Should I have handle it different

[NcPrisonGuard]

This is sort of a take off of the thread about the guy's dog snapping at his cousin. One of my best friends (best man in my wedding) comes over and he hasn't seen Boomer since he was tiny..after we just got him. My buddy walks in and Boomer goes into this barking/growling fit.. and jumps down from the couch and gets in between my buddy and I. My buddy thinks its funny and starts coming toward the dog and myself.. "Oooh.. big bad dog..." and reaches his hand out..I told him to stop playing. That Boomer had never bitten anyone before, but I don't know if he would. So he backs off.. and I check Boomer and get him back in line. and he climbs up on the couch and lays down beside me..but keeps a tight eye on my buddy the whole time, growling occasionally.but never barking again. Mainly just when my buddy would get up he'd start growling again. But he stayed right by me. Should I have handled it different. I didn't want to punish him for protecting me.

[XxKonnectionsxX]

I would say you handled it correctly, because no one got bit.

[maryellen1]

do you want boomer to protect you in the house too?? if you allow boomer to continue to growl lunge and bark at people coming into your house you will have a VERY big problem... he will bite someone.

you are rewarding him for the wrong behavior. pit bulls are not guard dogs. they are not supposed to be . get a dobe or a gsd if you want a guard dog...

outside in the dark streets well, alright if you are walking alone.. but in your house when you INVITE friends over there is no way no how your pit bulls should be growling and lunging and barking at them in a protective way.. it will only get worse, to the point you will have to put him away ina crate when people come over because you are teaching him that its ok to growl and lunge at everyone that comes into your house.

[Aceman]

This is sort of a take off of the thread about the guy's dog snapping at his cousin. One of my best friends (best man in my wedding) comes over and he hasn't seen Boomer since he was tiny..after we just got him. My buddy walks in and Boomer goes into this barking/growling fit.. and jumps down from the couch and gets in between my buddy and I. My buddy thinks its funny and starts coming toward the dog and myself.. "Oooh.. big bad dog..." and reaches his hand out..I told him to stop playing. That Boomer had never bitten anyone before, but I don't know if he would. So he backs off.. and I check Boomer and get him back in line. and he climbs up on the couch and lays down beside me..but keeps a tight eye on my buddy the whole time, growling occasionally.but never barking again. Mainly just when my buddy would get up he'd start growling again. But he stayed right by me. Should I have handled it different. I didn't want to punish him for protecting me.My boy goes through his little fit when someone strange comes into my house. This lasts for about 20 to 30 seconds and then he is like all over them. He litterally will not leave them alone the whole time they are here, licks the face right off them. I usually have to crate him to give the company a break,,lol. He is also very submissive with them as he will roll onto his back at there feet. When a stranger comes in and sees the initial invite , some are a little intimidated, but when they leave, they are all like, man what a nice dog. By the way I do not condone or reward the barking and do correct him on it.

[catcher T]

the dog was not protecting u he was protecting himself,,he was fearful for some reason of this guy all of a sudden,,since u did let him get away with it there might be more issues with him challenging other people like this,,when a dog bites a human unprovoked its always lack of training,,and human error

[Evil_Elvis]

the dog was not protecting u he was protecting himself,,he was fearful for some reason of this guy all of a sudden,,since u did let him get away with it there might be more issues with him challenging other people like this,,when a dog bites a human unprovoked its always lack of training,,and human error
i would have to agree with maryellen he was a friend not a stranger

[PitbullLover]

My boys will bark up a storm if there is someone outside the house, or when a male is approaching me (I'm female). However once I let someone into my home, they are fine. The only time Apollo growled at someone inside my home was when my brother was yelling and threating me so Apollo was trying to protect me. BUT he NEVER snapped at him...he got between us, stared him down, and growled. I told my brother to leave and Apollo went to his chair.

[NcPrisonGuard]

[QUOTE=maryellen1]do you want boomer to protect you in the house too?? if you allow boomer to continue to growl lunge and bark at people coming into your house you will have a VERY big problem... he will bite someone.

Well Boomer never lunged at him.. he just growled and barked. But of course I want the dogs to protect the house.. I am not home because I work crazy hours and my wife is home alone.. some guy kicks in the front door.. yeah I want Boomer and my other Cheyenne (when she's older) to do their best to kill whoever it is thats breaking in. Guard dog..attack dog.. no.. but I want them to protect my wife and family. Thats just loyalty from a dog.. all dogs in my opinion should have that quality.

Maybe I didn't word myself right in the opening post.. but my buddy just walked in.. he wasn't "invited" in.. meaning he didn't knock and then I open the door and say come in.. he just let himself in.. which I have since told him not to do.

[Suki]

IMO, your dog, not knowing this friend, (who reaches his hand out to you/your dog) is protecting his pack=you! He is indicating his uncertainty/displeasure with this arrival, hence, his growling.

uninvited, or not, your friend was allowed in, and being your friend, was not a threat to you or your family. A stern "no growl" as a correction, imo, would have been sufficient, to indicate to your dog, your unapproaval of his action.
Your dog was still showing his uncertainty by placing himself between you and your friend, and continuing his growling. I'm glad you didn't do the "oh, it's ok". This just reinforces the behavior you can do without. Your dog will take all his cues from you. If your voice "sounds" inviting and upbeat, your dog will hear that tone and most likely not act aggressively. Your friends' entrance of just walking right in may, subliminally have caught you off guard, and your dog sensed that, and acted accordianlly. IMO, your dog acted protective, but not too aggressive. If this behavior either continues, and/or increases I would suggest crating him before your company is allowed in then let him out, as it demonstates to your dog your acceptance of your guest, instead of any perceived uncertainty. If his behavior seems to get worse, just crate him when company comes over, just to error on the side of caution.
Sounds like everything turned out ok tho.

[NcPrisonGuard]

Thanks Suki.. in the future if he does it I will correct him a bit more stern, I really didn't correct him much at all this time because it was the first time, and I didn't really want him thinking its not ok to be protective..or that he shouldn't be alittle wary of a stranger, even though it was a friend..just not one that visits often. That being said when people come over that he knows, friends that come over often..its a fight to keep him from annoying them to death. The constant licking and he has a bad habit of head butting people's knees trying to get you to rub him but once you've been in the house a little while and the newness wears off he goes back to being his normal self.

[Suki]

Thanks Suki.. in the future if he does it I will correct him a bit more stern, I really didn't correct him much at all this time because it was the first time, and I didn't really want him thinking its not ok to be protective..or that he shouldn't be alittle wary of a stranger, even though it was a friend..just not one that visits often. That being said when people come over that he knows, friends that come over often..its a fight to keep him from annoying them to death. The constant licking and he has a bad habit of head butting people's knees trying to get you to rub him but once you've been in the house a little while and the newness wears off he goes back to being his normal self.
No problem!:) Just be sure to let him know when you are displeased with his actions. If nothing gets said when he demonstrates this kind of behavior, not only will it continue, its' intensity may increase=not good. This breed just wants to please. A verbal, stern command usually does the trck, if this is a new bahavior for him=which it sounds like it is. Be consistent, and you should have few problems.

[ABK]

NC: I could be wrong, but I wouldn't say your dog wasn't protecting you - it sounds more to me like he was scared. Hence his sitting beside you on the couch & growling when your friend got up. Often when a dog leans on you, sits on you or close to you, or puts a paw on a handler in a stressful situation they are nervous & looking for re-inforcement, not being protective.

I would work on socialization if possible.

And if you want a dog to guard your home & family I would suggest getting a breed meant for that. APBTs are not guard dogs or protection dogs. Can they act in a protective capacity? Some will. But it is not their general nature.

For example, I only have 1 bullie who would bite & that is b/c he was teased as a young dog. The rest of my bulldogs would bark (maybe) then hide under the couch if an intruder broke in.

And this might shock you, but loyalty was not a feature bred into the APBT. In the early days of the breed & even today dogs were often sent off to people other than their owners for various reasons. A dog might be raised by one person, but live w/ different person during keeps & for shows, then kept by yet another person for breeding purposes. Therefore it was best to have a dog who could easily "switch loyalties."

Pit bulls were bred for combat & combat only. Anything else we got out of the deal (love of people, strong mind, sound bodies, etc.) was simply a by-product of breeding dogs bred to do what they were created to do.

So I say love your bully, but leave the protection up to your Doberman! :D

[maryellen1]

NC, what if your mom or a familymember just walked in your house? and boomer went and growled and barked at them? protecting the house from a true threat is one thing, protecting the house while you are home from good people with no bad intent is another, that is a disaster waiting to happen.. i would work on his social skills more and for YOU to take charge in your house so you can show boomer the proper way to act if people come in..

[maryellen1]

you want to teach boomer that if someone walks in your house and you are friendly toward them, then he should not growl or bark at them in a threatening manner... i forgot to put that on my post.

[catcher T]

dogs do not automatically know the difference if someone is threatening,,they may know that an action is happening that is out of normal manner for the household or that u as a person tenses up and something is not right,,unless u do some serious training in protection work,,I would never let him growl at anyone, u are just setting yourself up for a loose cannon,,it does sound like more of a fearful dog coming to u for protection not the other way around,,he needs his confidence built and corrected

[Boss' Mom]

I agree that the dog is exhibiting fearful behaviour. Because really, what was he protecting you from? Your non-threatening friend? Doesn't sound right to me. If he ever does that again, correct him. My dog doesn't even bark, like ever. He's never barked at a stranger, let alone growled at one. I've never really known a pit bull to be loyal, either. Hence the reason Pit Bulls are so easy to steal, they like everyone. Have you noticed that your dog is suspicious of people at all? Or does he like strangers normally?

[NcPrisonGuard]

Have you noticed that your dog is suspicious of people at all? Or does he like strangers normally?[/QUOTE]
Yeah he's usually very suspicious of people he's never met, or its been a very long time in seeing them. My female, cheyenne, is the exact opposite.. she doesn't know a stranger.. anyone walks up to her and its play time. But Boomer is far more stand offish with people he doesn't know. I don't want it to sound like he just goes nuts when anyone comes over. The friend I am talking about I hadn't seen in months..and neither had Boomer. He came over shortly after we got him but this is the first time he's come back since then. My parents, my wife's family that come over often.. friends who come over alot he is great with, doesn't growl doesn't bark.

He barks when a car pulls up.. he barks when someone knocks on the door.. I honestly think it was the fact my friend came in without knocking and startled him.. I know it caught me a bit off guard because I didn't hear him pull up. But anytime I am walking him and we come across a stranger he usuallydoesn't go crazy barking..just these low deep "woofs" and he stands there and stares usually between the person and myself. But all this being said I am no dog psychologist and this is my first time owning APBT's.

[purplepig]

[QUOTE=Boss' Mom] I've never really known a pit bull to be loyal, either. Hence the reason Pit Bulls are so easy to steal, they like everyone. QUOTE]

I have always said that if I could get my dog up to about 14 months - a year and a half, they'd never get stolen.( I have 22 years experience with these dogs, no expert, but no novice either) Which has been the case. I have had several dogs stolen, but when they get to that age, they never do get taken. My dogs have always been very loyal also. By loyal I mean they have always looked out for my best interest. Other people could handle them, if there was nothing fishy going on. They always seemed to know if the other people were up to something or not. I have purchased adult dogs that end up the same way. I have sold adult dogs that later I am told are the best dogs they ever had, so.. I guess that statement just goes against my personal experience with these dogs. Maybe I am a freak or whatever. Please dont think that I am picking a fight,as I am not.

As for me, if a friend of mine came over and my dog didnt like the guy for some reason, I'd have to go with the dog's instinct. I trust the dog way further than any man.(I am not talking about a down bred animal, but a well bred, well raised bulldog, not a cull nor a curr) Maybe you have had better experiences w/people than I.

I hope this post dont put me on the wrong side with you, just 'keeping it real'.
I'll shut up now.
J