Off-Topic Dog issue

[Sancho]

Hi All,

So many dog people here, I thought I would start here for some advice.

I have two 4 year old miniature Dachshunds that I have had since they were puppies. They are the most sweet and loving animals to people that they have known since they were puppies (mostly family) but when we have new visitors to the house, they are very, very protective and mean to our visitors. We mostly leave them locked up when there are new people to the house. But before them, we had two doxies that were good with new people and that was a much easier way to live. They mostly bark alot and growl and if someone gets near, they will nip at them. I had one trainer who told me that the one that nips does it because she is nervous. She said it is a nervous tick. But she really did not offer much in the way of solution except to keep them locked up when visitors come. I'd really like to train this behavior out of them.

Has anyone else had this issue and were you able to solve it?

[dutchgirl]

One suggestion would be that when guests come in they're immediately given a treat to give to your dogs. Hopefully your dogs would make a positive association that good things happen when guests come over.

Full disclosure, I've heard of this helping with aggressive cats. I'm not sure if this technique is applicable to dogs.

[Demeris]

Originally Posted by dutchgirl

One suggestion would be that when guests come in they're immediately given a treat to give to your dogs. Hopefully your dogs would make a positive association that good things happen when guests come over.

This is how the fedex guy calmed my little guy. But it took a number of visits by the Fedex guy. He comes prepared. He told me he keeps dog biscuits in the truck because of the number of protective dogs he meets on his route.


Once I saw how it worked with him, I began to use this with friends and family, but it takes time. My dog becomes hyper protective when my sister visits. She's the only one with whom it has not had a lasting effect.

[bzar]

Originally Posted by dutchgirl

Full disclosure, I've heard of this helping with aggressive cats. I'm not sure if this technique is applicable to dogs.

anecdotal data: i've seen it work with people.

my mom has a pit bull who is the goofiest dog you could ever meet. loves the family, etc.

recently, out of nowhere, she bit my visiting sister from FL! twice!

my sister had been at my mom's for about a week, and then out of nowhere the dog bit her when my sister was in the yard doing some gardening. i'm going to suggest she give her a treat so that the dog can be trained away from that behavior.

[Sancho]

Okay. I've tried to do this a few times, but not regularly. I will stick with it. It's hard because the dogs are SO worked up that they ignore the treat. But I will keep them on leash and command them to calm down and then once they do, I will have the guest give the treat. I need to find some brave people who are not afraid of dogs to visit.

[donnamp]

I have also heard that sometimes it is best for a guest to completely ignore the dog so that the dog does not perceive the guest to be a "threat" (no eye contact, etc.).

It may not be a bad idea to have your dogs in their cages when the guest arrives, have the guest settle down and then release the dogs from their cage while having your guest ignore them. Once the dogs settle down, have your guest give them a treat.

It sounds like they are more scared/nervous than anything else.

Good luck!!

Donna

[antbuko]

My sister's dachsund loved me and a small handful of other "outsiders" but she was downright vicious to other people and even bit a few. I don't know much about dog training, but for the sake of your pups and your visitors, I would lock them up.

[Sancho]

Oh goodness, I absolutely lock them up. But I would like to eventually not have to. Maybe when the guest first arrives but once they have been introduced to the guest I would like to be able to let them out. Right now, I can't let them out at all. Even if they settle down, the minute they see the guest again, they go crazy.

[Jags]

Originally Posted by donnamp

I have also heard that sometimes it is best for a guest to completely ignore the dog so that the dog does not perceive the guest to be a "threat" (no eye contact, etc.).

It may not be a bad idea to have your dogs in their cages when the guest arrives, have the guest settle down and then release the dogs from their cage while having your guest ignore them. Once the dogs settle down, have your guest give them a treat.

It sounds like they are more scared/nervous than anything else.

Good luck!!

Donna

This is exactly what I do with my anxious dog. When he is allowed to come in the room we continue to ignore him. If he continues to bark or react I respond to him with a voice that conveys he is a silly-goofy-ridiculous boy, and I tell him "Oh go lay down". I am alpha, plus he adores me and wants to be a good boy. When you calms down I give him tons of treats and praise.

Originally Posted by Sancho

Oh goodness, I absolutely lock them up. But I would like to eventually not have to. Maybe when the guest first arrives but once they have been introduced to the guest I would like to be able to let them out. Right now, I can't let them out at all. Even if they settle down, the minute they see the guest again, they go crazy.

Then immediately pick them up and remove them from the room. No yelling, no harsh commands, just immediate removal.

ETA, I know this is obvious, but: Dogs are very sensitive to the moods and behaviors of their owners. If they feel you are being tense or anxious, perhaps because you are worried about how they will behave, they are only understanding that you are tense because of the visitors. Therefore visitors are a threat and therefore bad; they will protect you from what is perceived as bad. If you are relaxed, there is no threat they need to protect you from. So - always try to be calm and relaxed around visitors to your house and to strangers...unless there is an actual threat.

[marki64]

Sounds like you need Ceasar 911!