ra3k.niemy
Newbie
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| 02/17/2008 3:31 PM |
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we've had Buster since he was 8 wks old and i dont know where we went wrong. now my husband can walk on water if you ask Buster. They do everything together!!! but even my husband is getting tired of his behavior. I know he needs training but we just cant afford classes so what im looking for are some diy tips. Here are our problems: constant barking, chasing the kids in the house and biting the back of thier legs, and growling and biting at me when i go in the bedroom to wake my husband up for work. i am on the verge of giving him up but i know thats not a good idea especially since he wont let other people near him but im not fine with him nipping and bitting at people for just walking in a room. we tried taking him to a kennel so we could go visit my mom and with in an hour they called for us to come get him because he was growling and bitting at the staff. what do we do? please help us make buster a part of our family not just a strange growth on my husbands hip! LOL  |
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kp_in_scott
Firehouse Big Dog
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| 02/17/2008 3:53 PM |
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| Ouch! Sounds like he's decided that he is the boss in the house and he's not listening to anyone. I'm definately not the one to be giving advise but just wanted to welcome you and encourage you to stay around. There are some here that can give you very good advice and if everyone in the house will work consistently with this dog, his behavior can be corrected. |
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Kim, owned by one sweet Rattie mix and one sweet Toy Rattie and a house full of parrots |
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ra3k.niemy
Newbie
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| 02/17/2008 3:59 PM |
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| yeah definatly thinks hes in charge especially when hes in the bedroom while my husband sleeps. I am hoping that someone will be able to give me advise because i know he has the potential to be a great companion. thanks for your reply and support. |
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Hayden
Ratterific
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| 02/17/2008 4:11 PM |
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| "The Loved Dog" by Tamar Geller. It's a short easy read and if gives the ground work for basic training and teaches you the tools to do other training. Its what I used/use for Electron. My mom told me about it after she saw her on Oprah training Oprah's dogs who's behavior was pretty bad I guess. |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 02/17/2008 4:23 PM |
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Couple of questions. Is he neutered? When did this behavior start, is it recent? If so have there been any changes in the household? (Moving, new people moving in, other pets added, etc.) Have you ruled out any medical issues that could explain the growling/biting? How old are your children? Do they play with him unsupervised? Could they ever have hurt him inadvertently?
Sounds like basically he sees you and the kids as lower than him in the pack order (since you didn't mention him biting your husband). There are ways to fix that like you and the children taking him for structured walks (how much exercise does he get? Ratties need a good amount of exercise), controlling the food (don't free feed, either you or the kids feed him at a set time). Make him earn everything he gets.
The others will chime in with better advice. And also, since you've acknowledged that you've allowed and/or created the problem, it might be good to spend the money on a good trainer. If you can't make it work via advice from here then it's only fair to him to invest in a trainer. JMO |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
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Nolasmom
Rattie
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| 02/17/2008 4:28 PM |
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| Please don't give up. I think Hayden's book suggestion is great and I might even get it. Let us know how he does, okay? |
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jingebri
Terrier Terror
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| 02/17/2008 4:33 PM |
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Please don't give up on your pup.
There is a lot of good advice here that will hopefully work for you, but sometimes it takes a lot of work.
For the barking, try a spray bottle. We didn't have one so we just used a cup of water, dipped our fingers and flicked it at Izzy when he was barking, and he would quit right away. Now when he is barking we just reach for the cup or say 'water' and he stops.
In order for him to realize that he is below you and your children I would suggest feeding at certain times, structured walks, and not allowing him on the furniture. Hope any of this helps, and good luck! |
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-Jen-
mama to Izzy |
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ra3k.niemy
Newbie
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| 02/17/2008 5:37 PM |
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| Well where to start so many questions to answer...no he is not neutered, he gets a fair amount of exersice not alot my husband works nights and i work days so he sleeps all day with my husband and all night with me, we do kinda free feed him (by the way how much/often is he supposed to eat? he eats one packet of food a day once that is gone if we put more in his bowl it sits untill the nxt day. just dosent seem like alot to me), this behavior has been going on pretty much since the begining and as time goes on it gets worse, my daughter is 5 and no she is not alone with the dog he wont go far from my husband if hes here or me if hes not home, unless she has food, and as far as i know she has not done anything to him. i thank yall for all of your advise and plan to start implementing all of it ASAP. |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 02/17/2008 6:20 PM |
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First I would neuter him ASAP an excess of hormones can increase agressive behavior. I assume you don't plan on breeding him so there's no reason for him to be "intact". Second, some ratties need a lot of exercise - as in long structured walks not just turning him loose in the backyard (not saying that's what you do, just that he may need significantly more exercise than you think he does.) Walking him and being the leader (he can only stop when YOU want to stop, go at the pace you want to walk - which should be a good clip - and go the way you want to go.) Also you can practice stopping him and having him sit, etc. This shouldn't be just a meandering walk allowing him to sniff and mark every blade of grass....does that make sense?
Free feeding is fine for some dogs and I understand he doesn't eat too much. The point is that he needs to realize you provide food when you decide to - it's a way of showing YOU are pack leader.
He apparently sees your daughter as another littermate and he needs to see all the human family members as alpha over him. Hopefully one of the members here with small children will check with some good advice for you on that.
A good book to read is The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell and also you can watch The Dog Whisperer on National Geographic. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
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SYLVIA
Ratterific
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| 02/17/2008 6:36 PM |
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YES,this site is great. I have a similar problem with Toby.I am taking him on walks. I also let him run when i can. We live in the woods with no traffic. Ratties take alot of excercise. Our problem is biting. He jumps and bites my husband's arm. of course he is becoming aggrevated with him. He doesn't bite me very often. only nips. i scold him with bad dog. of course he is under my feet at all times. He hates our neighbor. No one can come to the door without him raising cane. He hates people. He is on guard all the times. Any suggestions for this problem?I would like to get him a trainer but dont know how to choose a good one. He is neutered and he is 16 mo old. We have had rat terrier for 30 yrs. never any like him.
He loves our grandchildren. He has been aggressive to a point every since we bought him at 4 months old. He will come, sit, stay. most of the time. He is crate trained. He will not go outside to potty without one of us. mosty me.I know we have to resolve the problems soon.It will be hard to have overnight guest. We crate him when we have company or I hold him with the leash. He sits o my lap every time i sit down. he loves me i know and I love him i just dont want to have to give him up. i dont want him to bite anyone either. We thought of getting him a playmate. An suggestions. HELP PLEASE!!! |
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talatzkomom
Ratastic
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| 02/17/2008 6:38 PM |
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wow thats a really pretty little guy! But your doing him a great dis-service buy not fixing him! For a couple of reasons! 1st if he is aggresive,he is not a good breeding candigate anyway! you want to breed best -to-best. So if not needed him to breed... call your local SPCA and get it done! its cheeper in the long -run then than fixing problems that are created by a studdy dog! sorry that is harsh! but Been there-done-that! Leave the breeding to the pros!I would only have studs if Icould have a ranch and they would not have to be family dogs there mind is just to messed up with male hormones! Shamus was only 6 months just now and he was really starting to get aggresive as soon as he was "cut "it is already stopping! but it takes a while too if there older I was told a month for everyyear that they are, so for you it could be 2 months for the hormones to lower! if you CUT him now!  |
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Da'Boys! L'Caesar,Cash-Man,Polo,& ShamusO'Reiley Black N White Rules! |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 02/17/2008 6:42 PM |
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| Sylvia, he's obviously not taking you seriously when you say "bad dog". I think if you do a search in the Training Forum for "agression" or "Biting" you'll find lots of good advice. You'll also find tips on how to find a good trainer....actually Nora just answered that question for Kim (kp_n_scott) in the chat forum....I'll look for the link. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 02/17/2008 6:44 PM |
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Here it is, tips for finding a good trainer from Nora (RattyTatty)
http://rat-terrier.com/Home/tabid/37/forumid/2/postid/223721/view/topic/Default.aspx
"When you interview potential trainers. Ask questions! (remember... they work for YOU) !!
"How long have you been training dogs?"
"Where did you receive your training, and how long ago?"
"What methods do you use?"
"What training/behavior seminars have you attended recently?"
"May I observe a lesson with my dog before I commit?
(If dealing with a serious behavior problem, such as aggression) "What type of training program would you propose to help me with my dog's behavior?"
Make sure you understand and are comfortable with the answers you receive! Write down your questions and answers you were given. Get the trainers name and telephone number, and don't hesitate to ask for references.
Watch the trainer evaluate your dog which should be the VERY FIRST Thing he/she does. Be comfortable with it.... make sure your dog is comfortable with it. " |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
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tauney4
Pack Leader
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| 02/17/2008 7:00 PM |
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| i would put my foot donw and let him know you are the boss and he is not. i dont have much to say but can you call a vet or maybe petco or petsmart if ou have one near you and ask them for advice my mom did and they helped her alot, her chi is trying to be the alpha and she got results just over the phone. |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 02/17/2008 7:18 PM |
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You've gotten some good advice. You definitely need to work on asserting yourself (and the other humans in the house) as Alpha. I highly suspect he would benefit from structured walks twice a day, preferably about 1/2 an hour each. Maybe you could do one and hubby the other. He will be more calm and receptive to training if he is not bored and unexercised - walks will go along way to putting him in the right state of mind.
I would not free feed. Providing food in one of the top ways of a dog understanding who's the boss. Use the guidelines on his dog food container to determine a rough estimate of how much he should be fed and feed him that amount either once a day, or if you prefer, divide it in half and feed twice a day. Put the food down and give him about 20 minutes to decide to eat. If he doesn't eat or doesn't eat it all, take it up and do not feed again until the next scheduled time for him to eat.
Also, I would make the bed immediately and indefinitely off limits. Sleeping with people and thinking he has control over who enters this space gives him way too much control. Either crate him or get him his own bed in your room, be consistent in keeping him from your bed. Later once he has shown to be calmer and accepting all the people in the house as Alpha and his issues have been brought under control, you can revisit this, but if he show signs of regressing, you'll have to go back to keeping him out of the bed.
Please read over the training forum. There is a lot of helpful advice there already on many of his issues. I wish you luck and hope that you dedicate yourself to working with your dog and helping him be the dog he wants to be 
Don't forget to keep us posted on the things you are doing and how it is coming along. We'd love to see some more pics of him, as well. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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ra3k.niemy
Newbie
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| 02/17/2008 8:04 PM |
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I thank you all sooooo very much for helping me and i will start right away and make a doc appt to get him fixed. i kept saying we were gonna do it but just kept putting it off. we certianly were not going to breed him!!! i know better than that. I do have a rare and very cute pic of buster and my daughter, but i can not for the life of me figure out how to get it on here. one more question he has a sensitive stomach and right now only eats the walmart brand of the moist and meaty food and i know that is not what he needs to be eating but every time we change he starts throwing up. any suggestions? i will post an update in a week or so to lett everyone know how its going. fingers crossed and prayers being sent!!!!! he is sleeping right next to me in the recliner and im feeling guilty for hating on him for so long knowing full well it was my/our fault. like i said thanks and i will do the work i promise!!!! |
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rattytatty
Training Moderator
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| 02/17/2008 8:31 PM |
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Don't beat yourself up. 95% of all dog behavior issues are the human's fault! LOL A dog can only know what he is taught and if the dog is not taught he will simply run amuck.. same as with a child. You've gotten some good advice here, and I applaud you for coming here to ask for some.
I agree that your first priority should be to have him neutered. Secondly... I would crate train him. I would work on each issue one at a time and don't bombard the dog or confuse him by attempting to correct every issue at one time. A dog can't comprehend at that level as humans can.
When you go into the bedroom to wake your husband up, shut the door behind you. Either have your dog in a crate or at least leave him outside the door.
Please remember that much can be accomplished through preventing an opportunity for unacceptable behavior to occur, rather than allowing the unacceptable behavior to occur and then trying to correct it. You both will be happier if the opportunity simply doesn't arise.
When people walk in a room... have him crated. Again... not allowing the opportunity for him to nip at anyone. He needs to learn his place and at least for the time being, his place needs to be in his crate. You can work up to having him on a leash and allowing people to come up to him while you supervisor. If he does well... treat him with something yummy and praise him to high heaven! |
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~Nora~
Mom to Hoss, Lil'Bit, Buster & Bailey, CGC, OA, OAJ |
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ra3k.niemy
Newbie
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| 02/17/2008 8:46 PM |
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he is real good about going into his crate he even hangs out in there sometimes if my husband is not home. he dose not like to be closed in it for long periods of time but that dosent really happen too often. the bitting and nipping is really directed at me only when i go into the room to wake him up for work and that gets pretty nasty at times and towards children when they run in the house. he is real good about giving kids a good long warning that they need to get away from him if they are in his personal space. he is very jealous if any one gives my husband affection he will jump up from his spot and start prancing around and standing on his back legs trying to get my husbands attention. hes not a bad dog just untrained. i am going to start the pack order suggestions that i have recived on this site, i have confidence that it will work. |
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ra3k.niemy
Newbie
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| 02/17/2008 8:50 PM |
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oh yeah....when it comes to people coming in the house all he dose is bark (alot) but once they pay attention to him and pet him he is fine and in there face wanting to love them. its just me and running kids that triggers his bitting. |
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terripoorat
Newbie
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| 02/24/2008 1:43 AM |
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Hi,
I disagree about neutering helping lessen aggression. I have not seen any difference in the dogs except decrease in muscle mass, but I have never neutered before 1.5 years of age.
There is a new study that states it makes aggression worse in most ways, I'm not sure I buy that either.
Have some of you actually seen a differrence a few months after neutering an adult dog?
Running stimulates prey drive and the urge to bite, it does tone down with age.
A dog I had that was a big time childrens ankle biter became a pretty good dog by age 5.
You could try reverse psychology for the grumpy growling and biting, tell him he's such a good boy really cheerful, works great for some dogs.
Mine can't eat rice, corn, lawn grass, barley or wheat grass, or anything with yeast or he becomes very sick.
Terri
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talatzkomom
Ratastic
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| 02/24/2008 3:58 PM |
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hummmm.... interesting on he PLANT FOOD THING!sorry I bet that is a real PAIN! As for aggression!I have done both (caesar was 18 mons!) and I have seen! mine and others it helpd, Shamus, is already a better brother now that he is fixed he's 6 month and his younger bro of 8 months already get along better! And it happened pretty quick too! To me it seems to make girls more agressive though... not sure why?Just my experience. |
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Da'Boys! L'Caesar,Cash-Man,Polo,& ShamusO'Reiley Black N White Rules! |
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bronek
Rattie
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| 02/26/2008 10:23 PM |
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Oh no! Spaying makes the females more aggressive?! That's bad news for our little Zula who is already aggressive enough at 3 months. Can others weigh in on this. Did your female become more aggressive?
--Mary |
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talatzkomom
Ratastic
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| 02/26/2008 11:45 PM |
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well not really asgressive to humans /.sibling pups..just more territoral?does that make sence? mISTY WAS TUFFER! TO COYOTES! HORSES!SNAKES! CHICKENS! BUT NOT HUMANS... |
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Da'Boys! L'Caesar,Cash-Man,Polo,& ShamusO'Reiley Black N White Rules! |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 02/27/2008 4:54 AM |
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On the issue of agression becoming worse after spay/neuter - not true. I've always had my dogs spayed (I've had mostly girls until Skipper) and while none of them was agressive BEFORE spaying and they certainly didn't become that way after spay. And Skipper has been a sweetheart since his neutering.
An unaltered dog (male or female) has a lot more hormones (duh...) that can cause more agression. Males have more testesarone = more agression....not saying that all unaltered males are agressive, that would be ridiculous, but those that are unaltered and not handled correctly (hopefully by a breeder!) and given lots of exercise, strong leadership, jobs to do - can become quite frustrated.
Females are more likely to fight with each other when unaltered. We have a member on here who is a breeder who has had problems with her unspayed females fighting. And I've heard females are more prone to fight to the death!
Now, having said all that, hormones are not the only thing involved here. Spaying or neutering won't fix training problems - you still have to train and work with them. And if you have a dog with a strong personality they're still going to have that. Altering a dog only helps but curbing the hormone surge - but that is a big help! JMO |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
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talatzkomom
Ratastic
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