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Post by maryellen on Oct 25, 2010 12:45:09 GMT -5
a friend of mine has a 5 month old male pit bull she got from a rescue down south (dont ask) she adopted this dog without doing a temperment test as the dog was in georgia. ( i already told her not to do this a few years ago)
well the pup will resource guard her when her husband walks in the room or her daughter. pup is fine until then, then once they walk in pup growls at them. she is working with a trainer right now , who i wont comment on, and i was wondering what good books can i suggest to her to read to help her?
also, pup lived entire life outside in a yard, with minimal human contact , and in certain situations is supposedly good with humans and in some situations will growl at people ( like when on leash but off leash will be fine)
everyone is telling her to return the dog to the rescue, she doesnt want to, and thinks she can manage him for his life....
i have told her its a lifetime commitment and her whole family will have to do it when they have company over...
the pup is great with other dogs, it lived in a yard prior to going to 2 foster homes and does better with dogs then humans....
me personally i feel she should not keep the dog, but thats just me.. (only because i managed a dog with human issues and it wasnt a picnic thats for sure)
so, since she isnt listening to anyone i need some good books i can recommend to her..
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Post by emilys on Oct 25, 2010 13:24:05 GMT -5
what about suggesting the technique of having husband and daughter carry awesome treats and toss them on the floor in front of the dog?
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 25, 2010 13:35:06 GMT -5
I don't know if this is resource guarding, per se. My standard recommendation for RG'ing is Donaldson's book, "Mine!" but I really don't think the exercises in that book would apply to this situation, although they might....who knows? Ala tossing treats/hand feeding - but the dog has to be under threshold (I wouldn't have hubby/kids tossing treats after the dog is already reacting). Let me go out on a limb here with this question: is your friend the primary caretaker of this pup? For books....hmmm......general books on aggression would be Click to Calm by Parsons and How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong by Dennison. Honestly, your friend needs a good trainer to go into the home and help them adjust the family dynamic that's goin' on. And my bet this pup will get worse and start generalizing the aggression.  |
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Post by maryellen on Oct 25, 2010 13:39:21 GMT -5
they tried the throwing treat part, didnt work. the trainer that they are working with i am really not to fond of..
i will suggest those books i might have one of them at my house to give her. i warned her that the aggression could get worse, and that her daughter or husband can get bit. she said if she is not around, the pup is fine around her husband and daughter. its once she steps into the picture that the puppy starts growlign at the family members it didnt growl at before.... if she is not around, pup is ok with husband and daughter. the minute she steps into the picture the pup growls at whoever is there. i havent met the pup yet, she wanted me to meet him today at day care, but i had to go back to work on my lunch hour (he attends doggy day care at the local pet kennel and does great with everyone and every dog there) its just once he gets to be near Julie(owner) he changes and growls at anyone near her.
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Post by maryellen on Oct 25, 2010 13:40:39 GMT -5
oh yeah, the husband and wife are caretakers of the pup equally. from what julie told me the pups 2 previous foster homes consisted of JUST a woman, she said when she got Sage he bonded to her immediately, took a little bit longer with husband and daughter but bonded with them as long as Julie wasnt around...
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Post by maryellen on Oct 25, 2010 13:41:56 GMT -5
so mary you feel like taking a trip up here to train the family???????????? i can recommend you to them for an inhome consultation/training if you are up to the trip up here.. the trainer they are using like i said i am not fond of and i feel isnt helping them
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 25, 2010 14:03:02 GMT -5
I really can't right now, no where near the time available to me especially since I require a series of 3 sessions for any aggression case. :/
Would they be open to a referral? I'll see if I can find anyone.
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Post by maryellen on Oct 25, 2010 14:25:19 GMT -5
yes they would be open to a referral.... the owner is very committed, and will do whatever is necessary
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 25, 2010 14:59:11 GMT -5
Have they tried having the child do the feeding of dog with with limitations. Like, dog stays on his spot while child prepares the food bowl while dog waits for release command from child. When Rocky was 5 months old my son became the dog feeder as he and Rocky had some subtle issues nothing like their problems. But it Really worked well seemed to give Rocky more respect for my son. we still do it today 5 years later.
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Post by maryellen on Oct 25, 2010 16:18:23 GMT -5
i dont know CA, i am going to talk to her tomorrow at lunch as she owns a deli near my work. her daughter is older, 21 i think, but that could work too if she hasnt done that
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 25, 2010 17:57:52 GMT -5
But UGHHH there are so many pit bulls in shelters in this area. Dont think we need to ship any up from down south. The shelter I got Rocky from has merged with Petsalive. Their website now says they have over 300 dogs when I got ROcky it was 500. Many or most were pit bulls.
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Post by maryellen on Oct 26, 2010 11:36:03 GMT -5
ok just gave Julie 3 books- control unleashed, click to calm (and a clicker) and help for your fearful dog. she said if she isnt around the puppy is fine with her husband and daughter and anyone else, once she steps into the room/house whereever she is the pup guards her and growls at whoever is there.i told her to have husband and daughter take over feeding/etc,and if she has to go sit in her car to do so
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Post by michele5611 on Oct 26, 2010 12:15:34 GMT -5
Keep us posted.
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 26, 2010 12:33:02 GMT -5
Control unleashed I hear is an excellent book. My dad used those methods for his agility dog (an Aussie). She was too reactive to other dogs and people (excitement). She is now a very focused amazing agility dog.
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 26, 2010 13:40:22 GMT -5
What county is that, ME? Trying to think of a trainer to refer her to. Is she anywhere near Blairstown? That's where Pam Dennison is.
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Post by maryellen on Oct 26, 2010 13:43:58 GMT -5
she is in sussex, Pam is about an hour from her in Belvidere actually, i told her about pam too, i dont know if pam does home consultations though, i have to check her website, but she would be the perfect one to work with little Sage since you cant (i would rather have you work with my friend though ). its definitely resource guarding, if julie is no where around the puppy is fine with whoever is with him, shows no growling issues at all.. as soon as julie appears the pup goes right to her and then faces whoever is there and growls at them.. as long as julie is not around the pup is fine around anyone..
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Post by maryellen on Oct 26, 2010 13:52:17 GMT -5
ok looked on pam's site, she doesnt do home consults.. i printed out her contact phone number and will give it to julie as well
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 26, 2010 13:56:00 GMT -5
Also try: www.atreat4dogs.net/Not sure if she'll go to Sussex. Don't know too much about her except that she is def positive. I met her at Bark in the Park in 09. |
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Post by maryellen on Oct 26, 2010 13:57:42 GMT -5
she doesnt do sussex, only down below and rockland county.. i will give julie her info anyway as you never know
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 26, 2010 13:59:02 GMT -5
This is what you guys get for living way out there in the boonies! Sheesh!  |
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