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yorkietalkjilly · 06-21-2012, 08:05 PM

I would suggest reading a training book about nervous/aggressive dogs by a trainer like Victoria Stillwell if you really want to learn from the ground up how to deal with him successfully. I think she does a pretty good training behavioral problems and you want to get some theory & dog knowledge of how they think & perceive people who scare or worry them and then learn step by step what to do to overcome that. Or just read a few pages of some behavioral trainers on Amazon or one of those sites & pick one that sounds good to you - one that talks about using only positive reinforcement training techniques & no discipline or collar-yanking. On a nervous dog, that could increase his problems. Buy that book & read it start to finish.

From dealing with dogs like this myself, I know that one way to start is you start to do everything for him from feeding, watering, taking him outside for walks, pottying & for now, only you play with him. I wouldn't bathe him for a while - let your girlfriend do that, as that is an extremely anxious time for some dogs & you don't need any setbacks right now. But I would strongly suggest that with a dog with this fear/aggression combination, that you read a couple of good books from noted trainers about it before doing any actual retraining of him to respond differently to you. You can pretty much change his whole attitude about you if you learn how to do it right & stick with it over time.

Tell your girlfriend that when you walk away from the couch & he barks or growls, to stand up & leave him also & keep doing that until he gets the message that his outbursts only get him ignored & left behind. When you walk away & he behaves, stays quiet, he gets a yummy boiled chicken treat. Set aside 4 or 5 minutes a day for doing this exercise over & over during each session, morning & night or twice a night, more on weekends until he learns. Dogs hate being ignored & he will begin to learn that misbehavior will get him left alone on that couch.

Best of luck in learning how & changing your relationship with this little guy. Someone who cares enough to come on YT & ask for help is likely going to do very well in learning what to do & doing it.

06-21-2012, 08:05 PM	#6
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	I would suggest reading a training book about nervous/aggressive dogs by a trainer like Victoria Stillwell if you really want to learn from the ground up how to deal with him successfully. I think she does a pretty good training behavioral problems and you want to get some theory & dog knowledge of how they think & perceive people who scare or worry them and then learn step by step what to do to overcome that. Or just read a few pages of some behavioral trainers on Amazon or one of those sites & pick one that sounds good to you - one that talks about using only positive reinforcement training techniques & no discipline or collar-yanking. On a nervous dog, that could increase his problems. Buy that book & read it start to finish. From dealing with dogs like this myself, I know that one way to start is you start to do everything for him from feeding, watering, taking him outside for walks, pottying & for now, only you play with him. I wouldn't bathe him for a while - let your girlfriend do that, as that is an extremely anxious time for some dogs & you don't need any setbacks right now. But I would strongly suggest that with a dog with this fear/aggression combination, that you read a couple of good books from noted trainers about it before doing any actual retraining of him to respond differently to you. You can pretty much change his whole attitude about you if you learn how to do it right & stick with it over time. Tell your girlfriend that when you walk away from the couch & he barks or growls, to stand up & leave him also & keep doing that until he gets the message that his outbursts only get him ignored & left behind. When you walk away & he behaves, stays quiet, he gets a yummy boiled chicken treat. Set aside 4 or 5 minutes a day for doing this exercise over & over during each session, morning & night or twice a night, more on weekends until he learns. Dogs hate being ignored & he will begin to learn that misbehavior will get him left alone on that couch. Best of luck in learning how & changing your relationship with this little guy. Someone who cares enough to come on YT & ask for help is likely going to do very well in learning what to do & doing it. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis Last edited by yorkietalkjilly; 06-21-2012 at 08:07 PM.