Dog experts - is Cricket "protecting" me?

[dss62467]

You all know about my crazy dogs. Buster, the baby, has this habit of attacking my feet and pant legs when I'm wearing my slippers. I'm working on getting him to stop, so I give him a loud "NO!" when he does it. This, of course, gets Cricket's attention and she sees him attacking my feet - then comes tearing across the room and attacks him. It's a highly stressful situation because I've got one dog biting my feet, I'm trying to get him to stop, and another dog yelling and nipping. At first, I thought she (Cricket) was just being bossy, like she always is, but then I thought maybe she thinks she's helping me out.

What do you think? Should I try to correct both of them, or just Buster? It was funny the first coupld times he attacked the slippers, but it's kind of dangerous because he does it while I'm walking.

 

[lrayburn]

Correct Cricket - it's your job to be in charge not hers. Allowing her to correct the puppy will only worsen her behavior.

Puppies all go through a pant legs/nipping stage (some breeds are worse than others). Stop moving and correct him with a little ah-ah-ah! noise. When he startles at the noise and looks up at you, tell him he's a good boy and take a step. If he goes back at your feet, stop moving immediately and correct (ah-ah-ah) again. You may not make any progress for a couple of minutes but he learns that when he bites your feet, all of the fun stops. When he stops biting and looks at you, he's a good boy. You can give him a treat or redirect him to one of his toys as a reward.

Changing your response to Buster to a more low-key constructive one (No only works if you sound upset) may also help reduce Cricket's reactivity to the situation.

Lisa

ETA: She's not "protecting" you. She is either regarding you as a resource and guarding you (as in, my mommy who gives treats and pets and I don't want to share her with you) or simply reacting to a stimulating event (puppy growls, foot stomping and raised voices).

 

[LauraMax]

I'm not an expert, but it sounds like Cricket is trying to establish her territory (you!). Max does this sometimes when Penny is snuggling w/me--not attacking but the dreaded humping.

I think (& perhaps experts can clarify) that what you have to do is establish your position as alpha w/ALL the animals, not just Cricket, although Cricket might have to hear the message more loudly than the others. But you'll probably have to discourage Buster from attacking your feet as well. My dog trainer told me that, whether I liked the behavior or not, if it caused fights I should stop it.

Maybe fill a can w/coins & shake it when the attacks start. And stomp your feet (doesn't work very well if you're not wearing shoes). Also don't bend over to them--stand erect. Evidently bending over is a sign of submissiveness.

 

[andtckrtoo]

Lisa is correct. You need to correct both dogs. Let Cricket know that it is not okay to resource guard you. And let Buster know that it's not okay to nip your feet. If you can only correct one, correct Cricket as Buster will "get it" eventually.

Laura - curious as to where you heard that bending over a dog is a sign of submissiveness. I've always been taught differently. Funny how that works. When I'm dealing with a shy or nervous dog, I do not bend over as it's intimidating to dogs to have this tall creature leaning over them. I get down on their level to deal with them so I don't frighten them further. Now I would not bend over an aggressive dog as they could interpret that move as a threat and attack.

 

[hiitdogs]

Laura - curious as to where you heard that bending over a dog is a sign of submissiveness. I've always been taught differently. Funny how that works. When I'm dealing with a shy or nervous dog, I do not bend over as it's intimidating to dogs to have this tall creature leaning over them. I get down on their level to deal with them so I don't frighten them further. Now I would not bend over an aggressive dog as they could interpret that move as a threat and attack.

I learned the same thing. Leaning over or sort of hoovering over them is a sign of dominance which I sometimes have to do with one of my pups when he doesn't listen to voice or sign commands because he thinks he is all that and then some However, it is not only the bending over, it is also the energy you project.

Donna, for a while I had a problem with my female dog who thought she needed to take over when one of the other dogs wasn't behaving and I tried to reprimand one of the other dogs. She hadn't been a problem dog before but when two puppies joined the pack the dynamic was thrown off for a while and she probably thought I needed help and she needed to take over. That told me that she thought that I wasn't a strong enough pack leader.
I just stepped it up a little and would stop any undesirable action at the first sign, not only with the other dog but especially with her, either say firmly no, ah-ah, tst, ..... or whatevery comes naturally to you and snap the finger at her, if she still continued I would just poke her in the side (not hard, you don't want to hurt her but get her attention, kind of snap her out of it), move towards her and have her back off / walk off or submit by dropping on the floor.

It is now 12 months later and I rarely have any incidents anymore but if you have a pack there will always be challenges. It will be up to you to make it clear that you are fully capable of dealing with any situation, don't need her help and that she needs to back off.

It is not uncommon with female dogs that they want to rule the rooste. It is for a reason that a female dog is called b*tch

 

[dss62467]

I've tried just the "ah ah ah" and a "no", but get ignored because he's pretty intense with the slipper attack. Sometimes it hurts cuz he gets my skin. So I have been bending over and pushing him away too. Then he just comes back. When he stops, he does get a "good boy" and a pet on the head.

I'd buy the idea that Cricket is guarding her property, because you can see it from the way she sits near me sometimes that she thinks I'm her sheep and her responsibility to keep the wolves away and get me back to the barn. Baaaaah.

 

[hiitdogs]

I've tried just the "ah ah ah" and a "no", but get ignored because he's pretty intense with the slipper attack.

So who is in control? You or the dog? You are the one putting food in the bowl and provide a roof over the dogs' heads, might as well be calling the shots

It is really hard to say without seeing it but my experience is that just going through the motion and saying No or ah-ah is not going to do the trick, you have to say it like you actually mean it. Dogs are smart, they realize if you do something half-hearted and from what you describe it appears that he does not take you seriously.

One of my dogs thinks he is all that and sometimes needed a little stronger discipline reenforcement, at times I had to poke him in the side to snap him out of his fixation or actually flip him over in a submissive position (but the later is not recommended for anyone else than dog professionals). He is kind of stubborn and does challenge me, so occassionally he will revert back to his misbehaved self but usually a firm Hey! will do it now.

It was very hard with him though because he would dance around me like a monkey every time I reprimanded him and he'd pull his lips back in a huge grin which made it extremely hard for me to stay serious and focused because every once in a while I would just burst out in laughter.

What happened to the dog trainer that you wanted to hire? Sometimes it helps to just have someone watch your interaction with your dog, if they are worth their salt, they will tell YOU what you need to adjust. Any good dog trainer or behaviorist will tell you that it is mainly the owner who needs to change or adjust their behavior with the dog and sometimes it helps to hear a different perspective.

 

[kathryn]

Not a dog expert, but a suggestion that works (most of the time!) with my cats.

I make sure they learn their names quickly (by using them a lot), and when I scold (or praise) them, I always use their name, so they know who is being addressed. Many times, instead of saying "No, Simon!", for example, I just say "SIMON!" in a sharp, 'barking' voice, and he gets the message, without the other cats getting freaked out (because they know THEY are not in trouble).

 

[Gayle]

Sounds like both dogs could use a little NILF (from your previous dog training thread) to put you in charge.

 

[dss62467]

I don't just say no, I say it loudly and I push him away. He is pretty good with everything else (keep in mind he's just 5 months old and only been with us for a month). But he goes and sits by his bowl when it's meal time, waits for the other 2 to be fed, and sits until I put his dish down. He sits by the door when it's time to go out - he's a good dog in the making and he's definitely not trying to dominate. He just thinks these slippers are the most fun in the world.

I've hired the trainer and have a some private lessons at home coming up (2 or 3), then will take Cricket to group classes. She's the one I worry about. I just have to break Buster of the slipper thing and climbing up onto the dining table.

 

[LauraMax]

Laura - curious as to where you heard that bending over a dog is a sign of submissiveness. I've always been taught differently. Funny how that works. When I'm dealing with a shy or nervous dog, I do not bend over as it's intimidating to dogs to have this tall creature leaning over them. I get down on their level to deal with them so I don't frighten them further. Now I would not bend over an aggressive dog as they could interpret that move as a threat and attack.

That was from the dog trainer. He said if you observe a dog, you see them dip their heads when they're behaving submissively, & stand at attention when they're trying to assert dominance. It's not a difference betw. kneeling & standing--in my own experience it's def. true that the dogs are more comfortable when I'm on their level.

Either the trainer was right or it just works w/my dogs.