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Cricket

Rattie

07/16/2007 12:11 AM
First, let me get in a little information about Snickers to give you something to work with. Snickers is a Teddy rattie my dh found in the MIDDLE of a gator infested lake 3 weeks ago. We did all the things one does when they find a lost dog but no one came looking for him. Snickers age seems to be around 2-3 years and his health is good. He is a sweet and loving dog who gets along well with my other 2 dogs, both cats, and came housebroken(except for when I mess up--dogs can't turn door knobs so if we have a problem I know it is me who messed up and not Snickers.) We love our new baby but we have a problem. HE BITES out of anger, aggression, and fear. He has bitten me 4 times and it hurts. He has snarled at me a few times also. Once when I found out he had pooped the carpet and then once when I told him NO! It is a defence for him. He also does it if you raise your hand. I think someone used to hit him when he was "bad". We he does something wrong, even when I don't know he has done anything, he hides UNDER the bed. If I were to make him come out I would be bit. I leave him be short of just talking in the room to him in my normal voice until he is ready to come out for kisses and cuddles. It takes 20-30 minutes. I have also stopped saying NO! I say no in my normal voice and offer him a suggestion such as today when he grabbed my dds shoe when we were playing. I say no,drop it. Well he did but he ran to the couch, scrunched down in growl/lunge/bite mode and waited. I went over, kept my hands to MYSELF and said in a normal voice. Good boy Snickers, where is your toy? He perked up a little and I then petted him and he hopped off and got his tuggy and we played. Also, he play bites and we don't like that at all--ouch! Today when he started I said calmly--No bite, go get your toy, where is your toy AND HE WENT AND GOT IT! I lavished the praise and we had some good playing time. He doesn't like his hind end touched--he snaps, he bites if you try to take things from him such as pieces of plastic from a squeeky toy(he EATS them and swallows them so we got rid of them all). I think he was really hit in his old home and it breaks my heart. I am open to any and all suggestions and if I am doing this wrong then please tell me. I have not ever had an aggressive dog. Last night he bit my dh and that was not good. I am prepared to give 100% to this dog but my dh has less patience. Now my dh would never "get rid" of a dog but I want Snickers to fit in with the whole family. Today dh acted like it was all over and that Snickers was his boy again so that is good. So, lay some suggestions on me! My boy needs some help!

Cricket--Mama to~~ Snickers my Teddy Rattie boy! Susie my sweet black Lab girl! Hanky Panky my Terrier/Border Collie Love Love boy!

Mitzy's Mom

PAWesome

07/16/2007 7:12 AM
First, this agression could actually be the reason he was "thrown out" or abandoned. I'd guess it was caused by a previous owner, sounds like he had a tough life before you found him and he reacts defensively but really doesn't want to be mean. Hopefully our training moderator will check in soon but if not there are some members who are good training issues. Here's a link that maybe helpful: http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/1abuse.php Meanwhile, do not allow him to bite....he has to know his boundaries even though he was abused before....you can do this without physical punishment. If he wants to "play bite" then one thing you can do is ignore him, actually turn away from him, when he settle down you praise him. Hang in there with him - a rescued dog can be difficult but it will be worth it. He really sounds like a great little dog and think you have the ability to overcome this obstacle.

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org Pics of my current fosters: http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona

tiggarat

Bratty Ratty

07/17/2007 4:00 AM
I know it's hard, and an instinctive thing for you to want to do, but your coaxing him to get out from under the bed, couch, ect is only going to encourage this behavior. You can't feel sorry for him when he goes into hiding. He's out of that nasty home/situation, and is with you now. You will never know just what happened to him, and maybe you wouldn't really want to know. You owe it to him to give him a stable home. You need to be strong for him, because when you feel sorry for him, he sees that as weakness, and he will take advantage of that. If there are certain times of day where he tends to play bite on your hands, put a little Bitter Apple on your hands. My dogs hate the stuff and one lick is more than enough to deter them. I had a Lab that was possessive of all his "things," and we were never able to solve that problem, we just accepted that as part of who he was...I guess you could call him a rescue, we were his third (and last) owners. Overall, he sounds like a smart, great dog. He has issues, but they can be helped, if not completely fixed. The fact that you are here asking how to help him says that you are willing to put in the effort to help this little guy and give him a great home. He certainly deserves it.

Lisabeth furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie) Buddy - gone but never forgotten. "I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith

Mitzy's Mom

PAWesome

07/17/2007 12:18 PM
BUMPING FOR NORA

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org Pics of my current fosters: http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona

PamWh

Rattitude Problem

07/17/2007 12:36 PM
I think you are on the right track with calmly saying no and distracting him with another command. For the times he gets things he isn't supposed to have, you can teach him the "drop" command so that you don't have to try to take it away from him. It will just take time to retrain him and he will have some backsliding and set backs on the way.

PamWh aka Bob's Mom If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

rattytatty

Newbie

07/17/2007 1:02 PM
I'm so sorry... I just saw this. Treating aggressive behavior is best handled by a professional animal behaviorist or a very experienced, reputable animal trainer. I highly suspect the behavior you are experiencing is a result of abuse, but of course, I can't be sure. And... you don't know what his "story" is either! When seeking a professional trainer, ask for advice from your veterinarian and carefully interview trainers to find the one who uses the least amount of force necessary. Oftentimes, force training makes an aggressive dog worse. Treatment consists of listing all the things that trigger aggressive behavior and preventing these situations from developing. For example, if the dog growls when you try to remove it from the couch, don't allow it to get on the couch. If your dog is hiding under the bed... close the bedroom door so he can't access the bed at all. Minimize hiding spots. Try to make him stay out in the open... The first and natural impulse is to minimize contact between an aggressive dog and the person or people he is most aggressive to. However, this only encourages the dog to become dominant to more and more people and tightens his control of the household. Therefore, the individual who is having the most difficulty with the dog should become the main provider for everything the dog needs food, water, exercise, praise, affection, and all play activity. This person must be able to work with the dog to obey basic obedience commands of sit, stay, come, and down. He will probably need a lot of help with the down command (which puts the animal in a submissive position) so he doesn't get bitten. All other family members must totally ignore the dog.... no play, food, or affection. The dog must look on that one person as its sole provider of everything. The dog must be rewarded for any signs of submissive behavior such as ears back, looking away (avoiding eye contact), rolling over, licking, crouching, or lowering the head when being reached for. Any dominant gestures that the dog will tolerate should be used frequently and the dog must be praised and given occasional food rewards for submitting. The dog must earn everything. Once a dog starts to respond, then counter-conditioning can be started, but this should only be done with a qualified behaviorist-trainer. Counter-conditioning includes working with a dog that doesn't like its feet or hindquarters handled; it is also referred to as desensitizing the dog to certain stimuli or conditions. I applaud you for taking this little dog in. I highly advise you to seek help in correcting the dog's behavior. There are ways to fix this type of behavior, but it sounds like you do need professional assistance. Please.... keep us posted...

nycmom

Ratastic

07/17/2007 2:01 PM
I have no advice, just wanted to say that I hope things work out with Snickers. I wonder if he ran away from an abusive owner.

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