Like Us
Follow @dogster
Google +1 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Contact Us
DAA: Dogsters with Aggression, Anonymous » Group Forum

Food Aggression and an Upset Resident (long, sorry)

  
(Page 1 of 2: Viewing entries 1 to 10)  
Page Links: 1  2  
Buddy- ADOPTED!!

I don't walk - I run!		 
 
Barked: Sun Apr 26, '09 6:50pm PST 
I will try to make this as short as possible...
I found out that an aquaintence of mine was not caring for his lab (Buddy) anywhere close to properly so I took him in.

1st Issue: As a result, Buddy has food aggression and flinches, ducks and squints his eyes quite frequently when you bring your hand down to pet him and apparently (understandably) has trust/fear issues with men. The first night I was standing about 5 feet away from his dish and got growled at. I have started hand feeding him, which is going well. My husband hand fed him this morning and tonite, we thought it would help him get over the trust issues - at least with my husband. This morning went great and so did the feeding itself tonite. My husband went over the baby gate (explained later), put his dish in the kitchen, and on his way back through reached across the gate to give him a little pet and got bit. He is OK, but we are both a little confused. We both have reached across that gate many times already to give him a little love and gotten nothing but a lick. thinking Is this food related, or past abuse related do you think? What can we do? How long do I continue the hand feeding, and what is my next step?

2nd Issue: I took Shadow & Abby to Buddy's previous home to meet. First individually, then together and everything went well. Buddy and Shadow got along VERY well and I got the expected 'get out of my business' growls from Abby, but nothing serious. I brought Buddy home and all three were in the backyard getting aquainted and everything was going GREAT! I let Buddy in the house briefly to eat then took him back outside and put him in the outdoor kennel (he is not housetrained). Friday I was home all day and we were in and out of the house all day. Shadow has decided to be a total butthead to Buddy. Never any issues outside...there is even play between the two of them, but inside is a TOTALLY differnt story. So Sat AM I was off to WalMart to buy a baby gate. They are seperated, but all have to walk through Buddy's 'room' to go outside - which there also is never any issues with - just in the livingroom. Shadow will charge the gate growling and try to bite him one minute, and walk up to the gate and do his 'playing' bark the next.
Evidently I do not have a keen enough eye to catch all of Shadow's body language. His tail is ALWAYS stiff, that is just the way his tail IS, his hackles are NEVER up, and he always walks around very stiff and posturish (is that even a word?laugh out loud )
Needless to say, I'm a little out of my league and possibly in over my head here....I know that it hasn't been very long (I just picked up Buddy on Thursday night) and that there will be an adjustment period, just wondering what, if anything, I can do to ease them (and me) through it.
Buddy is VERY attention deprived so now that he has people that pay attention to him, he wants it CONSTANTLY and splitting my time between the two areas of the house is already taking it's toll on me and Abby & Shadow.
Any suggestions would be VERY welcome.
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
Chipper

That's MR.- Momma's Boy to- you!
 
 
Barked: Mon Apr 27, '09 4:01am PST 
Hi Buddy wave

You are doing a great thing by handfeeding! Good job! I'd keep it up for a long time. We handfed Chipper for about 8 months. Have you read "Mine!" by Jean Donaldson? I would highly recommend it. It is a great book.

I would also recommend a behaviorist in this situation. It sounds like Buddy has a ton of potential, but has a few issues to work through. It may only take a visit or two with a behaviorist to set you on the right path.
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
Buddy- ADOPTED!!

I don't walk - I run!		 
 
Barked: Mon Apr 27, '09 5:43am PST 
Any suggestions with how I should handle Shadow's behavior?

It is understandable that Buddy would be food aggressive as his owner only fed him 2 cups of DOG CHOW everyday - not enough for an 85lb dog - and who knows if he even GOT fed everyday! I also understand his mistrust of people - specifically men. I've heard stories from mutual aquaintences and the vet agrees that he was abused.
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals

Buddy- ADOPTED!!

I don't walk - I run!		 
 
Barked: Tue Apr 28, '09 5:52pm PST 
Great news!! Evidently Buddy and Shadow came to an agreement without me knowing it because I came home tonite to two TOTALLY different dogs! Now Buddy is humping Shadow, Shadow is not growling at him hardly at all, and Abby is stuck to me like glue! STRANGE! Anyone want to take a stab at it and explain how a TOTAL turn around like that happens when they are seperated during the day?
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
Buddy- ADOPTED!!

I don't walk - I run!		 
 
Barked: Thu Apr 30, '09 7:27pm PST 
Well, Buddy bit my husband again and this time it's pretty bad. I have to do something NOW or I'm going to have to find a new place for him. Any suggestions?
I just don't understand...I thought we were making such progress! I mean, just this AM he was giving him kisses on his chin! I wasn't here so I didn't see it and from what Dan tells me he was actually walking AWAY from Buddy when it happened.
I asked him if I get a basket muzzle for him to wear when Dan is home if that would work until we can work through his issues and he isn't too keen on it, but it sounds like it might be something he would consider.
I really need some suggestions here!
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
~Emma~ RL1

Mixed breed,- Pure heart		 
 
Barked: Wed May 6, '09 9:40pm PST 
hughug I think you got some nice responses on some other threads. hughug

Hope the behaviorist can help out.
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
Buddy- ADOPTED!!

I don't walk - I run!		 
 
Barked: Fri May 8, '09 10:47am PST 
UPDATE:
Last night we did not put Buddy's muzzle on when Dan got home and everything was great! Buddy spent most of the night on Dan's lap giving kisses!
We are thinking that Dan got bit because he startled Buddy possibly???
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
Chipper

That's MR.- Momma's Boy to- you!
 
 
Barked: Sat May 9, '09 6:18pm PST 
That is great news Buddy! He probably was startled and being new to the house and with everything changing, it could have simply been an overexagerated startle response. That said, it doesn't mean that everything should be forgotten. Continue to work hard with him and keep things consistent for him. I'd still look into behaviorists and have Dan work with Buddy. You guys will do just fine! way to go
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
Buddy- ADOPTED!!

I don't walk - I run!		 
 
Barked: Mon May 11, '09 11:34am PST 
HUGE step backwardscry It was 100% my fault, but we are back to square one as far as Dan trusting Buddy.

I was hand feeding him Saturday night and obviously was NOT thinking and reached down to pet him...and of coarse got bit on the wrist. I had to go to the ER because it was a pretty deep puncture wound, now Buddy is under house arrest for 10 days, etc, etc...I'm sure you all know the drill.

I am not afraid to be around him without a muzzle on, but Dan is again. I'm looking into any rescues that may be able to try to rehabilitate him, but I'm not holding my breath that I'm going to find one. The search for a behaviorist isn't going well, but I do have a positive reinforcement trainer coming on Sunday afternoon.

I will NOT return him to his previous owner, and being that the food aggression and learyness of men are his only issues, am NOT willing to put him down at this point either. He may have to spend much of his time with a muzzle on for awhile, but that is better than the alternative...isn't it?

On the positive side...when the officer came to my house on Saturday night when I got back from the ER, Buddy showed no signs of distress when he came in the house (he had his muzzle on). Buddy even walked up to him and gave him a little nose rub (asking to be pet). No growling or raised hackles or anything. It's not enough for me to think that there isn't a problem, but it's a positive step....
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
Molly

Let's play!		 
 
Barked: Thu May 14, '09 3:25pm PST 
You are going to have successes and setbacks. Probably many of them over and over. It's the way you make progress with a dog. Don't be too quick to take off the muzzle just because he seems to be progressing well. It's going to take time and there's no shortcuts when working with a dog with issues.

I've had the same issues with Molly. I tried hand feeding but she is just too hot around food at present and very unpredictable. I started out hand feeding but only got bitten for my trouble. Now we are working a different program. We put food down and if she acts aggressive we hide the food with a tennis racket. When she is calm the racket is removed and she's allowed to eat.

If your husband wants to minimize the damage of being bitten tell him not to jerk his hand back if the dog bites. That only tears skin and leads to stitches. Wait until the dog has released the hand to withdraw it and all you get are punctures (unless the dog has a tendency to bite and shake). Hard to do I know but if you have the self control it is quite effective.
my page | msg me | gift me | become pals
  (Page 1 of 2: Viewing entries 1 to 10)  
Page Links: 1  2