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Question about dog starting to growl
Posted on 3/13/24 at 4:22 pm
Posted on 3/13/24 at 4:22 pm
3 year old cur has never been a problem and is not a problem yet. But out of the blue he is starting to growl at people,mainly us.
He has done it twice to us when eating a pigs ear and he did it to my FIL today when he got to close.
Any ideas as to why this behavior is starting all of the sudden and any behavior modification tips. He is clipped too
He has done it twice to us when eating a pigs ear and he did it to my FIL today when he got to close.
Any ideas as to why this behavior is starting all of the sudden and any behavior modification tips. He is clipped too
Posted on 3/13/24 at 4:35 pm to papasmurf1269
Black mouth cur? My parents had two of them at different times when I was growing up. They can be a little mean. We had females and they were the meanest dogs we ever had. Never bit anyone though. With a male, I don't know, but you will have to watch him.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 4:39 pm to papasmurf1269
Is the growling just surrounding possessiveness? Where was he and what was the situation when he growled at your FIL?
It's really hard to say without knowing the dog's history/personality. I had a dog that started exhibiting a little bit of possessiveness around food/bones just shy of his first birthday. My solution was gradual, but I basically started by feeding him out of my hand. At first, he ate but did so very tensely. The second I could tell he relaxed, I would praise him. After a few days he would eat out of my hand completely relaxed. I then transitioned to the bowl and would put a handful of food into his bowl and continually feed him as he ate to try to create a positive association with hands and food. I required him to sit, then I placed the food bowl in front of him, then released him to eat. Once he got comfortable with that, I would then place my hand in the bowl while he was eating sometimes.
Over time, his food possessiveness went away. Another method is to spread food out all over the floor. The idea is that this confuses the dog and he no longer has a small place to guard. Most dog behaviorists will tell you that you should not take the dog's food or bone away in response to aggression. I've never had a really serious issue with it so I can't speak to the merits of that theory, but I never took his food or his bone away from him. I just gave him bones less. The consensus, however, is that you should not address the issue with force as it is likely to compound the problem, which could be dangerous for you.
It's really hard to say without knowing the dog's history/personality. I had a dog that started exhibiting a little bit of possessiveness around food/bones just shy of his first birthday. My solution was gradual, but I basically started by feeding him out of my hand. At first, he ate but did so very tensely. The second I could tell he relaxed, I would praise him. After a few days he would eat out of my hand completely relaxed. I then transitioned to the bowl and would put a handful of food into his bowl and continually feed him as he ate to try to create a positive association with hands and food. I required him to sit, then I placed the food bowl in front of him, then released him to eat. Once he got comfortable with that, I would then place my hand in the bowl while he was eating sometimes.
Over time, his food possessiveness went away. Another method is to spread food out all over the floor. The idea is that this confuses the dog and he no longer has a small place to guard. Most dog behaviorists will tell you that you should not take the dog's food or bone away in response to aggression. I've never had a really serious issue with it so I can't speak to the merits of that theory, but I never took his food or his bone away from him. I just gave him bones less. The consensus, however, is that you should not address the issue with force as it is likely to compound the problem, which could be dangerous for you.
This post was edited on 3/13/24 at 4:56 pm
Posted on 3/13/24 at 4:49 pm to papasmurf1269
Any new additions to the household, like other pets, or children, anything that would trigger him to assert his place in the pack?
Posted on 3/13/24 at 4:51 pm to bluemoons
quote:Outside under the carport running around the yard.
Where was he an what was the situation when he growled at your FIL?
And the pig ear is when he was chilling in his bed
Posted on 3/13/24 at 4:52 pm to deeprig9
quote:Nope. Nothing different but him
Any new additions to the household, like other pets, or children, anything that would trigger him to assert his place in the pack?
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:00 pm to bluemoons
Advice provided by bluemoon is 100% right on point.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:06 pm to ValhallaAwaits
I really don’t feel the way he explained it is actually the problem for my dog. He eats when he wants and he eats in a certain spot. Nothing has changed. This appears to be just due to possessiveness and being territorial. But I don’t know why it just started
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:06 pm to papasmurf1269
Our pack had problems with animal chews ..ears,hooves, rawhide. Nyla Bones and ropes made them less possessive. The ropes are good to play tug of war with when they get funny.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:10 pm to Fencepimp
quote:we play tug-of-war so much it gets aggravating sometimes.
The ropes are good to play tug of war with when they get funny.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:12 pm to papasmurf1269
You should only feed him at certain times of day. He shouldn't be allowed to eat whenever he wants to.
It is odd that he has just randomly developed these traits. Possessiveness and aggressiveness are slightly different though. Possessiveness involves resource guarding, and I'd refer back to my original post and also this article: LINK
Aggressiveness is a bit of a different animal. Is it possible the issue with your FIL was a one-off? There could've been something going on with the dog at the time.
It is odd that he has just randomly developed these traits. Possessiveness and aggressiveness are slightly different though. Possessiveness involves resource guarding, and I'd refer back to my original post and also this article: LINK
Aggressiveness is a bit of a different animal. Is it possible the issue with your FIL was a one-off? There could've been something going on with the dog at the time.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:12 pm to papasmurf1269
quote:
we play tug-of-war so much it gets aggravating sometimes.
You should absolutely not be playing tug of war with a dog exhibiting possessiveness. I would cut that or anything else that reinforces the behavior out immediately.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:14 pm to bluemoons
quote:We will chill out on that and see it that helps.
I would cut that or anything else that reinforces the behavior out immediately.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:16 pm to bluemoons
quote:I don’t know considering the other growling issues that just popped up
Is it possible the issue with your FIL was a one-off?
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:20 pm to papasmurf1269
I've only had this experience with dogs that were born that way, not one that had "late onset" symptoms. But can tell you that ultimately, despite all the Ceasar Milan exercises, they just weren't allowed to have nice things to guard. If you can't act nice with a pig ear, then you don't get pig ears anymore.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:36 pm to deeprig9
quote:Yea, we already cut that shite out
If you can't act nice with a pig ear, then you don't get pig ears anymore.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:39 pm to papasmurf1269
quote:
Yea, we already cut that shite out
Sounds like you have the problem figured out. When he acts like a shithead with something, he doesn't get that thing anymore.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 5:46 pm to papasmurf1269
I have had many dogs over the years, but my current boxer is the first dog I've ever had that growled. The past 10 years I've only had boxers. At first, I thought he was trying to show me that he wanted to be the dominant one in the house, but I quickly realized that was his way of telling me he wants to play.
I would just watch the dog closely and try to pick up on what's going on around him when he growls. I always thought it meant aggression, but that wasn't the case at all. My biggest problem is he always seems to growl when I'm in the middle of something and can't play with him, which only makes him growl louder.
I would just watch the dog closely and try to pick up on what's going on around him when he growls. I always thought it meant aggression, but that wasn't the case at all. My biggest problem is he always seems to growl when I'm in the middle of something and can't play with him, which only makes him growl louder.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 6:09 pm to papasmurf1269
I feel your pain. We have a Frenchie who is Jekyll and Hyde. Loves people and very active. Has never been aggressive with other dogs.
But if he gets something he shouldn’t have, or we try to give him a bath or something, the demon appears. After biting some family members we got him on some behavioral medicine and sent him to a board and train. It’s not cured and we hope the training tips are slowly helping. Teaching “leave it,” “place,” etc. it’s all positive feedback and treats, which is the way to go.
But if he gets something he shouldn’t have, or we try to give him a bath or something, the demon appears. After biting some family members we got him on some behavioral medicine and sent him to a board and train. It’s not cured and we hope the training tips are slowly helping. Teaching “leave it,” “place,” etc. it’s all positive feedback and treats, which is the way to go.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 6:28 pm to papasmurf1269
If I have a dog that does this, and have had several in the past, I would slowly work my way in to the object with my hand, saying NOOOO in a deep, stern voice, until I reached the object and pulled it away without incident. Don’t ever pull your hand back even if they snap. That’s the reaction they want. It won’t hurt, it’s usually a lung and not hard bite. If they snap at you, grab and squeeze the heck out of their snout until they release. With that accomplished , you tell them good boy ( or girl) in a calm, affirming voice. Slowly give it back to them and take it slowly away again using the same method. It’ll be over in less than 5 tries.
They need to know who is boss, and what the boss will, and will not, tolerate. They understand that very quickly if done right.
They need to know who is boss, and what the boss will, and will not, tolerate. They understand that very quickly if done right.
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