Ready to lose it!

jaspersfam416 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject: Ready to lose it!

I am getting very concerned about Jaspers behavior! We have always allowed Jasper on the couch/bed, but have recently decided that he needs to stay on the floor. He runs much to fast strait at the couch and just plows you over and steps right on you, and when we have company he does it to them! We have been telling him off when he goes to get on the couch and he will turn to us and snap at us! He has never made contact, but I am very concerned that he might. I have told him no, made him lay down, and even grabbed him by the scruff of his neck! He is 7 months old now and I really need to get this under control now. We have been looking into E collars but really dont want to go there if we dont have to.

NenaGunther · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject:

Sounds like he is taking over...

When we first adopted Gunther we allowed him to sleep on our bed and couch...as he got more comfortable here, he took over. Then he bit two people! We hired behavior specialists because a lot of our family and friends said to put him down, but we were committed to helping him.

The behaviorists came in and tested him in all sorts of ways...they said "he's not aggressive, he's dominant!"

We've changed so much...the way we walk, feed, etc...its been almost 6 weeks and he is much more submissive. We have a long way too go, but if I were you I would nip it in the bud asap.

kamfam · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:51 am Post subject:

OK, well this isn't exactly what you're experiencing, but maybe it will help...

The only person in our house that Kam had issues with was my 4yo son Nate. Kam would play too rough, growl or snap (but has NEVER bitten) and has even tried humping him once or twice. Well, we tried squirting him with the water bottles, scruffing him, yelping, etc, but keep in mind that these were things that MOM & DAD were doing, not Nate. That didn't seem to work. Since I am a firm believer in NILIF, I started having Nate participate in that. He prepares some of his meals and makes him sit/stay/give paw/down prior to releasing him. HUGE improvement in Kam's behavior toward Nate. We also started telling him "off" when he gets on the furniture and Nate helps with this too.

After Kam ate my house while I was gone for about an hour, I decided that he was WAY too spoiled and some adjustments needed to be made. There is a noticable improvement in Kam-o!!!

nicwithcandy · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Ready to lose it!

iris · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject:

I agree with the fact that weim`s are very stubborn dogs. He is extremely smart but has a serious attitude problem……Rocky is only 6 months old and he is becoming increasingly more dominant towards other dogs. He will pick up on shyness and insecurity of other dogs immediately and he will bully them, he gets this look on his face and he won’t snap out of it. We have not allowed him to come and sleep in the couch and he sleeps in his crate other then on Saturday and Sunday morning when we invite him in bed. I can see it getting out of control though if we did not stand our ground. You might want to try letting him sleep in his crate at night next to your bed until he starts understanding his place again. I know its hard but keep putting him down every time he gets on the couch maybe even getting his leach, making him lay down on the floor next to you sitting on the couch and step on it. What I mean is do a down settle by stepping on his leach as close to his collar as possible. Every time he tries to get up ignore it but praise him if he is submissive and calm on the floor next to you. it might work but it will definitely take time.

nicwithcandy · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

CathyT · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Ready to lose it!

sterlingsmom · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Ready to lose it!

Ellinorianne · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject:

GailB · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

I recommend NILIF...start him on it and things will change.I swear Very Happy

Do not allow him on the couch or bed,only at your request.

hoochmamas · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: Ready to lose it!

I also read that if you want to show you are dominant, straddle the dog while he is standing and wrap your arms around his middle, behind his elbows and hold him until he settles. I have also been doing this with Jake and his behavior is getting better.[/quote]

straddle from the front? like mid lunge? and hug him snug? i think Hooch would just nip whatever body part was available..

weimdawgs · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

When we got Jake he was totally dominant and had never, ever been put in his place. It was apparant when his previous owners dropped him off that they were scared to death of him. That's why they gave him up. He was 9 years old and set in his ways...or so he thought. It didn't help that he is HUGE and can be very scary.

John and I decided to keep him because of the dominance issues..but we were able to turn him around. It took a good six months before he figured it out. And I'm sure Silkie had a lot to do with it. Jake's not even the dominant dog here...Silkie is. And Scout is the dominant male. Jake is only one dog away from being low man on the totem pole. But I think he is much happier now.

If a 9 year old dog can change, any dog can.

My handsome man...