Luv_my_Bruno

So I know it's due to poor socializing as a puppy. But I did as much as I was able to with Bruno. He's use to my close friends and family members that come here often. However, lately I've had some old friends come back into my life. (the whole facebook thing has sucked me in and have gotten in touch with a few ppl LOL). And when they come over Bruno just FREAKS. Now, I know if the person can be calm and not scared for atleast 20 mins Bruno WILL get use to them. All he does is growl and he will sometimes bark. But often it's just a growl and cowards from them. But I don't want him being like this. I think partly too is him being a skidish dog to begin with (his Mother is VERY skiddish and I believe she should have never been bred, but whatever that's another story LOL). So I'm wondering with Bruno's age, and him being the way he is with new ppl. How should I assure Bruno it is okay? When he's barking and growling what should I do? I mean, I don't want to yell at him or give him trouble because he's only doing what he feels is safe for him and his family. He doesn't know this person and possibly just wants to know why the heck are they in his (our lol) house. Ya know? So any suggestions on what the best thing to do is?


Oh and while I'm on it, if he's getting into the habit of coming to us while we're eating. Is it okay to put him in his crate? My husband see's it as a form of punsihment and says he doesn't want Bruno to assosiate the crate with punishment? Also if I have someone come over (mainly kids) is it okay to crate him? Again my husband says this is a form of punishment and doesn't teach him that it's okay these ppl are in his house?

I feel we've done really good with Bruno considering the kind of dog he is. Dare I say a product of BYB. But still I love him with all my heart and I couldn't ask for a better dog. But that's only because he knows me and is use to me. Other ppl he does not know just can't get near him. He won't have it. I don't want him to growl at random ppl while we're out either. He never USE to do that, until this year. Could it be because in the winter not many ppl are out? So on his walks/runs we didn't run into many ppl? Where now that the weather is nice ppl are out all over the place and he's not use to it? I dunno, I just want him to be assured that it's okay and that ppl are okay.

My sister bred her female again *sigh* and although the puppies were REALLY cute and VERY tempting to take another (lol) I just couldn't. If, or should I say WHEN haha, I get another Dobe I will be going to an actual Breeder. Because agian, Bruno is my heart and soul but he's been alot of work.

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TracyJo

There are about a million different ways to go with Bruno now and I'm sure many of us here will all have different answers/suggestions - My advice to you is do not count any of them out - read them all and take what you can from each.

I think crating while you eat is fine. I used clicker training to teach Chi to stay on a particular spot on the rug at the kitchen door when we are in the kitchen. It went like this: Initially, I put her in a sit stay on the spot I wanted her at - started my task in the kitchen and immediately clicked and treated (c/t). She quickly realized that the c/t only came when she was in that spot. The first day or so I c/t'd often but then started doing it less frequently. She learned that if she was in that spot, she might get a treat but she certainly wouldn't if she was anywhere else. Now, when I go into the kitchen to do dishes, cook, eat (whatever) both Chi and Petri will sit in the doorway on the carpet (their spot) and drool in anticipation of a possible treat - I've heard this called the lottery method (you can't win if you don't play).

As far as his visitor problems - I would combat this with a combination of clicker and traditional training methods. Enlist some of your new friends that he's not so familiar with to help. Actually, it might be better to start with someone he knows, kind of a practice run before you move on to "strangers". Instruct your friend to completely ignore Bruno until you give the okay. Have him on lead when you answer the door. Keep him at a heel while you greet your guest (my theory here is that he's working, staying at a heel and must think of what you're asking him to do rather than the evil intruder). If he barks or growls, correct him, but most importantly make sure you reward the good behavior. You can use the clicker here and I think it would really help but if you're like me and not very coordinated sometimes it's difficult to juggle leash, clicker, treats and communicate with another person :-). After your guest is in the house and settled run him through a few basic commands, c/t for good behavior (my definition of good behavior here is his attention on you - you want him to defer to you when he's stressed or unsure - so if he's barking or growling, say his name, or do whatever you can to get his attention on you - the second he looks at you and calms, c/t! timing is very important btw) Personally, I wouldn't allow the "visitor" to approach him and I wouldn't encourage Bruno to accept the "visitor" until you've done this exercise at least a few times. If he simply doesn't like people, that's fine, he doesn't have to like everyone that walks in the door - he does however, have to behave and be safe to people you allow in. I would keep the visits short- maybe just a few minutes in the beginning and then like everything else, work up to longer visits. In the mean time, really bone up on his basic obedience, down/sit stay in particular. If he has a special spot in the living room, like a bed, or even better, a crate, work on having him go there and stay on command with no distraction and then add that to the list of commands you do when you allow a visitor in.
This is what I've done with Chi. I can now let people in the house and she is fine, she goes into an auto heal mode almost the second I open the door. She does not like people approaching her or getting into "her space" and that's fine, we're still working on it. If I have more than 2 guests, I will greet them with Chi and then put her in her kennel in the living room so she's still part of the action but not stressed out, the kennel is very much her "safe spot".
Good luck :-)

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~Tracy

Doberman Talk Store

TracyJo

Additionally, I don't think crating is a form of punishment if used correctly. My dogs will go to their crate willingly when I say "bed time" :-) If I leave them out while I'm out running errands and come home to find them in their crates, I can almost guarantee that something has been destroyed and they are staying in their "safe spot" until I've over it! Their crates are very much their "den" their space and they love them.
By crating him while visitors are over, you are allowing him to be in the room but not be threatened (do not allow your visitors to approach the crate, that's counter productive) but once he's used to the crate he'll feel safe there when scary things are going on (like visitors).


Chi, not being punished, in her crate waiting for me to get off the computer and take her for a run :-)

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~Tracy

Doberman Talk Store

LapDog

I will just say there is still hope to get him use to people. Be thankful he isnt hand shy. Coco our lab mix is not a people dog but he will bark and be scared but he is getting faster at warming up. The only thing is we cant have the quick stranger coming up to pet him or for people to pet him when they FIRST get in the door.
just work with him and start socializing but working with his limits. Do things from a distance or have him just get use to your house new people are always coming in. He is young. as long as he realizes new people are around all the time...and they are fun!
Im not sure if there is much you can do as a punishment. cause its the kind of thing where you have to teach off the field during practice...not at the game. I would say just take control over him by getting his attention...so if you are expecting someone to come over...maybe put a leash on him and get some treats...this way you have some positive training and treats for NOT going crazy at the person. maybe teach him that once he is a good boy and calmed down...he gets to go off the leash. this way maybe that helps "punish" the behavior at the right time also preventing so much failure...without punishing the situation or after everything has gotten too bad.

Thats unfortunate your sister bred again eeeeeeks! hopefully she realizes that bruno has his issues....and although socializing is a big part of a dogs temperment...with the allergies and temperment that bruno has...hopefully she realizes that breeding is left to reputable breeders for that reason.
How's your new house coming along?

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tjmom

I think that was TracyJo said is just wonderful. You can have him on the lead when people come over until he feels more comfortable. Last year I had a birthday party for my husband and we had a lot of people over. We put Titus in the crate for a number of reasons. He was still young and we had not conquered the jumping thing yet and I did not want to count on people shutting the door all the way and not letting him out. I did not want to deal with an escape. It broke my heart to have to crate him but it really was the best thing. We just had some new friends over yesterday and had planned on putting both of the kids on their leads until they settled down. My husband and I are alright with them jumping on the couch to sit in our laps but we don't allow it when guests are over. Titus and Jada both tried at first but were not better mannered than we both anticapted so the leads were not needed. Good luck and dont give it.

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Luv_my_Bruno

Thanks! I can always count on some good advice here!

Bruno does use his crate as his "safe spot". When we are all in the family room, that is where Bruno is He doesn't use it as a bad tho, because he sleeps with us (uh oh haha. I can't help it! I feel lost if he's not in the bed with us---actually on my laptop now sitting on my bed and Brunster is sleeping and snoring beside me haha). But Bruno DOES sleep when we are watching tv or down there for long periods of time. So he's use to his crate and has no problems with it. He's only been "locked" in there a few times. So that part is one he needs to get use to. Because he hates when that door is closed and he knows he can't get out lol. How do I reasure him that he's okay in there? I mean sometimes he's GREAT in there. Just curls up and sleeps when the door is closed. I used treats to get him in there. I probably should continue while he's in there and behaving?!

He's also GREAT with commands. I mean he does his sit, stay, lay down, go get it etc etc. I mean I take him in the yard with no lead and he's wonderful. Even with neighbour kids out in their yards. He's really good in that sense. It's just when ppl enter our yard or knock on the door or come in. He gets a mixture of excited, scared, and just anxiety I believe. He's always sniffing the ppl and is very skiddish if they move (which is part of who he is, sadly. Like I said, his mother is a VERY skiddish Dobe. I can't even go NEAR her without her freaking out. She was NOT socialized very well). It's a work in progress but I'm gonna try the treat thing. Because I know Bruno can behave. I know he will settle down after a few minutes. It's just getting the guest to actually believe me that if they're calm, Bruno will be calm lol.

Also, if we're eating at the table Bruno is fine, lol. Guess I should have mentioned that. My husband has it so he sits at the kitchen enterance or in his carte (right beside the enterance) until we are done. It's when we have that FAST dinner and the mister and I are eating in the living room. Which is a NO NO on our parts. But also Bruno shouldn't be sitting there drooling either IMO. But with that I will also try the treats. I've almost given up on treats because of his allergies. But I found that the wellness all natural treats work good and he's okay with them. So I'm going to buy some more and practice a bit more of treat training. We haven't been doing that so much, again as I said because of his allergies.

Again I thank YOU! I truly want Bruno to be a great ppl Dog. I want other's to see the best in him like I do He really is great with us and it just makes me a bit sad when ppl are scared of him and think he's "mean". Even tho I shouldn't care what they think, he's still my baby and I feel I should protect him lol.

Lapdog, she bred her bitch with a different male this time. She had told me she planned on NOT breeding her again after Burno's batch. But she did Her Mother is an actual breeder, not sure how "great" of one she is. Because I don't know her (yes shes my step sister we have different parents LOL). But I do know my sister should NOT be breeding this female. I tell my sister all the time about Bruno's problems and she brushes them off like "he's the only one that has anything wrong". I'm like well, even if he's the only one, it's still one too MANY! I mean Bruno has SO many issues. She just can't grasp the thought that perhaps she was WRONG in breeding. Her female had complications this time and I think almost died. So no more breeding for her. She's done. And I HOPE she never breeds again. Sadly I can't tell her what to do, and I hate causing any arguments so most of the time it's just a smile and nod *sigh*. But anyway, I got my Brunster and that's one thing I'm glad for! He's my baby!!

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Luv_my_Bruno

Oh yeah....The new house is just LOVELY!!! We didn't work on the inside as much as I would have liked this pass winter. But there's always next winter, right? lol. Needs some painting, which I might do during the summer. But we're focusing outside for now. We finally did the back garden....looks GREAT! I'm happy with it. Got some steps put on our back deck (which I have to say Bruno ENJOYS being able to just go down and right into the back yard LOL) and now we just have some landscaping to do with the grass and even the yard out and stuff like that. But it's coming along nicely! Also owning a home is so stressful, but has it's rewards as well So all in all it's going wonderful, can't believe we're almost at a YEAR since moving in! Crazy.

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doberkim

Just a word of caution - if he cannot listen in ALL situations, then he isn't well trained. My dog has an OTCH if we just count what he does in my living room or garage or backyard, without any distraction. If Bruno is ok AS LONG AS (fill in the blank- the neighbors/strangers/people dont come within 300 feet, no dogs are out, he isn't out of his yard, etc) than he isn't well trained, because he has not been trained with distraction. And for a dog that is undersocialized potentially, or potentially just very fearful, THAT is more dangerous than anything. He NEEDS to be trained to ignore those people, and it has to been done on LEASH to protect other people.

If Bruno's allergies are a problem then train him using his kibble and stop feeding him meals - just use training treats. Or take his kibble, mush it up with water, add some garlic, and bake it into cookies. Or take whatever protein source the food is and use that plain meat boiled/baked. There are options out there, and above all Bruno's socialization and training need to continue and be CONTROLLED.

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Luv_my_Bruno

I don't think Bruno is "well" trained by any means. But he's a good listener and good with the commands we give him. Now, he hasn't really had much of a chance to do his commands while ppl enter the house (I've avoided it as much as possible, I mean ppl coming here. Because I don't want Bruno to get anxiety, or freak out.). I also find if I greet the person OUTSIDE, with Bruno. He's calmer when they enter the house. Should I keep doing the greet outside?! Or should I try the inside greet to get him use to it? Or is it what works best to help him?? I just don't want him being scared and antsy about ppl entering the house.

Good idea on the treats. I might try that. Is Garlic okay to give him? I'm not exactly sure what he's allergic too....I just know it's something in the kibble, except this special food has none. Maybe it's Wheat? I forget (plus I feel under the weather today---my head isn't thinking straight lol forgive me).

Anyways thanks Doberkim Will keep that in mind as well.

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JavasMom

Obedience classes will help with the freaking out at the front door issues. You shouldn't have to step outside to speak to anyone who comes to the front door. Bruno should be able to obey a command to sit, stay and hush when you answer the door - the last thing anyone needs is for their dog to bark and bolt through the open door. You could even get a neighborhood child to come over and practice ringing the doorbell while you get Bruno to sit/stay as you answer the door. Lots of special treats and praise, along with practice, go a long way.

I don't feel that crating is punishment. A calm command of 'crate' should not be a big deal. You aren't drooling over Bruno's bowl when he eats, and he needs to learn that his place is not by the table when you are eating dinner. Our dogs are well-fed and well-loved - crating for twenty minutes of peace is not animal cruelty.

I am sorry to hear about your sister's insistance on breeding Dobes when (IMHO) she doesn't seem to either truly love the breed or care enough to research health/temperament issues. It's a shame that there aren't even basic licensing requirements for breeders.