Very Strange Behavior! Help? I am with Yogi most of the day and I do a lot of the monitoring and playing with him while my boyfriend works. Consequently, he just doesn't spend as much time with him. When I'm laying in bed with Yogi and my boyfriend comes homes home and greets me with a hug or kiss, Yogi tries to bite him!It never fails! Even if we have been home together all day and we are laying down together WITH Yogi and we try to cuddle, he gets so "protective" over me, growls, and snaps. :eek: My boyfriend shows him plenty of love and attention when he can so I just don't understand it. For one, what reasons could he have for doing this? Secondly, how do we correct the behavior? |
Okay, I can't tell you specifically what to do, but I do have a suggestion... Watch The Dog Whisperer! He has dealt with this exact problem. I'm still learning, so I wouldn't try to give advice yet. ;) But he's amazing!! |
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My suggestion is to ban him from the bed. He is trying to exert dominance over your BF (and winning at it!). Before the situation escalates, you must teach him that you and BF are higher in the pack than he. It should not take long for him to realize he's bottom of the barrel and this should correct itself if you are consistent. I would do the same on furniture. BF should sit on bed, dog on floor, etc. Let Yogi hang out nearby, but keep him on the floor. Yogi will be happier for knowing his place in the pack and right now, he is not sure OR he thinks he is top dog! I'm not a dog trainer but this technique has worked for us and our male dog has definitely tested us over the years. He always loses :) Good luck! |
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Dominance, huh? I guessed it was something like that but I think you really nailed it with the bed thing. Come to think of it, he is mighty comfortable on that bed and exhibits other weird behavior around it. Thanks! I feel so relieved to know where to start. |
Jackie: Here are some other small things you can do that can signal to the dog that he is not the boss. I've done most of these over the years and found them in various dog behavior books or training classes. BF should always cross thresholds before he does (doorways, etc). Make him sit by the door before he goes out and you and/or BF go first. Do this consistently. Do not engage in tug-of-war toys with him. Do not play with him when he asks -- you control the game and you decide when it occurs and when it ends. Make him sit and stay before feeding. Release him from the sit when he obeys and give him his food. you and BF should eat first. And, no jumping on you. He comes to you when called, not when he decides to jump on you demanding affection. And to reiterate...keep him off the bed... in the wild, dogs with higher places in the pack sleep higher. Believe me, I know it is hard but this really worked for us and the dog is happier for it!! |
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