RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
I can appreciate you "not wanting to give up". My husband and I felt the same way about an aggressive dog we had. The dog did not like men, except for my husband. He was a rescue dog from the pound, so who knows what happened to him. This dog loved children, but when my son's friends went through puberty, he started growling at them, too.
The bottom line in what I am saying is...this is a dangerous situation. Your dog is a ticking time bomb. My dog got out once when we were gone. My neighbor and his children were outside. My dog was playing with the children, but attacked their father. It was unprovoked and in the neighbor's yard. Of course, we had to put our dog down. We are just thankful that our neighbor was not hurt and because we were proactive enough to put the dog down, they did not try to take us to court.
If you are not a dog trainer, this is just a bad situation.
Posted on 05/02/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
Your dog is genetically made to run endlessly and encounter danger, essentially all day, so lack of exercise and brain play are the background problem. How can he get ten times as much exercise?
Posted on 04/22/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
If your still wondering what breed he is; its a pit bull. he might be mixed, but hes definitely got pit in him. The people have to come in and let the dog sniff them down. they can't be nervous or afraid of the dog. The dog can sense it. Don't discipline him for this because hes protecting you and your house. Isn't that what you would want him to do if someone broke into your house? Beautiful dog though.
Posted on 04/20/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
Thank you all very much! Yes my dog is new to the house. He was adopted January 31 of this year. He is starting to calm down a bit since we have been training him off the leash. We have a secluded area we take both of our dogs, my one dog Sam is a very good listener so I believe he is basically training bear. bear actually ran up to someone while off his leash and let her pet him! I couldn't believe it, but once we started to walk toward the person he started to bark at her a bit but never acted like he was going to bite her. It was almost like he felt like he was protecting us.
We have also been consistently working on the whole jumping thing. We have been watching the dog whisperer a lot and we are getting a lot from it. he will go to jump and i tell him with a stern voice "down" and it has been working. I just wanted to give an update on him, its just taking extra time to train him considering he was in an abused home b4 we got him. thanks for all the advise! It has been very helpful.
Posted on 04/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
OH, the obvious thing is that you NEVER reward nervous behaviour by trying to coddle the dog. You need to make sure you're in a secure environment and make the dog wait until they relax.
The second nervous or guarding behaviour shows; you can try putting the dog on their side like Cesar or just body blocking them but ignoring them (no talking to them) and letting them relax on their own.
Just like people, dogs have to face their fears or the fears grow into what you have now. Do it gradually and you'll see the wonderdog you wanted when you took the pup home.
Posted on 04/18/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
Euthanasia is not the solution for people who haven't properly trained or socialized their pets! Killing this dog and replacing it with another will only create another unhappy animal with bad habits because your training and habits will not have changed.
The dog is obviously scared and nervous even in your pic. I doubt the dog wants to be the alpha but is a nervous naturally submissive dog who was forced into that role by you because no one is really being the alpha in your home.
You can turn this around but it takes work and everyone's involvement.
The treat suggestion is excellent. The dog also needs TONS of exercise. I'd take them for runs at least 2 hours a day and more if you can physically do it. The more exposed to the outside world they are the less they fear it. Also, tired dogs are happy dogs that sleep. Under exercised dogs need to burn off energy and get into all kinds of bad habits while doing so.
Combine the long exercise sessions with some training and positive reinforcement with treats whenever you can get the dog to focus on you instead of people or pets passing by. You need to learn how to body block the dog so they have to focus on you but it can easily be done. YOU just need the confidence to do it and you need to love the dog enough to put the effort forth.
Different family members should take the dog on the walks. If you're unsure about having them out in public; use a harness and a leash so you feel more secure or a basket muzzle if necessary so you can see how they react safely. You have to be confident before your dog can feel secure.
Victoria Stillwell has excellent training methods for dogs like this. You really need to watch and apply the training techniques. It takes repetition and patience but training through positive reinforcement really does work!
Please don't jump to killing the dog. This really is very fixable so you all can be safe, happy and healthy together.
Posted on 04/18/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
I would choose an article from the link I am going to send you and then decide if it is likely to work or not. If the dog is too aggressive, remember that euthanasia is painless for the dog and that no aggressive dog should ever be kept around kids. It is nice that you love your dog, but it is better to be responsible. Here is the link: http://leerburg.com/dominantdogs.htm
Also this link is almost the same as consulting a professional since he is so good at training dogs.
I hope everything goes well for you, and that you are able to use this link and solve the problem. Feel free to write me and remember that there are a lot of wonderful non aggressive dogs being put to sleep all over in shelters. Robyn
Posted on 04/17/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
My niece's dog who has bitten 2 people and tried to attack many others, including 3 kids, behaves exactly like your dog. Everyone who knows about her dog calls him he--- dog behind her back. All of the relatives dislike and are afraid of him because they fear for their kids and themselves, and no one will enter or be in the house unless the dog is locked in a bedroom.
My niece believes that we all love the dog since we voice our concern about him having to be locked up, and we do actually feel bad about that. I'm just telling you this so you will know how people who come to your house might actually feel, even though if you asked them, they would probably tell you they love your dog.
Some people don't realize that dogs with a bad temperament, like he-- dog, can turn even on their master or the kids in the house. When dogs get in a frenzy, as he-- dog sometimes does, they can not only bite, but also do a lot of damage to a child or adult. I mean your dog is big enough to knock down an 8 year old.
If your dog bites or harms anyone else, you could very well be sued. All the relatives have advised my niece to take her dog to obedience classes to see if he can become one of those loving, cuddly dogs we all love, but she can't afford it. Because she can't, when we talk among ourselves, we think she should either give him to a little old lady who never has any visitors, or put him down.
I know most people would have told you some of this in a more subtle way and wouldn't have said a lot of it at all, but I love kids a jillion times more than I love dogs and I am concerned for your son and other kids who might go to your house for a visit.
Posted on 04/16/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
Sounds like your dog is insecure with new comers. Leave a bag of treats (GOOD ones) outside the door. When someone comes over tell them to grab a few pieces and when they come through the door, toss them to your dog. He WILL learn that new comers are NOT a threat. After awhile, it could take a few weeks, he will get used to the idea that no one means him harm. Hope this helps.
Posted on 04/16/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Dog Won't Let New People in the House
Well we know who's boss there, your dog has decided he is. Is he new to the house? Has anything changed in his world? He needs obedience school, rather you do to know how to tell him you are the boss. I would put him in a closed room whenever this happens or something else that will safely tell him you don't like his behaviour. The pet stores and/or pet food stores will know a good trainer. They may even have some of their own. Don't leave it.
If the dog's behaviour has changed and he never did this before try to think back on what has changed for him. Has there been a health issue? Or something new been added to his life?
Good luck. He's a cute pooch, but your family and their friends are more important. You wouldn't want this behaviour to escalate.
Posted on 04/16/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
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