Well, Sarge just turned three in March. He is very sweet and has a great disposition. Except when I get onto my 13 year old daughter. If I raise my voice at her, he thinks its ok to bark at her and try to nip at her. He doesnt go after her agressively, its kind of like, "you better do what mom says to or Ill get you too". I am wanting to let him know that just because Im upsest with her over something, doesnt give him the right to put his two cents worth in. When he does this, I get onto him and put him in time out. He knows this behavior is wrong, but if anyone has any other suggestions, they are very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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"The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue." -- Anonymous
Jocelyn & Layla.....
in memory of Sargeant Pepper, Gracie, Thea, and our little Buddy dog. Gone but never forgotten. -
RE: Change in Behavior
Well I think he thinks he is dominant over your daughter, or at least higher up in the pack order than her.Mandi -
RE: Change in Behavior
Thats what I think too. So how do I fix that? He acts totally disrespectful to her. Is there a way she can work with him to reverse this thought process? She doesnt work with him a whole lot while Im home since he is glued to my side when Im there. But when she gets home in the afternoon, she walks him in the yard to potty, and he is a perfect gentleman. Doesnt pull the leash, doesnt drag her, listens to basic commands and is very well behaved. Until I get home. And most of the time he is fine with her unless Im upset with her. You nailed it right on the head with the dominance issue.
"The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue." -- Anonymous
Jocelyn & Layla.....
in memory of Sargeant Pepper, Gracie, Thea, and our little Buddy dog. Gone but never forgotten.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
I am absolutly no expert, but how about letting your daughter do the feeding? Let her get it ready, make him sit and wait until she 'allows' him to eat his food.
*Just a thought*
Laura - Skyla: Dane, Kyshi: Chihuahua mutt, Synomi: Fat Cat, Buttercup: kitty, Indigo: Blue-crowned conure.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
I know most of the training places around me allow children over the age of 12 to handle a dog in class. I would start out by signing Sarge and daughter up for a class together. I would sign them up for a class that Sarge has either already been through or at least knows all the commands already that will be taught. Its going to be stressful enough on your daughter to be taking a dog through class, so I would set them up for success. That's my personal opinion though. Sarge may not generalize between commands from you and commands from your daughter. I would also have your daughter feed Sarge. Perferrably hand feed Sarge, making Sarge work for his meals.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
Great idea about the class.....and the hand feeding. She already feeds him his morning meal and his afternoon snack and his treats when he does all his business. Hes just a butthead. LOL I think the class thing might actually work though. I also have stressed on her lately to make sure she walks through every door before he does and make him work for everything from her. Maybe a good dose of NILIF would do him some good. Bring him back down to earth."The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue." -- Anonymous
Jocelyn & Layla.....
in memory of Sargeant Pepper, Gracie, Thea, and our little Buddy dog. Gone but never forgotten.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
>When he does this, I get
>onto him and put him in time out.
How long are your timeouts?
>He knows this behavior is
>wrong, ...
In the canine world, there is no such thing as right or wrong. What do you want him to do when you are fussing at daughter? It's very difficult to teach a dog NOT to do something. It's a lot easier to teach him what to do. If you want him beside you sitting, show him what you want. He can't nip her if he is sitting by your side.
>You nailed it right on the head with the dominance issue.
I don't think you have a dominance problem. If it were dominance, he wouldn't follow her instructions so well when you aren't around. I think you just need to teach him what to do when you are fussing at daughter. Perhaps you want him to leave the room. If so, teach him that.
While you are in the process of teaching what behavior you want from him, stand between him and daughter when daughter gets fussed at. He can't nip her if you are between them.
ETA: I think NILIF is too drastic a move in this situation. You have a very small problem and it should be easily correctable. NILIF is usually used for a dominance problem and I just don't think thats what you have here.
Bill Carnes
www.skylarzack.com
www.k9goodbehavior.com
"Unnatural diets predispose animals to unnatural outcomes"
Dr. Tom Lonsdale
Causing pain, either physical, mental, or emotional to an animal to force him to act as you think he should is wrong. It was wrong yesterday, it's wrong today, and it will be wrong tomorrow. Doing so only reflects the ignorance of the trainer. There IS a better way.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
I am sorry guys, what is NILIF?Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
NILIF: Nothing in Life is Free.
Emma goes after my cat when I yell at the cat. Same kind of thing, pack order, "YEAH! What SHE said!!" Luckily though, her prey drive is weak enough that she just noses the cat when reaching her, rather than doing any damage.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
Good point trainer. I think maybe I will try to teach him that he needs to go into the bedroom when I get onto her. Its not like I get onto her every day by any means, its few and far between. But when I do, it upsets him. We should just leave the room where he is and teach him to stay there. Thanks. And Im glad Im not the only one who has a dane who "has their back".
"The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue." -- Anonymous
Jocelyn & Layla.....
in memory of Sargeant Pepper, Gracie, Thea, and our little Buddy dog. Gone but never forgotten.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
Jocelyn,
I was going to suggest that you put him into a sit/stay before you get into it with your daughter. When my daughter was younger, and we had our ridgeback, he would get sassy with ME when I even used a stern tone with my daughter. I had to get tough with HIM first. The funny thing was, my daughter (then 4 or 5 years old) figured out that when Rocky had to sit/stay, whe was in trouble!!!!:9 :9 .
But, it did straighten out the dog (and the kid) in pretty quick order. I think Bill has the best answer here. andiComment
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RE: Change in Behavior
Now I'm going out on a limb here. He's picking the winning side. What came to mind was an experience that has obviously stayed with me since a child. I was at the zoo and there were two baby chicks and they were going at it. At some point all of the chicks ganged up on the one who was losing. I freaked out (always an animal lover) and got a zoo keeper to get the bloody chick out. He told me that this is very normal and that the chicks will hang back until a weaker chick is detected & they will gang up on it & kill it.
Since there's dissention in his pack he's sticking with the side that is winning (I hope) and reinforcing your position in an effort to please you so you don't turn on him. I may be completely way off here but this is what came to my mind.
Mitch
In Memory of Gabe. What he lacked in body he made up for in heart.
Click here to see my boys
[http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288799713]
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RE: Change in Behavior
>Since there's dissention in his pack he's sticking with the
>side that is winning (I hope) and reinforcing your position in
>an effort to please you so you don't turn on him.
if he only knew how much he had me wrapped around his little finger........hes such a clown. I just dont want this behavior to escelate. Thank you for all the great advice. I think that for now if she is getting in trouble, I will have to teach him what he is supposed to do....whether it be go in his xpen, or in his room.....thanks again
"The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue." -- Anonymous
Jocelyn & Layla.....
in memory of Sargeant Pepper, Gracie, Thea, and our little Buddy dog. Gone but never forgotten.Comment
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RE: Change in Behavior
I won't tell him if you don't
Mitch
In Memory of Gabe. What he lacked in body he made up for in heart.
Click here to see my boys
[http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288799713]
In the Chicagoland area? Click here to inquire about pet sitting & dog training
http://www.knowplacepets.comComment
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RE: Change in Behavior
Sarge is his Mama's boy, and he is just letting Allie know that he agrees with you! ;a) If she needs telling what to do, he's going to do it!!!!
I truly understand your concern......but I think Bill is right. It doesn't appear to be any type of dominance, just Sarge going through a phase where he is going to stick up for you no matter what. I know how much Allie interacts with him and trains him, so I wouldn't be concerned about that. But good advice has been offered about putting yourself between the two of them, or making sure he is confined or out of the room while you discipline her.Comment
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