What would you have done? Suggestions please...
 

I just read another thread regarding leaving a dog in the house or in a crate because he barks so much that you cannot have a conversation. My two yorkies usually get excited when someone comes over, and it takes a few minutes to calm them down. Then they are fine. But today was different...
We had a guest over for a 'working' lunch. We are building a house and needed to go over some plans. My two yorkies took an immediate dislike to this person as soon as she came in. They both barked non-stop, Snickers actually bit her leg (she had jeans on, thank God), they were both growling aggressively, and it was general mayhem the minute she entered. We tried all our usual methods to calm them down. The 'pennies in the can' has been working lately. It did nothing today. Nothing seemed to work. Finally we put them both in the crate in the other room, and they both barked, growled, cried, on and on, non-stop. Finally, my husband and I had to sit with a dog each in our lap, while we tried to work. Each time the lady moved, they both growled aggressively. She was very uncomfortable, and I'm sure she was thinking that we didn't have a clue about controlling our dogs. (which isn't true). They never usually react this way, but today they were uncontrollable. We obviously cannot allow this to happen again, and we plan on working on this problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I know this would not be a practical solution since you were doing business. But the best thing to do is to address the barking issue, and not give up until it stops. I would have used a little dog Whisperer on them, and stared them down until they stopped.

We have friends that have a dog that is clearly in charge of the house and she will sit and bark nonstop until she gets what she wants. Which is usually attention. It is not a pleasant vist. If she were mine I would stop visiting and back her into a corner and stare her down.

I'm waiting patiently for this to get reply's - GOOD post :thumbup: :thumbup: (that sounds like a pain especially for something as important as building a house)

when Chanel turned 2 she became the boss of the house (in her mind of course):p & very protective of me. I HAVE to hold her when someone comes in - but she barks at them also. I've tried all I know to stop this ....and most of me can't blame her for this - since my husband became sick I don't have people over like we used too....:( :( but a part of me knows this is wrong and I shouldn't have to take special measures for a small dog who is NOT The boss of the house - I should be able to train her NOT to do this but so far - nothing worked for me either.

May I add - We had workers in the house not too long ago - and when I had to leave to get something for them - she was a complete angel. I got back - and she was back in Boss Mode.:thumbdown

If this is the first time they have acted like that, then I would say they didn't like that lady at all...Dogs are good judges of character, not talking mean about your friend but maybe she doesn't like animals and your dogs knew it....:) If they don't do anymore or with just her there is definitely something they don't like about her...

Thanks Villette:). I'm still in shock over the way they behaved today - never saw this side of them and it really bothers me. Two little guys with a "Napoleon" complex..lol But seriously, I'm sure others have had this problem and am very interested in any solutions.

Well, actually she does like animals. She owns a dog and cat. We thought it was the scent of her animals that possibly set them off. But we've had other people over who own pets, and they never acted this way. Can't figure it out...

Ideas anyone?

I would really doubt that it was because your dogs didn't like the lady.

The first thing I would think about this situation would be that one of your two dogs was the instigator -- and the other followed along. I can't imagine both of them (at the very same time) behaving differently than they ever have in the past.

But - at any rate ---

I can't imagine my dogs growling, being aggressive, or ever biting someone. I would have been so angry and so embarrassed.... it's not a situation that I would have let continue.....or even tried to work through......

I would have postponed the meeting and then have met someplace else
or would have apologized and left the dogs at home and the three of us would have gone somewhere else to go over the plans - a restaurant or office or anyplace else.

And - that poor lady - I know you don't want to - but you have to admit that you "didn't know how to control the dogs during her visit....." remember she only got to see you with your dogs when she was there. She didn't get to see how they "usually behave."

Hope you get it figured out - I really sympathize with you......

I still think that it was one of your dogs that was the real little culprit....

Carol Jean

Sounds so much like Princess... I wrote many posts back about Princess being aggressive and all this stuff... trust me.. its not JUST this lady... Princess used to bark all the time and stuff but then suddenly one day she did the same thing and bit my friend when she came over!!!! After that..it got worse and worse.. so I am working on it as best as I can. They are in the first stages of aggressive behavior.. and you should get it to stop ASAP before it gets worse. When they start barking... make them sit or lay down and look them in the eye and tell them to 'STOP" and "NO BARKING" in a loud low voice... keep doing it until they calm down and praise them when they stop barking...

hopefully that works!! and good luck!

I would consult a trainer. Make sure it's a positive trainer!

My dogs do that i call it their frenzy. They are okay once someone comes in the house but when they are at the door then they are like that. Chachi has bit on legs too. They are in a training class now so I hope to see an improvement

Oh hun, im so sorry this happened to you, I know how embaressing it can be. We had some men over at the beginning of summer to install central air and my two would go nuts every time they were here. Louie even "nipped" at the guys leg. I thought maybe it was their work boots they didnt like but, I never really did figure it out. The only suggestion that I can give you is to maybe try the "smacking the rolled up newspaper thing" I had read that on here a little while ago and it is working like a charm so far. They used to bark everytime someone came in and again as they were leaving. I took the rolled up paper and smacked it down on a table or something and they immediately stopped. Now I just show it to them and they dont even bark. Before this I tried everything else .....the coins in the can, squirting them with water and nothing worked. Give it a try next time they act up, it cant hurt. Hope this helps. Good luck.

I am sorry you had such a bad experience. I do believe that dogs have a sixth sense about people. There are just some they don't like and it is very obvious why and yet with others we don't have a clue and we may never figure out why.

Although the pups were out of control in their crates, I would have left them there and shut the door until I was done. I have an older Eskimo Spitz who barks ferociously at anyone she doesn't know who comes in the house and she just doesn't stop. She gets put in the bedroom now when people come over and she might bark once of twice but then settles down.

After reading another thread about Rescue Remedy - I'm wondering if perhaps a little of this might help in this situation as well?? Good luck.

1 out of the 2
 

My female Abigail, definetely is the Instigator, she is more Protective and on Gaurd Dog mode all the time, especially since she had her Puppies, while she was pregnant she chased a Jogger that was across the street as I was washing/drying off my car. Since then I keep a closer eye on her. But I try to Totally Dominate them where ever we are.......even when I do have company they get excited and they calm down after the first 5 min. But after that if 1 or both still have a problem I completely remove them and apologize to the
guest or guest's? But it really depends on who it is? Reaction time is vital.
It is more painful for them to hear and not be able to see what's going on.
It' hard for them to be away from each other but they can't stand being away from me more, especially if only one is put in the Bedroom and the other is still visiting with me, usually the one with the problem straightens up and stops the Behaviour. To begin with I stop it before it gets to that point, but if it escalates that's what I do, but it is very clear why they are being punished/seperated. Luckily I have had to only do that one time. They pretty much allow/tolerate alot of different people, usually the Stare downs & Reprimands are enough? I would have left the House and went to a Restaurant or a quiet Coffee Shop myself to begin with? But then again I would not go out of my way for anyone, my Dogs go every where with me?
It's hard to give advice b/c we usually Re-act to their Behaviour:confused:

i think i would have left them in the crate until she left or let them out if you have a enclosed yard maybe she has pets and they smelled them on her? who knows why they didn't like her .

I really believe that you need to think of what you would do it it were a small child, fust standing there screaming. You would not have allowed that, and hopefulfly you wouldn't pick them up and hold them. That will only reinforce the behavior.

It's just very important in those circumstances that you let them know immediately that this behavior will not be tolerated.

I know a lot of people don't agree with the dog whisperer, but the one thing he stresses is that your dogs must see you as the pack leader, and then you should have no problem getting them to behave.

Mine will settle down with just shhhhhhhhhhtttttt and pointing a finger, and I did not have to be cruel and beat them (like some people think) to get them to do that. It's pretty much all in your body language.

We started Topher in obedience classes this week. He was beginning to show clues that he thought he was the leader of the pack and we know we have to nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand.

One of THE key important things they taught us is that if we want to be seen as the pack leader by the dog, we have to control the food. We were told to never ever leave the food out at all times but to put the food down for twenty minute increments a few times a day. After a while, the dog will learn to eat when the food is out. It's crucial that you control when he eats.

Also we learned that unless we were certain of the response we were going to get from a command we give the dog...don't give the command. ie: when you call the dog over and over and he doesn't come but ignores you.
Until that dog is trained to come when called, don't give the command. It only reinforces his power as alpha dog.

In class we are being taught how to make Topher heel, come when called, sit, stay, extended stay and a few other things.

We just started, but so far it's going well. We are working with him every day on his training as we want this to be successful. It's going to be for his benefit as well as ours as he's going to be a happier dog in the long run when he understands what we expect from him. He's enjoying the training as it's total one on one time with mom and dad and he seems to be catching on. It's going to be alot of work as he's a stubborn terrier, but we're seeing results already, so it is working.

Thank you all for your replies. In retrospect, we should have separated them and put an immediate stop to the bad behavior. Been more forceful with the discipline. I think we were both so shocked and we weren't prepared for it. Next time we'll be ready. I also agree with SnoWa that one of them was the instigator. That would be Snickers, since Baxter basically goes along with whatever Snickers does. We're keeping a very close eye on Snickers, and plan on dealing with any signs of aggression immediately. Also, the things that Tophersmom said make a lot of sense, particularly regarding the food. This has been quite an eye-opener!
Thanks again everyone for all your help and concern. All of your input has given us a lot to think about. You guys are the best!:)

One more point. As JeannieK said, they need to know who the pack leader is. They have always respected my husband as pack leader. Always respond to his commands immediately. Yesterday, they were both in a frenzy, as Cesar calls it "The Red Zone". They completely ignored him, almost like he wasn't there. This puzzles me.

I know exactly how you feel. Buddy is very friendly with everyone!
One day we were walking and a lady, who I do not know, said hello and he became nuts. I mean nuts. I never saw him like that. Yes, he did try to grab at her. I was frantic. I left embarassed and repremaned him. I had no idea what happened. A couple of days later the lady was walking again and I passed her on the oppisite side of the street and again he started. I asked several friends what could have caused such a commotion and someone suggested that her
smell could have triggered it! That could be a possibility. I mentioned this to my vet at an appointment and he said to always go by your dogs senses. If the animal is usually very good and then becomes aggressive towards someone there is a reason. One we don't understand but the dog does.:aimeeyork

I'm glad to hear mine isn't the only one that does this. She is so sweet to us and a terrior sometimes but other times will approach people and give them kisses. When we walk her in a cul-de-sac in front of our house for her to do her business, she will bark and sneer at anyone she sees, I attribute this to her protectiveness but I wish it would stop already. I've tried the no's, uh-uhs, holding her snout gently. Nothing works. I sympathize with you, we had a landscape designer over one day and she barked the entire hour but when we have friends over, she will come and play with them. Strange. I wish someone here has an answer!

Very good point. It could have been her scent. She owns a dog and a cat. A few months ago we were at her house and came home smelling of her pets. Maybe they remembered that scent and reacted. It's a possiblility.

Maybe they are trying to tell you something. Like the lady is no good. dog have a good scents on these things. When I use to live in austin and my best friends boy friend, would come over with her, and my Bunny would go CRAZY barking and growling. Which was odd bc every other person she meets, she is all over them wanting some lovin from them.. Well to come to find out, he was very mean to animals and my best friend had to put him in jail because he nocked the living crap out of her.

so maybe there trying to tell you something about this lady.

Don't you just wish you could get inside those little heads to know what they're thinking?? :)

Our last dog, a terrier mix, used to behave pretty much the same way when someone unknown to her came in the house. We knew that she was difficult, but didn't understand why. Now that we're learning so much about this 'pack leader' it all makes so much sense to me. Our instructors in class are excellent and learning about controlling the food...well, I've heard it before (on tv, etc.,) but never really did anything about it.

With our last dog and this dog...well, we just left the food out for them so that they could eat when they were hungry. We didn't realize that this was sending a message to them and that it was a message that would affect our dog/human relationship.

Honestly....we've been controlling the food since Monday night and let me tell you...the difference I see in Topher is phenomenal.

Even though Topher is learning he's not boss, he still needs to learn to come on command, stay, etc. THAT is what is going to take the time and committment...and we all know that these little terriers don't make it easy! :)

Good luck to you...it's a good post and I think it's a problem that alot of us have experienced.

Maybe this woman had a dog (or cat) and your dogs could smell them on her.

*** I really hope that we don't go so far as to believe that if our dogs growl or bark at a person -- that that person is not a nice person. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Some dogs bark at all strangers - some at men - some at women - some at children - some on Wednesdays - some on Fridays - etc. etc. etc.

My dogs bark at the yardworkers early in the spring - the first time they come - and then don't bark the rest of the summer.

My dogs will bark at any strange dog that is running around the neighborhood - but the minute they meet any dog - they become fast friends and will run right up to them and want to play.

*** Perhaps even in this case, if that same lady came over several times, the dogs would soon pay no attention to her. It may have been something simple that set one of these dogs off - perhaps she was carrying something that it felt threatened by. Did she have a briefcase or something like that?

Anyway - dogs bark at nice people too........


Carol Jean

Yes, she was carrying a large handbag and was holding papers and blueprints, etc. It's a possibility that they felt threatened by something she had with her. She will be here again, so it's gonna be another chance to test the dog's behavior. And I agree with SnoWa, that just because our dogs bark or growl at someone, that is not a reflection of that person's character.

"Honestly....we've been controlling the food since Monday night and let me tell you...the difference I see in Topher is phenomenal. "

We're gonna try this. It sounds like a very good idea.:)
Thanks!