he has chewed it. This room is full of his toys and he was happily playing with them previously but just like that, he had grabbed a book. I have put him outside; I am so upset. Justin has been vet checked at various times re his vaccinations and before his de-sexing operation. We visit the vet quite often in this house and know them very well now after all these years. He is physically A1. Yes I will need Jane's number...I have just noticed that another member has given me her email address so I will email her for her number. Thankyou for your ongoing support. Thanks Belinda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonrexcatz Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 hi, did someone PM you Jane Harper's contact details? I haven't yet and I seem to have lost them, if no one has yet I think Huski has them send her a PM and she'll be able to give them to you. Jane comes highly regarded not only amoung the public but also from other trainers, she's definitely one of the best people in Brisbane for you to contact. Thanks Seita Huski has posted her email address Belinda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonrexcatz Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 hi, did someone PM you Jane Harper's contact details? I haven't yet and I seem to have lost them, if no one has yet I think Huski has them send her a PM and she'll be able to give them to you. Jane comes highly regarded not only amoung the public but also from other trainers, she's definitely one of the best people in Brisbane for you to contact. I will have to have a look for her mobile number when I get home but her email address is [email protected] Hi Huski Thankyou for Jane's email address. I will email her now. Cheers Belinda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonrexcatz Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 Hi everyone I have emailed Jane Harper...just waiting for her reply. Thankyou Belinda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 Hi everyoneI have emailed Jane Harper...just waiting for her reply. Thankyou Belinda Let us know how you get on Belinda, Jane is lovely and very experienced when it comes to dealing with aggression. I'm positive she will be able to help you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonrexcatz Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 Hi everyoneI have emailed Jane Harper...just waiting for her reply. Thankyou Belinda Let us know how you get on Belinda, Jane is lovely and very experienced when it comes to dealing with aggression. I'm positive she will be able to help you Hi huski I'm sure she can help us...I can't wait to hear from her. Belinda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I am SO glad you are getting some professional help! Looking forward to reading updates Oh- and a firescreen or babygate can be used to protect bookcases, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 DCR: Hi poodlefanI have just had a crying session; I bought Justin into my room to be with me while I posted my Ebay items onto the net. I heard some paper being ripped; it must have been instantaneous and I don't know how I didn't see it but he has managed to pull out another of my antique books and he has chewed it. To you it's a much loved book. To him its a teething rusk. Pack the away or get them up out of reach.. he's at teething age and if he can rip something to bits he will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkySoaringMagpie Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 DCR:Hi poodlefanI have just had a crying session; I bought Justin into my room to be with me while I posted my Ebay items onto the net. I heard some paper being ripped; it must have been instantaneous and I don't know how I didn't see it but he has managed to pull out another of my antique books and he has chewed it. To you it's a much loved book. To him its a teething rusk. Pack the away or get them up out of reach.. he's at teething age and if he can rip something to bits he will. I have lost antique sheet music that it killed me to lose, but the dog has no idea about the difference between yesterday's newspaper and a beautiful early 19thC edition of Mozart piano music. I agree with Poodlefan that anything you cannot afford to lose should be put away out of his reach. Crate training is also useful for this kind of thing, as you can put the dog away with appropriate things to chew when you cannot actively supervise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swizzlestick Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 Dachshunds are terriers... quick to react, quick to chase and not renowned for their tolerance of children. Sorry to go OT but just read this bit. Have I been wrong all this time thinking Dachshunds were a hound ie. group 4? :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 (edited) Dachshunds are terriers... quick to react, quick to chase and not renowned for their tolerance of children. Sorry to go OT but just read this bit. Have I been wrong all this time thinking Dachshunds were a hound ie. group 4? :p They are Group 4 both here and with the FCI but are somewhat unique in that they are bred to hunt both above and below ground. The FCI gives them their own Group, separately from both scent and sight hounds. I'd rate them as more Terrier like in temperament than most hounds I know. No doubt the Dachsie people will have their own views about that. Edited June 21, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swizzlestick Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks for the reply Poodlefan, how interesting! Learn something new every day. I"ll agree that they do have a bit of a terrier temperament (the few I have met anyway!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busters crew Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 How did you go with Justin? Did you get in touch with Jane Harper? Was she able to assist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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