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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 29, 2009 13:06:22 GMT -5
I agree! Boomer is always so eager to please! I have never had any other breed of dog that listens as well as Boomer does! And when Boomer gets in trouble, I can tell he actually feels bad! APBT's are truly awesome dogs! ;D
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 29, 2009 13:41:39 GMT -5
I think everyone's given really good suggestions so far. I would strongly recommend doing a thyroid panel regardless of if you've noticed a pattern to his behavior: www.hemopet.comNILIF - YES, absolutely. Make him say PLEASE for everything (he must sit, and then he gets what he wants, be it attention, a treat, food, his leash put on, a toy, etc) No toys or other things laying around that he could potentially guard. It is wonderful that he is so great with Avery, just don't get too comfortable, don't leave the baby on the floor with him, and don't allow dog and baby on the furniture together. No more tug, as others have said. Be careful with crate usage. SO many times people report Time Outs for aggression actually make the aggression worse. WHY? Because aggression is 'distance increasing' behavior. The dog is trying to put distance between himself and the 'threat'. If you put him in a crate when he is aggression, more likely than not, you are rewarding him aggression because you are providing distance and safety for him. Time Outs mainly work for dogs are who overreacting in happy excitement and want attention. You can still use the crate here, but try to second guess him and get him the crate before he has time to react. Avoid allowing him freedom where he can go into his guarding mode - don't allow him to look out the window constantly, or hang around in a situation he is likely to eventually react in. Practice interrupting his behavior when he starts up - for instance if he starts growling out the window, say "Thanks Boomer, that's enough, then ask him to sit and give a treat". At first you may have to use a food lure. At the first sign of him stiffening, come up to him, say, "Thank Boomer, that's enough", use a food lure to turn him away, ask him to sit and then give him the food. At this point I would lead him to his crate and let him relax a little while if he still seems revved up and distracted by what's outside. You can also do this for pretty much any sort of "protective" behavior you are dealing with. For the drive thru, use some good ole classical conditioning.....before you get there, and way before he starts growling, do some clicking and treating (or just treating) - every couple seconds you'll hand him a treat. All the way through the drive thru, and back out onto the street. If he is getting food now AFTER he growls, you may be inadvertantly reinforcing that bahavior.
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 29, 2009 13:44:38 GMT -5
Oh, forgot to add, and this is VERY important:
NEVER punish or reprimand aggressive behavior. This only adds to Boomer's stress/anxiety, and you are actually punishing his warning system (his growling). His growl is his gift to you telling you he is uncomfortable. Without the growl as a warning, you go right to biting. That's the last thing you want - think of growls as a good thing, and Boomer's way of communicating that he is uncomfortable and needs your help.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 29, 2009 14:29:09 GMT -5
Alright! I think I know what to do now! Thank you all! I made an appointment for Boomer next week.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Nov 12, 2009 11:41:35 GMT -5
I just thought I would give everyone an update! Everything was just fine at Boomers appt. He is healthy so therefore he was just being an ass! We have been practicing NILIF...He is doing very well. His hackles still rise when a stranger comes over or when we go thru the drive thru but he no longer does the embarrassing growling/barking. We are still working hard but we are already seeing big improvements! Thank you all again! ;D
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Post by loverocksalot on Nov 12, 2009 11:51:11 GMT -5
Oh good glad boomer is A OK. And glad you are feeling better about it and working it out. To make you feel even better here is what happened yesterday. Rocky raised his hackles and barked at his own brother (my son) who decided to cut through the woods and jump the fence to come home from his friends house. Rocky was having a shit fit at the back door and I went running to see what the heck was out there. At that moment Rocky instantly stopped barking hackles went down, butt started wiggles and tail going like crazy and he looked at me with that look...Oh god do I feel stupid!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Nov 12, 2009 17:13:59 GMT -5
LOL! ;D That is hilarious! Silly Rocky!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Jan 8, 2010 22:14:15 GMT -5
(Sorry Im bumping this thread) Ok so I asked this question a long time ago but today, Boomer really freaked me out.
My cousin (More like my sister, we are really close) came over to visit. Deb (my cousin) comes over A LOT! Boomer LOVES her; she usually comes bearing gifts (New toys, treats, or something special for Boomer).
Well, Deb was here a little bit ago, nothing was out of the ordinary. Deb and I were sitting in my living room watching my daughter play and just talking. Boomer was lying on his pillow on the other side of the room. All the sudden for NO reason at all Boomer stood up and walked over to Deb really slowly with his hackles raised. When he got close to her, he sniffed her backed up a little bit and started barking and growling like crazy (It was a Woo Woo Woo barking sound followed by a deep growl)!
I have NEVER seen him do this to anyone he knows....NEVER! He knew it was her, he sniffed her and she said “What’s the matter boy?” and he continued. I grabbed him by his collar and locked him in my bedroom. I know I’m not supposed to punish him but he would not stop.
Deb does not have any pets that he could have smelt on her...The only thing I can think of is that she recently started smoking. Boomer has ever been around cigarette smoke before no one in my home smokes. But she wasn’t smoking in the house; she did smoke in her car on the way to my house though.
I just found this really alarming. I don’t know what my dogs deal is!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Jan 8, 2010 22:16:17 GMT -5
BTW: I have still been practicing NILIF. Boomer has not shown any of these behaviors since I last posted. I am truly stunned. ???
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Post by AmyJo27 on Jan 9, 2010 22:10:20 GMT -5
Well…Deb was over again today and Boomer didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Last night was just weird… Not really sure what to think at this point.
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Post by suziriot on Jan 9, 2010 22:25:37 GMT -5
Weird... dogs sense things that we can't though. Wasn't someone on the forum recently posting about her dog being able to warn her before she has seizures? Not that anything is wrong with your friend medically... just that dogs pick up on things we can't sense. I guess if he doesn't do it again, don't worry about it? ???
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Post by AmyJo27 on Jan 9, 2010 22:36:23 GMT -5
Yea, I do remember that discussion.
It just really startled me, especially when he would not stop! It scared her as well, she loves dogs but she was like “Well…I guess nothing is scarier than having a freaked out Pit Bull barking and growling in your face!”
I don’t blame her! She’s not afraid of the breed (or Boomer- They were playing today.). She hopes to one day own an APBT but last night did scare her as well. I would be afraid if ANY dog was barking and growling at me the way he did to her!
I just hope it NEVER happens again!
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Post by loverocksalot on Jan 10, 2010 8:53:41 GMT -5
I missed this one sorry. But I know that woo woo bark. "That is the Im unsure of something bark. " "Please go check it out." Hopefully he is done with that but I think if your friend is comfortable and he acts that way again I would have him aproach from a distance when he calms and acts normal reward maybe have friend toss a reward as he gets closer and closer etc. I think for some reason he was unsure of a smell on her. Not sure what. Possibly something that has disturbed him before he smelled on her.
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Post by mcgregor on Jan 10, 2010 14:49:45 GMT -5
Ladypitbull... just a thought here ... could be the dog is jealous of the attention you give your friend.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Jan 10, 2010 17:33:20 GMT -5
He didn’t act jealous…Trust me I know when he is jealous…And so does everyone else!!! For example: If Gustavo and I are lying together or cuddling, Boomer will wedge his way in between us and push Gustavo away! Even if it’s someone he doesn’t know real well that he’s jealous of, he never growls or barks...He acts like pup! It so annoying! I’m thinking Loverocksalot is right. As I said before, Deb recently started smoking. When Boomer was about a year old one old, Gustavo had a few friends over. They were all sitting outside and Boomer was playing in the yard. Boomer ran up to one of the guys who was smoking and accidently got a lit cigarette right to the nose. Ever since then, if Boomer smells cigarette smoke he won’t go up to anyone, he stays close to me. But it’s strange though, we have other friends over that smoke (No one ever smokes in my house but when they are not around us) and Boomer acts normal (Well...As normal as Boomer CAN act! ) It was weird. I was just afraid he was resource guarding (My daughter). He is very weary of people when Avery is present. He HATES when people he doesn’t know real well hold her. He will whine and pace back in forth: From me to them like “Aren’t you going to do something??? They are taking Avery!!!” I have been working on him so he will relax around Avery…I don’t want him thinking Avery is his property and at this point, I think he does.
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