[rsmit02]

Hi there,

My boy was like that and his problem turned out to be dominance. The trainer I got advice from was a friend of a friend who worked for the police with dogs who had been reported as aggressive to the police. Here owners with aggressive dogs reported to the police get to work with the police trainer to see if the dog can be trianed before putting the dog down is considered.

He told me that I had to remember dogs are pack animals and we are our dogs pack. The bitting we stopped in days. Everytime Jake used his mouth or teeth on our skin we had to scream or yelp or yell out real loud, in a litter if a puppy bites the other pup or mum they will squeal and this signals the dog to stop. Jake stopped using his teeth immediately. The other thing I was doing wrong was playing tug of war with jake with his toys which just teaches a dominant/aggressive dog to use thier teeth we stopped that to.

The other stuff we did to stop the dominance/aggressiveness was brilliant and all based on what happens in a dogs real pack. Trainer said we had to teach Jake his place he was so aggressive because he was trying to be the pack leader but also was confused as to his place in the pack which made him anxious and more aggressive. So I had to be the boss, when I played with jake I had to "win" most the games, I had to stop the play now and then when I wanted so he learnt it was on my terms. He wasnt allowed on the couch or bed unless he sat and I gave him permission to. When I fed him I had to take his food off him when he was in the middle of eating and not give it back for 10/20 mins. In the pack the dominant dog can take any food it wants and the pack has to like it. I also had to brush jake when I wanted once a day, pin him down and just brush, in a pack the dominant dog lets himself be licked and groomed by other dogs when he wants but if he grooms a dog in the pack they have to submitt and be licked/groomed. All these behaviours taught Jake he was in a pack and I was the leader and he WAS NOT. Jake was happier and more relaxed for it. He still needs reminding now and then I still take his food away when I want and win games of chase or ball. The other thing I was doing was letting him jump on my knee when he liked even if I was busy and it was inconvenient and give me a lick or kiss again a dominant dog controls this so I had to teach him he can jump up but if it is inconvenient to me I say no and push him off, he learnt to jump beside me and put a paw on my knee so I knew he wanted up before he got on my knee.

I really think some good dominance work from his main carer will reap big rewards it feels cruel at the time but once I saw jake was actually happier for knowing his place I knew it was right. He is the same out on the lead he is relaxed and well behaved I am in control but off the lead runs at people barking and anxious he is trying to be boss but feels out of control because all these people are around and he cant round them up.

Good luck,

Ruthx