Bone/treat aggression... *sigh*

[blushy]

Our little isabelle has decided to take a turn to the mean side and is starting to snap at my hubby any time she has a bone. She lays her ears down to our son (aggression) and as some of you know he was brutally mauled by our 8 year old pitbull earlier this year so that is a giant no for us. I grab her and lay her on her side and tell her firmly NO and bad girl, and proceed to take the bone and put her in a 10-15 min time out, but it doesn't seem to stop her from repeating the same behavior next time around (the next day or so be it).

Clearly my 3 year old can't lay her on her side but I teach him to tell her off, down, and no in their respective meanings for her.

She obeys my commands and shows no aggression towards me, she clearly submits to me as soon as I stand up and tell her NO ISABELLE, but no such luck for my husband at all.

Would taking her to a training class at a local Petco or PetSmart help? Would they even know what to do? Should I try to contact a personal trainer who would work specifically on the issues im concerned with?

Any personal experiences from any of you?


Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[MaplesMommy]

I am very fortunate and Maple and the dogs I grew up with never had any agression/hoarding issues. However Im thinking Isabelle sees you as the alpha and your son and husband are below her in the hierachy (in her eyes).
Do you feed her? I would get your husband to feed her and make her sit before you put the bowl down. Its your husbands food until he says the ok for her to go near it/eat it. When Maple was younger I taught her the exact thing. She knows the drill. She has to sit a few feet away from her bowl and look at my until I say 'Ok.' And then she can eat. I also ocassionally take her bowl away from her while she is eating and she has to back off and wait to get it back. However Im not sure how Isabelle would behave and if she may snap when your husband does this,so be careful.
But from now on follow the 'Nothing is free'-rules. I wouldnt feed her,give her treats or even play with her until she works for it as in sits or waits and always take things away from her and then give it back so she understands that there is no need to hoard because she will eventually get it back(after 'working' for it). Don't let her go first when u leave the house or come back. Let your husband and son move her when she is on the couch. She has to move away from them. All those little things will hopefully make her realize she is NOT above them.
Training classes at Petco may help to establish a proper pack hierachy (Isabelle is last) however Im not sure weather or not they're knowledgable enough to help with the food agression/hoarding. If you decide to try the class Id say your husband does it but you all do the exercises given.

 

[warren peace]

Great advice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk while walking my Frenchie.

 

[Willowrun]

Well here is a good start---several videos available to watch over and over.....everyone has to be consistent and on the same page!! she is being very naughty!!!
https://video.search.yahoo.com/vide...a&sigb=13cgld63p&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

 

[blushy]

I am very fortunate and Maple and the dogs I grew up with never had any agression/hoarding issues. However Im thinking Isabelle sees you as the alpha and your son and husband are below her in the hierachy (in her eyes).
Do you feed her? I would get your husband to feed her and make her sit before you put the bowl down. Its your husbands food until he says the ok for her to go near it/eat it. When Maple was younger I taught her the exact thing. She knows the drill. She has to sit a few feet away from her bowl and look at my until I say 'Ok.' And then she can eat. I also ocassionally take her bowl away from her while she is eating and she has to back off and wait to get it back. However Im not sure how Isabelle would behave and if she may snap when your husband does this,so be careful.
But from now on follow the 'Nothing is free'-rules. I wouldnt feed her,give her treats or even play with her until she works for it as in sits or waits and always take things away from her and then give it back so she understands that there is no need to hoard because she will eventually get it back(after 'working' for it). Don't let her go first when u leave the house or come back. Let your husband and son move her when she is on the couch. She has to move away from them. All those little things will hopefully make her realize she is NOT above them.
Training classes at Petco may help to establish a proper pack hierachy (Isabelle is last) however Im not sure weather or not they're knowledgable enough to help with the food agression/hoarding. If you decide to try the class Id say your husband does it but you all do the exercises given.

We already both follow the "nothing in life is free" with food, walking, coming back in the house, etc.

She only puts her ears down to my son, and I tell him to tell her NO ISABELLE and to stand up, and she stops, and then since he is young, I have to step in and take the bone away from her, because I can't risk him being bit. (Even though she barely snaps, I would prefer if that didn't happen)

Isabelle clearly bullies my husband, he is here the least, and has the least amount of time training her. I've been having him walk her in the mornings and feeding her, but no such luck with her listening to him.

If I call, she comes and sits at my feet, if he calls her, nothing, possibly even back-barking at him. You can tell she doesn't consider him an alpha dog at all... And the nothing in life is free isn't quite cutting it, I always have to step in because she gets so rowdy...

I have a dog aggression specialist that I can call, we were recommended him by our last dog's dentist (he knew how aggressive she was) and he does house calls, and works with taming wild animals, and K9 units in training, so he would know the exact issue, and be able to sort it out with all of us at once right here at home, so that's why I was curious if a trainer would help at all, or if anyone had any experience with actually calling a trainer out.

 

[davidh]

A good trainer should be able to help, but he is really training you and your family members more than the dog, if done right. Your husband need to get engaged with her when he is home. Feeding her, walking her, moving her off the couch when he wants to sit, and taking her bone away from her. Any time one would test me and growl when I wanted to take a toy away, I would quickly grab the side of their face and neck area hold firmly while telling them NO, look them in the eye, and then take the toy away. They soon learned I meant business. None of our Franchies have ever done this, but I have had younger English try it before and they soon learned I was boss. Leash her if you have to so you can give a quick correction if need be. Everyone has to be on the same page when training. I would even have your son feed her too, so she realizes he controls her food too.

 

[shortstuff]

I'm sorry to hear about Isabelle! My family dog (a terrier mix) is such a turd with food and toys, and no amount of training broke him of it. We unfortunately had to learn he can't have bones and he had to be separated to be fed and told everyone who came to visit what the rules were... I hope you guys have better luck and can establish pack order soon!! Shasta showed a touch of toy guarding with Bisou, but using your techniques she eventually snapped out of it.

 

[blushy]

A good trainer should be able to help, but he is really training you and your family members more than the dog, if done right. Your husband need to get engaged with her when he is home. Feeding her, walking her, moving her off the couch when he wants to sit, and taking her bone away from her. Any time one would test me and growl when I wanted to take a toy away, I would quickly grab the side of their face and neck area hold firmly while telling them NO, look them in the eye, and then take the toy away. They soon learned I meant business. None of our Franchies have ever done this, but I have had younger English try it before and they soon learned I was boss. Leash her if you have to so you can give a quick correction if need be. Everyone has to be on the same page when training. I would even have your son feed her too, so she realizes he controls her food too.

That's exactly what we both do, she shows the most aggression towards my husband, and treats Brody about 50/50, listens to his commands, but still wants her space, and I'm highest up, she has yet to challenge me at all.

And yeah I think I might call in the professional for the teaching of my husband... His mom thinks dogs are "like humans" and feeds him crap and of course, he believes his mom (giant mama's boy even at 32... sigh) and I need help training him to help train her or this is going to be a train wreck...

I'm sorry to hear about Isabelle! My family dog (a terrier mix) is such a turd with food and toys, and no amount of training broke him of it. We unfortunately had to learn he can't have bones and he had to be separated to be fed and told everyone who came to visit what the rules were... I hope you guys have better luck and can establish pack order soon!! Shasta showed a touch of toy guarding with Bisou, but using your techniques she eventually snapped out of it.

Yeah, I think we are going to be done with bones for awhile, re-establish the "you don't get anything unless we say" beyond her nighty play when it's just me and her while Brody sleeps and hubby is at work, and then go from there...

Even our pitbull didn't guard her treats and she was SO evil. it's discouraging... But she's not aggressive, and doesn't care what happens to her as long as a human isn't bothering her bone, and specifically my husband LOL. So we'll get through this.





I really appreciate all the advice!

 

[2bullymama]

you got it down and have been given great advice.... seems like hubby and MIL need the training casue Isablle does not repect them... personal in home trainer is your best option

 

[Squishy Walnuts]

You have a ton of great advice so I wish you luck! I never had any issues with aggression with either of my dogs so I'm very lucky.

 

[winginit66]

This was very interesting reading. Ours don't have aggression issues with food or toys... However they have been getting into more squabbles lately and I am not sure what really causes it. Typically, it is either Olivia or Wilson that starts it, then our Cairn terrier gets in the middle of it and it gets ugly. I did notice the other day while in the kitchen cooking, Maggie (the Cairn) walked by Olivia and Olivia went after her. After pulling them apart I told Olivia 'No' and put her in a bathroom. She was clearly the instigator. Any other suggestions for handling?

 

[blushy]

We've been trying the firm no and face grab and making her fully submit calmly, taking said bone away.

I've also been sliding my leopard print slipper towards her while she's chewing bones & the teeth showing & growling has slowed down, but I think with this stubborn frenchie it's going to be a long road before she loses that bone aggression again.

This was very interesting reading. Ours don't have aggression issues with food or toys... However they have been getting into more squabbles lately and I am not sure what really causes it. Typically, it is either Olivia or Wilson that starts it, then our Cairn terrier gets in the middle of it and it gets ugly. I did notice the other day while in the kitchen cooking, Maggie (the Cairn) walked by Olivia and Olivia went after her. After pulling them apart I told Olivia 'No' and put her in a bathroom. She was clearly the instigator. Any other suggestions for handling?

 

[blushy]

Update: She snapped my last stick, and made me so furious I had to crate her and leave the house so I could calm down. She jumped up on Brody and basically "latched on" her paws to his shoulders and almost knocked him down snapping and jumping, I personally could not tell if it was aggression, or play, but with her growing aggression she just triggered me to be SO mad. And I'm not a person to be mean, hit, abuse, etc a dog, and I do NOT want her to fear me, or think she needs to be my pack leader from yelling and coming off as "unstable" so after I regained myself, and walked her outside for potty, and thought for a second, I remembered seeing someone mention a can of coins! So, the cup of coins is literally my salvation. 2 days of the can of coins, and if I even touch the top of the can? She sits and waits patiently for me to give her the next command. She has stopped begging for food, stopped nipping (with the occasional 'want to play' nudging), and this house hold is all around happier...

Hope this helps someone, and it can be frustrating with a mean pup...

As for bone aggression she's basically been nixed with those except for small treats she can do a trick for and finish without just laying and chewing on it. I decided this was best for the fact that she made a "snarl" face at me just for walking past her, and I just decided I was not even going to put up with it, because no matter what I've done, she just was consistently bone aggressive.

 

[2bullymama]

Update: She snapped my last stick, and made me so furious I had to crate her and leave the house so I could calm down. She jumped up on Brody and basically "latched on" her paws to his shoulders and almost knocked him down snapping and jumping, I personally could not tell if it was aggression, or play, but with her growing aggression she just triggered me to be SO mad. And I'm not a person to be mean, hit, abuse, etc a dog, and I do NOT want her to fear me, or think she needs to be my pack leader from yelling and coming off as "unstable" so after I regained myself, and walked her outside for potty, and thought for a second, I remembered seeing someone mention a can of coins! So, the cup of coins is literally my salvation. 2 days of the can of coins, and if I even touch the top of the can? She sits and waits patiently for me to give her the next command. She has stopped begging for food, stopped nipping (with the occasional 'want to play' nudging), and this house hold is all around happier...

Hope this helps someone, and it can be frustrating with a mean pup...

As for bone aggression she's basically been nixed with those except for small treats she can do a trick for and finish without just laying and chewing on it. I decided this was best for the fact that she made a "snarl" face at me just for walking past her, and I just decided I was not even going to put up with it, because no matter what I've done, she just was consistently bone aggressive.

Stay consistent with the can if it is working and make sure all in the home use it so she knows not to try and push anyone else around.

 

[blushy]

Stay consistent with the can if it is working and make sure all in the home use it so she knows not to try and push anyone else around.

Even Brody knows if she gets too pushy with him to grab the can.

Thanks for the added advice!

 

[2bullymama]

Even Brody knows if she gets too pushy with him to grab the can.

Thanks for the added advice!

GREAT... all humans on the same page makes for a better experience all around! best of luck

 

[blushy]

Another update just to let everyone know. The shaking of the can is PERFECT for Isabelle. Continuing with the can regardless of new puppy. He doesn't seem to even blink an eye at it but isabelle is still responding.

Trying not to treat her any different than we did before new puppy but him having a parasite its a little tougher than we expected.

She's still obeying commands, and etc. So I'm happy with our decision to get a new pup, it's just going to be a long road for the next month or two with how little he is, adjusting to 2 dogs, making sure isabelle doesn't get sick, making sure he gets better and doesn't get sick again.

But the can is still always in arms reach.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk