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Originally Posted by barneysmommmy  I totally understand the barking issue. Today has been a rather rough one. Anna actually bit me 3 times. This is new. One of these is when we trying to train. She is a foodie and she got angry when we were working on sitting and let me have it. I finally gave her one of the pills prescribed by our vet. It calmed her down a lot. I couldn't even get her to run around in the yard. She just did circles barking angrily. We had no idea why today was different. Then, my MIL came by and said while we were out running, she stuck her head in. It must have sent Anna off the deep end. I can relate to your statement about loving Teddy. In the few short months that we've had Anna, she has wrapped us around her tiny paws. As a matter of fact, each night when we go to bed, I kiss each of her little paws...and Barney's. We will do anything to help her adjust even if that means being a teething ring for a while. |
Muzzle her in a soft muzzle to work up to putting on her by placing chicken bits in the bottom of it and allow her to eat out of it, live around it on the floor, beside her bed, food/water dishes and play with it with her so that she comes to accept it. Eventually put it on her head and take it right off and then treat. Keep repeating that and let her work up to having it on for a minute or two and then off again, slowly working up to more time on her. Start working with her including lots of walks, exercise, very short 5 minute training episodes, playing the challenging games and allow her to learn trust when people are interacting with her. Dogs routinely bite from fear and as a tool to keep us at arms-length at times when they are feeling unsure and overcoming that kind of fear and anxiety won't happen suddenly. It sounds as if she's been quite mistreated and built up a hard barrier trying to keep herself safe - bite first when anyone gets too close and ask questions later. Typical behavior in a badly neglected, abused, hurt dog who's never known anything about how people can really be - loving, charitable and interesting. It will take her time to learn that you are trustworthy so protect yourself and read all that you can about how to deal with a biting dog on the Internet.
I would also Google the "Nothing In Life Is Free" programs, read several and use the one you like best for your dog and your family. She needs that program together with the exercise, challenge games and regular, routine obedience training and over time, she should begin to trust and love and learn how to control her impulses, including the one to bite.