Televets

• Home
• »
• Pet Questions
• »
• Dogs
• »
• View Question

My dog's behavorial problems

Max

Max has many behavioral problems that I am having trouble fixing and I would like some help on how I can in the easiest way possible. He barks when a person or dog walks by the house and can't stop barking until they have left his sight. He is also kind of aggressive with his toys and growls when you try to take them (he doesn't bark just growl). He does not like meeting other people and especially meeting dogs. I hardly take him on walks anymore because the last couple times dogs have come up to us and he tried to bite them. Except when a female dog came up he just stood there. I am very scared that he could hurt another dog or human.

Another problem is that we can NEVER clip his toenails. We have once, but we didn't get them all cut-only one nail, and he freaked out and started bleeding because he wouldn't hold still. He watched us cut our other dogs nails, tried feeding him food, he just doesn't like it. He also pulls on the leash and we got a head-collar to try to stop it and it kind of works.

He minds pretty well, especially when he is in the house. When you tell him to sit or stay or stop, but when he is barking outside he won't stop when you tell him to. I put him in the garage for a while by himself to stop the barking and hoping he learns. When you try to pick him up he tries to bite you.

Since our other American Eskimo Ceaser died a week ago he has been very sad, but I think he got over it pretty much. So now we are looking to get another dog but don't know how he will react. I think we should get a female because he always seems to get along with them better (besides Ceaser). I really want an Australian Shepard but we are doing some research to find out which dog would be most compatible with him but I can't find anything. Please help as soon as you can!!!! Thank You for reading this.

•   Jennifer McLaughlin-Perez says:

  April 11th, 2009 at 10:40 AM

  Hi,

  Well it sounds like you have some issues to resolve. The first being he may have felt shaken about the death of the other dog because it sounds like he viewed him as the leader and now that he's gone, it sounds like he thought he needed to take his spot.

  The problem with this is he doesn't think your boss. I know that can be hard to hear but honestly it's always us if it's not medical.

  He sounds like he has trust and anxiety issues. He needs to know he can trust YOU to carry the title of leader and direct his anxiety.

  Barking at the door. He doesn't know what to do and how to stop because he's not managing his anxiety so we have to. Do not expect him to come away from the door from your voice or even yelling or pulling on him. His anxiety has already expolded. Instead make him move away from the situation....What I've done with other nervous dogs is grab a stick or a pole (this is in case they have a tendency to bite when in that heightened state) and move into his space stick/pole first. Heard him back away from the door/window area. If he bites the stick do not stop just keep pressing him away until he calms down...when he stops barking or acting aggressivly and pays attention to you (rather then staring at the door) tell him "good job" and let him go back to the door...if he starts again, you do the same. This teaches him he needs to be calm when people/dogs are outside, you already know they are there and it's okay..you got it. Then give him a treat when he does it well.

  Does he growl while your playing with HIM with the toys? If so, simply drop it and walk away....it means "game over" I'm not playing with you when your growling, that can help that situation but it sounds like he is having aggression problems due to anxiety.

  There are other things you can do like feed him all of his food one peice at a time for each meal so he knows your the source of his food and you tell him when he can eat (this is a leadership dog role, they tell the others when it's okay to eat).

  When your outside and you see someone or people with a dog that your going to pass, move out of striking distance and make him sit. You also stay calm. Let them pass and if he acts up...well your out of striking distance away from the other people or dogs so you can focus on calming him down and don't move from that spot until he is calm. I've even told people coming up a path "I have an aggressive dog here so you guys pass and ignore him and I'll manage him" this way people aren't suprised if the dog reacts. 

  Eventually he should realize that he can be calm and friendly when people pass because when he does it well he gets a treat and praise from you and he can just relax.

  If all of this sounds a bit daunting then hire a behavior specialist to work with you. It can be fusturating dealing with all this but it's very rewarding when you change a bad behavior.

  Another thing that may help you is looking up some books from the library on dog aggression or checking out The dog Whisperer or It's me or the Dog episodes. They are chalked full of great advice on how to manage your dogs anxiety while also managing yours.

   

  Good luck and I hope this helps.

   

  Current Rating:

  Rate This Answer:

  

• Gabriella suggests:

  September 27th, 2009 at 01:16 PM

  The behavioral thing with the dogs needs to be fixed BEFORE getting another dog, but it's a fairly long process. I suggest doing research and I'm sure you'll come across something. Try watching the show, the dog whisperer - it may give you some good tips. Oh, and for biting, muzzle him rather than putting him in the garage. Leave it on for about thirty minutes. He'll get the idea. I fully agree with Jeniffer. I'll look at some breeds of dogs for you and their behavior. I'm pretty good with researching dog breeds. Just tell me what you want and don't want about the dog. Ex. Size, Activity level, behavior, male/female etc. I hope to hear from you soon so I can get a better feel for the type of dog your looking for. Good Luck, Gabriella

  Current Rating:

  Rate This Suggestion: