Problems again

[lil'lucybear]

so lucy was really good for the first two days we were back, now she is freaking out all the time for no reason. i mean really freaking out, whenever i stop petting her she will start biting me really hard, then she will get down really low and bark and growl and snap at me, she has never been this bad before, i mean not like this anyway. now that the wedding is over i am going to get a behavior specialist, but i need to do something while i am looking for one, do you think she is still mad that we left her or shouldn't she have forgotten that by now. i don't know what to do when she starts biting and freaking out.....any suggestions, it sucks because we were making such progress before we left.

[14rock]

Ignore her for a week or so. Dont look at her, dont do anything. Gradually work up petting her every now and then WHEN YOU WANT TO, not when she comes over and wants it. Then they will learn that you are in control of when they are petted, etc. It is going to be really hard work and I've never had to use this method, but from most I've heard that used it, it worked wonders.

[B]

Sounds like she runs the house. She has gotten away with that behavior far too long. If this goes on much longer you are going to have a liability on your hands. You need to establish the proper role with that DOG. She is not your child, she is not a human, she is a dog and you need to let her know that. YOU should be running the house. This behavior is not acceptable and not normal. Sorry if the truth hurts, but I'm not going to sugar coat it for you. Several people have already told you what I just stated above. You need to quit worrying about the dogs "feelings" and fix that behavior.

B

[B]

You need to tell her NO in a loud FIRM voice and if she persists kennel her up. You are not addressing this behavior. She can't be allowed to run your house or you are going to have a major problem when she is older.

B

[lil'lucybear]

BnD i know it unacceptable and i have tried so many things to try and make her understand that i am boss, saying no in a firm voice only makes her mad then she darts around and barks even more. i do not know how to punish her so she will understand whos boss, its really hard to ignore her because when i do she will bark and bite until i have no choice but to recognize the fact that she is there, whether it be to put her in the crate or tell her no bite. she is a super dominate dog, and she was making tons of progress before we left but now i feel like we have taken 10 steps back... she hasn't learned anything by being put in her crate, or being firm with her, and since i am usually home with alone, it is almost impossible to ignore her, i just don't know what she wants, when she acts up it feels like she is trying to tell me something but she is a dog and i do not know what to do, i don't want to give her up, but i need to do something, she is getting big enough to hurt me when she bites hard, and i can't deal with that, so how else can i show her whos boss,

[B]

Consistancy is key. If a young pup nips me I grab their muzzle shut and make them look directly in MY eyes and I tell them no extremely FIRM and loud. I don't scream or yell, but I say it with authority. I let the dog know I am serious. If it happens again I repeat the process and then grab the pup by the gruff of the neck and kennel it up in a dark quiet room, completely ignoring it for several hours. Generally they will come out tail wagging and never biting again. I wish I could help you more but after a correction or two, I've never had a dog continue this sort of behavior. I establish quite quickly that I am the alpha and they listen to me or else... I've never had a dog get to your point. You really have let this go on far too long. I've not seen behavior like this since my dogs were 6-8 weeks old. I quashed it then and never have to deal with it again. Best of luck, how old is she now?

B

[lil'lucybear]

she is a year old, but mind you i have been trying to correct this behavior for months now, she is the most subborn pup ever. she listens to husband perfectly and when he is home she is the most well behaved puppy ever, but i made the mistake of spoiling her when she was a pup so now she thinks that she deserves attention all the time and when she doesn't get it she flips out. she was doing so well till we left her for a week, now we are back to square one

[B]

A year? I don't know what to say... you have a serious issue and I recommend you find some help fast. That dog is far too old to be doing this.

B

[lil'lucybear]

i know its scary, i just want my sweet girl back, i think the lack of excersise for that week has her messed up, i have been walking and running twice as much as usual and hopefully she will be calmer whrn i go home tonight.

[440rider]

saying no in a firm voice only makes her mad then she darts around and barks even more. i do not know how to punish her so she will understand whos boss, its really hard to ignore her because when i do she will bark and bite until i have no choice but to recognize the fact that she is there

you need to make her recognize the fact that you are the alpha! the darting around is the problem, your dog shouldnt be darting around at all. You dog only needs to be told a command one x. I use a thin correction collar (thin choke chain, thin because you can really snap it up over a large one) to work my dogs. Try putting a correction collar on your dog while she is in the house with the leash attached and let her drag it around this way she cant dart off. Start her off with keeping focus on YOU!!! Start by holding the leash with alot of slack and let you dog wander from you just about to the end off the slack to where she wants to get into something or walk away or runn off and tell her "come around here with me" if she doesnt snatch the leash quickly towards you to have her come (a quick snap not a continious pull) and again tell her "come around here with me" and Praise her when she does tell her that's a good girl. Repeat this...praise is key... and she will eventually come to you on command and pay more attention to you. Try that to start with! I dont think it's a lack of excercise IMO it's a lack of leadership. Good Luck!

[miakoda]

check your pm's lucy. ;)

[Texasbulldogs]

Your options; (1) Get yourself trained, so you can deal with the problems you’ve created, (2) Get rid of the dog, or (3) continue on your current path and let the law make the decision for you, after you are seriously injured!

[pitbull #311]

i'm having the same problem with chelsea still , she bite's growls and lundges at us she's not as bad as she was, she's got a lot better , when this happens we tell her straight into her eye's
NO BITE , she stops two seconds later she's at it again , i put her in the crate
for 10-15 min then she's fine the rest of the night . this happens once a day
around the same time everyday . she's only 16 weeks about 28lbs
i couldn't amagine her do'in this at one year at around 50 + lbs she'd be uncontrolable, and i will NOT let it get that far where looking in to classes right now .

[lil'lucybear]

texas i am lookimng for a trainner, and i think i have found one i left him a message this morning and i am waiting for a response, i am trying to get myself trainned.