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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 27, 2009 20:07:57 GMT -5
First of all, I really hope no one judges me from this thread. I am going to try really hard to word this the very best way I can so no one gets the wrong message. Everyone who reads this, please open your mind and do not judge me or my dog. Ever since I gave birth to my now 8 month old child, Boomer’s temperament has changed. He seems a lot more alert and on edge. When my boyfriend Gustavo is gone Boomer really changes. He will pace around the house looking out all the windows and he will begin to growl if a leaf blows across the lawn or a bird lands on the bird feeder. At first I just ignored it and told him to lie down. Now it seems worse. If Avery (my daughter), Boomer and I go through the McDonald's drive through he raises his hackles and growls really quietly. Once they give him a treat or I tell him to knock it off he is fine. One day Gustavo and I were disagreeing (not yelling or anything like that; barely arguing) I was holding Avery who was sleeping and Boomer got in between Gustavo and I and stood really stiff staring at Gustavo with his hackles raised. I told Boomer that everything was OK then he began to wag his tail and walked up to Gustavo and licked his hand. When we have company, Boomer meets them at the door (Like he always has) but while he sniffs them his hackles are raised and he just holds himself differently (especially to people who barely come over). Boomer is awesome with Avery. Awesome doesn’t even describe it. He is so gentle and calm with her. When she is tired, she will usually crawl over to Boomer and rest her head on his tummy and he will gently kiss her forehead. He also plays tug-o-war with her but he will barely even tug and he will let her win (When she pulls, he will let go). Boomer listens great, when he starts acting strange and I tell him no and tell him to lie down he does. He is a great dog; I just don’t know what to think. There are no good trainers in my area (especially APBT friendly ones). I really don’t want to euthanize him after all he has taught me and how good he is with my daughter. I love Boomer. My gut tells me he would NEVER bite anyone. Yet at the same time I think it’s risky to let this go. I don’t want to say he is protective or possessive of us but the more I deny it the more I realize he probably is. Once again, I am not one of those “My dog is my pistol” people. I am not a person who wants a Pit Bull for status. Or a “look at my dog, he is tough” people. (Point made) I AM a concerned pet owner who just wants some advice. Any input appreciated! Hopefully no judgements made! BTW: I am going to try to get this strange behavior on video to post so you all can see exactly what I am talking about.
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 27, 2009 20:30:08 GMT -5
IDK enough about this breed to comment on the behavior. Also I am not judging. But I would stop the tug o war with the child. Only because it reminded me of an incident a few years ago a local little girl was playing in the yard with the family dog (golden retriever) who choked the little girl to death playing tug with her scarf.
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Post by emilys on Oct 27, 2009 22:25:41 GMT -5
one of the first things to consider when a dog changes behavior is whether there's some health issue (thyroid is typical) so take him to a vet to get checked
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 28, 2009 14:00:07 GMT -5
Alright. I won’t let Avery play tug-o-war with him anymore. And I am definetly going to make a vet appointment. I just don’t know though because you would think that if it was a health condition, he would do it just the same all the time. But he acts really strange when Gustavo is gone. That is why I am so stumped. ???
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 28, 2009 14:28:56 GMT -5
When You say Gustavo is gone is he gone for long periods like business trip or Militrary. Dogs definitely act different and have changes when someone leaves for for long periods. Rocky is a hackle raiser whenever he is concerned about things around his territory. He gets a thin line up the back of his neck. I wonder if he considers the baby his property. If that is the case could he be resource guarding. I read this quickly and it talks about Human resource guarding. www.cal.net/~pamgreen/jealous_dog.html
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Post by maryellen on Oct 28, 2009 14:29:24 GMT -5
new baby, you alone, he could be maturing, and taking it upon himself to be the "man in the family" per say...how much exercise has he gotten since the baby arrived??? he could need way more exercise then he is getting now, and he could also probably use a nice boot camp NILIF to whip his ass in shape.... or his thyroid could be out of whack like emily suggested.. to me it just sounds like he is taking charge as he feels you cant or wont with a new baby around, and is protecting you to the extreme...sounds like he was fine before the baby was born and has been allowed to act protective (probably without you realizing it right away) since that point... honestly, strict boot camp NILIF no more privileges, he must EARN everything, and if people come over and he acts like an ass crate him plain and simple, double his exercise, and get his thryoid checked out,i doubt its his thyroid, it sounds more like he is being an ass and protective of little Avery and you.. if i am home alone rufus who adores everyone will get VERY protective of me (he is a mix) and i allow it as i live in the woods.. if i didnt live in such a remote area i would have kicked his ass already for showing this behavior.
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Post by suziriot on Oct 28, 2009 14:29:45 GMT -5
Hmmm... well it sounds like it might be guarding behavior, but I don't know enough to really make a good guess. My Lab/GSD/maybePit mix Barley did that a lot the first year we had him. If my fiance was not home, he would patrol the house constantly growling at the windows and doors. I think he did not feel secure without his Daddy there and felt like he had to guard the rest of us in his absence! And conversely, sometimes if my fiance would stand over me a certain way Barley would growl and stand between us. We did a lot of training with him to make him realize that he does not have to be the protector in our home... we protect him. He has not done any of that in years now. I don't know if Boomer's case is similar or not. Maybe some of the training and behavior experts around here will have some useful input.
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Post by maryellen on Oct 28, 2009 14:29:54 GMT -5
oh yeah how old is boomer and is he neutered?
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Post by suziriot on Oct 28, 2009 14:31:11 GMT -5
Ha, looks like maryellen and I are on the same wavelength! ;D
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 28, 2009 14:40:33 GMT -5
I think they would not be a dog if they did not exhibit any resource guarding of their humans. Resource guarding is not an abnormal dog behavior. Dont even think about the euthanize. You can easily work on this yourself there is plenty of info available online. Rocky was a bit of a guarder and still is a tiny tiny bit, but it is much more controlled and tolerable. www.berkeleyhumane.org/PDFs/Resources/Resource_Guarding.pdf
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 28, 2009 14:41:38 GMT -5
Hey I said it first its resource guarding of the baby! LOL We must have hit the send at the same time thats funny.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 28, 2009 15:14:34 GMT -5
Boomer turned 2 on Aug. 19th. And he got neutered when he was 6 months old. Gustavo sometimes has to work out of state (the longest time he has been gone was 2 weeks) but for the most part he just works night shifts (5PM-3AM). I also began exercising more after Avery was born (Trying to lose baby weight) and I still walk with Boomer on a regular basis. Thank you for the links loverocksalot. The description of resource guarding is exactly what Boomer is doing “Avoidance, stiffening, hard eye contact, body blocking, growling, snarling and snapping are all warning signs that dogs give when they are uncomfortable” I also live out in the timber but it makes me nervous when he growls at people through drive thrus. That is ultimately what made me so concerned. I am going to do as Maryellen suggested and see if this gets better. I am so thankful you guys don’t think I should put him down, that was my worst fear! I am also so glad you guys don’t think he’s aggressive or mean. I was almost ashamed to post this thread!
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 28, 2009 15:33:43 GMT -5
Well I am glad you did not get too ashamed to post your concern. I too like Maryellen live in the woods. Since people rarely come by Rocky can be pretty alert to strangers when he is on or in his property. he has even barked at my kids or husband when it is getting dark and they have a hood up. But boy does he feel like an idiot as they get closer and he realizes it. BTW it started around 2 so I also would say this is part of Boomers Maturity too. I would say your car is boomers Territory and I assume his baby is in the car too and that drive through window with someone reaching through is probably real strange to him.
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Post by suziriot on Oct 28, 2009 15:39:53 GMT -5
I am going to do as Maryellen suggested and see if this gets better. I am so thankful you guys don’t think I should put him down, that was my worst fear! I am also so glad you guys don’t think he’s aggressive or mean. I was almost ashamed to post this thread! That's what I love and value about this forum and the people on here. I think most of us have high expectations and want to hold each other accountable because we all want the best for the dogs. But I think for the most part we do a very good job of giving constructive advice without emphasizing judgment or negativity. Mary H. has worked hard to make sure RPB is a positive and helpful resource. You should never feel ashamed or fearful in asking for help or advice on this forum. And if anybody ever does get out of line, I'm sure they would get a talking to!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 28, 2009 15:55:42 GMT -5
Thank you guys! I love this forum! I took some pictures of Boomer in "action" the other day and I thought I would post them. He was looking out the window in these pictures. As you can see, his body gets really stiff, he holds his head really high as well as his tail. Just like the resource guarding link says. BTW my house isnt messy, this is in Averys play room! She loves to have all her toys out!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 28, 2009 16:06:22 GMT -5
I have to post a picture of the look I get when I tell Boomer to go lie down! LOL! It happens every time! What a brat! And again thank you all so much! It always feels nice to know that if I ever have problems with my goofy dog, I have some where to turn to! ;D
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 29, 2009 9:05:47 GMT -5
Well this morning, Bommer started his "wanna be tough dog" and began growling. I told him to kennel up and I kenneled him. He didnt make a sound after that! I think this is going to work! ;D
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 29, 2009 10:08:46 GMT -5
OMG that is Rockys alert stance to the t. That line down the back of the neck was exactly what I was describing Rocky gets. He will get that if an objects gets blown into the yard that was not there before. I remember the day he learned to bark at things. He was probably just about a year. I hung a pot of flowers from the gazebo on my deck. His line went down the back of his neck and he barked at it till I took it down and let him sniff it. Then he was looking like oh how stupid am I.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 29, 2009 10:17:15 GMT -5
Boomer usually just growls. He only barks if a car pulls up or drives by. LOL! I know the "How stupid am I look" I have startled Boomer before and he will growl but when he realizes it was only me he looks so embarassed! Its hilarious.
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Post by emilys on Oct 29, 2009 11:52:22 GMT -5
Well this morning, Bommer started his "wanna be tough dog" and began growling. I told him to kennel up and I kenneled him. He didnt make a sound after that! I think this is going to work! ;D yeah, I think dogs must have some kind of "self image" that they think they have to live up to! My 2 older dogs can get snarky when they see other dogs and create a ruckus. Mr P has picked up this habit.... but the last time I walked him by himself and he started to make a scene at another dog, I told him "knock it off". He looked at me with that "oh, ok" look and behaved. He actually LIKES other dogs (especially the girlies) but I'm sure he thinks that because Lulu and Ozzy act out, he's supposed to as well. One thing about the pit bulls.. they really are responsive to us and (I think) really WANT to do what we want them to do. The trick is to communicate what you want them to do! (I'm quite sure I unintentionally taught my older dogs that I WANT them to behave like idiots around other dogs...)
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