Hmm.. maybe a trip to the vet to make sure everything is ok health wise... then maybe a behavirolist(sp) (on my phone doing this forgive me.)
Good luck
Good luck
I'd work on his food aggression totally different myself. I would start by having a bowl on the ground and his FOOD in my hand or in another bowl I was holding. I'd drop kibble into the bowl and let him eat. When he is done and looks up, do it again. Do NOT keep your hand in the bowl, do not interfere with him. A local BC was pulled from a shelter recently that was goig to PTS for her food aggression. The trainer who pulled her with the help of a foste rhome and me while I boarded her were able to reduce the guarding to people in just a few weeks with this method.I agree about the behavioralist and we've already got a jump on things from when we addressed his food aggression. His trainer believes he is guarding his space now and it’s simply an issue of Alex believing that his growling is working. His suggestion, which has been working to this point, is to gradually get closer every day while Alex eats and when he stops growling to toss him a treat. That is his recommended MO for this as well, not to ignore his growling but to not make eye contact but also not leave or appease him – and once he has stopped growling, such as with the food aggression, to toss him a treat so he knows that his growling is not going to change anything, and in fact if he doesn’t he can be happy because he has love, attention, and treats being sent in his direction.
My cause for concern is really this peculiar accident in the office last night, his wet crate, and why on earth he dropped off his meal at our bedroom doorway and put himself in a timeout.
I would like to second all of this. "Mine!" is by Jean Donaldson, I think and is very good. I think a good behaviorist is also necessary when a puppy shows this sort of resource guarding and growling.I would go to Amazon and get the book with good exercises on resource guarding Mine! and make sure you're working with an excellent trainer on-the-ground on those.
I'd also see if you can find a Control Unleashed class in your area, and enroll him.
Before I do any of that, though, I'd have him screened for a possible UTI, a thyroid disorder (he's not too young for that, unfortunately, even if your vet says he is), or any other medical issue, esp. since some of this is a sudden CHANGE in, or escalation of, his behavior issues.
Good luck, and stay safe.
I would caution anyone, especially someone who is not incredibly skilled with aggressive dogs, to never give large, overpowering corrections when a dog is in an aggressive mind set. That is a very good way to get your face ripped off and I have seen some dogs be PTS and humans put in the hospital because a correction was given when a dog was growling and resource guarding. IMO its a terrible idea.Same with the growling. You have to nip that in the bud asap, as soon as it happens. You need to raise your voice, a loud "HEEEEY" works for me when I needed it. Also, corrections are to be given by you, not your dog.
You need to enforce the corrections and acknowledge as such by immediately walking away when your dog has achieved a relaxed state (sitting down, laying down, etc).
I have always been calm, and assertive/aggressive with any of my dogs, letting them know by using my big boy voice, that I am in charge. It won't happen in a day, but it will happen if you follow through.
It's not a physical correction, it is a mental correction. it involves engaging the animals space, at a safe distance and bending their will, mentally, to become calm. Cesars techniques. I use them all because they work.I would caution anyone, especially someone who is not incredibly skilled with aggressive dogs, to never give large, overpowering corrections when a dog is in an aggressive mind set. That is a very good way to get your face ripped off and I have seen some dogs be PTS and humans put in the hospital because a correction was given when a dog was growling and resource guarding. IMO its a terrible idea.
Second, I would not be convinced that some of this isnt health related. Obviously this kiddo isnt real well adjusted, but the behavior described sounds very insecure or potentially related to pain.
For the OP, when he wouldnt eat his dinner, did he eat any? did you try giving him anything else? A very stressed or sick dog generally will not eat, anything. Also, he is only 8 months old. Have you had him since a puppy? has he always guarded things like this? How long has he been growling at you in the office?
Yes and it isn't good, he is from a BYB so who knows what his history is.Honestly, I think neurologic. Something may be loose up there. Do you know his breeding?
His eyes were off. His head tilted, no rapid eye movement but it was a pretty blank stare like a couple of screws came loose. He almost just leaves to his own little world.I would like to second all of this. "Mine!" is by Jean Donaldson, I think and is very good. I think a good behaviorist is also necessary when a puppy shows this sort of resource guarding and growling.
As far as health goes, I would definatley get a urine analysis run. Also, did you notice if he had any sort of strange gaze or eye movement before he started acting strange? I have seen dogs that suffered from very small seizures act that way.
About a year ago I lost one of the sweetest most wonderful dogs, at 3 years of age, to a brain tumor. (another dog with similar breeding also died around the same time/ age) His first symptoms were growling. He would mostly just wake up from sleep and start growling. Eventually this lead to highly aggressive outbursts where he would attack the closest thing to him- human, animal, furniture, it didn't matter. My other dog would frequently throw himself in the way of the attack. It wasnt until one night when my other dogs werent home that I realized how dangerous things had gotten. I am not saying your dog has a brain tumor, but I will strongly urge you not to let this go for too long without investigating possible organic reasons as well as contacting a professional behaviorist that is skilled in rehabilitating dogs with behavioral issues, not just obedience training.
Good luck.
He eventually did eat it, he just dropped it off as a peace offering. I put him in his crate and he chowed down. We have had him since 8 weeks and he developed a bit of food aggression not too long ago and we have been working with him successfully (or so we thought) over the past couple of weeks to nip it. This office growling is new as of 48 hours ago. I worked with him today with both issues and he responded well. We're off to the vet tomorrow for a checkup and a neuter... may as well get it out of the way.I would caution anyone, especially someone who is not incredibly skilled with aggressive dogs, to never give large, overpowering corrections when a dog is in an aggressive mind set. That is a very good way to get your face ripped off and I have seen some dogs be PTS and humans put in the hospital because a correction was given when a dog was growling and resource guarding. IMO its a terrible idea.
Second, I would not be convinced that some of this isnt health related. Obviously this kiddo isnt real well adjusted, but the behavior described sounds very insecure or potentially related to pain.
For the OP, when he wouldnt eat his dinner, did he eat any? did you try giving him anything else? A very stressed or sick dog generally will not eat, anything. Also, he is only 8 months old. Have you had him since a puppy? has he always guarded thingsnjh like this? How long has he been growling at you in the office?
I agree, Dogs dont put them selves in to timeout, but I would guess he does this because he feels insecure and feels safe under there. Before we realized my dogs issue was medical and not behavioral he had learned to go to his kennel when he started to feel "uncomfortable." I believe this is because it is where I would take him if it seemed like an episode was coming on, so that he would be safely tucked away. (of course, as the disease progressed he became more and more unpredictable)First pups /dogs do not put them selfs in a time out never happens you maybe putting too much human emotions on to this pup.Yes i agree with others he needs a vet check up thyroid being off can make them aggressive. Have you ever looked up NILF Dog training that can help also the two books will help too. Good Luck with your baby
Might be worth asking the vet about a seizure disorder. If nothing else helps, you could pursue this, but I would leave it to be the last thing you look into. Phenobarbital is cheap but has icky side effects, and diagnostics to test for brain problems are expensive.His eyes were off. His head tilted, no rapid eye movement but it was a pretty blank stare like a couple of screws came loose. He almost just leaves to his own little world.
This isn't my first rodeo with a dog, but it is with a doberman, and this is the first time I have ever seen anything like this. I can snap him out of it pretty quick and he goes back to the lovable little boy we know he is.