In need of dog behavior modification!

white cat lover · Mar 23, 2008

I need to find a dog behavior modification place somewhere in MN or IA. I'm on the MN/IA border....so preferably in southern MN....like a place that will board/train the dog.

Relatively cheap-ish.....I guess I'll do anything for him.

Anyone know how to find a place? I've googled, it & plan to call the local vet clinic as well as the training facility they normally reccomend(I do not think that training facility will deal with this dog).

He's possessive of toys/food....like growling at people.

momofmany · Mar 23, 2008

It sounds like you have a dog that thinks he's alpha in the house. Who knows the baggage he picked up before he came into your life. Going forward it's the behavior of the people in the house that will contribute to this behavior and my honest opinion is that boarding a dog at a training facility does nothing to help train the humans.

I am a total believer in Jan Fennell's Dog Listening techniques. We adopted Lola about a month ago and her first night she lunged at the cats when they were eating. We broke her of that habit in 2 days using Jan's techniques. She now sits about 6 feet away from them and watches them for 20 minutes while they eat without moving a muscle. And she's a 10 month old high strung puppy.

I don't know anyone in your area that I could recommend, but do suggest that you pick up Jan's book, The Dog Listener. You might also contact my friend Dani at K9-Instincts.com. She is a certified dog listener (trained under Jan) and ask if she knows anyone up in your area. There are about 10 trainers across the U.S.

If you want to hear more about the basic process, I'll be glad to type some of it out. There are 4 fundamental things you do to stop this type of behavior.

faith's_mom · Mar 23, 2008

What have you done so far with this dog?

Have you done NILIF with him? Perhaps even doing Social Isolation with him, may help him on his way to becoming a better canine citizen.

Links for NILIF and Social Isolation....
http://k9deb.com/socialis.htm

http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

One specifically for food guarding (can be used for general resource gaurding though, too)
http://k9deb.com/foodguar.htm

Could I refer you to dogforums.com, as well? This site has a TON of dog training information, and alot of people who may be able to help you train your dog...as well as know some directions to point you in, regarding trainers; unfortunately, I don't know of any behaviorists in your area...if you were in St. Paul...Lol! (I am "love's_sophie" there, too, if you wish to fill in the reference box) I highly urge you to join that site...it has a wealth of information!!!

white cat lover · Mar 23, 2008

I just do not think I'll need it. It's not safe to keep him here, for all involved.

goldenkitty45 · Mar 23, 2008

Is this the JRT rescue?

white cat lover · Mar 23, 2008

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Is this the JRT rescue?

No. Another foster of mine.....I knew he had issues & that he stood a 99% chance of being euthanized. But I fostered him previously & hoped he would come back here & be fine again.

sweet72947 · Mar 23, 2008

I echo what all have said, and I would like to add that if you want the dog to obey you, YOU must train him yourself, you cannot send him to a facility for training. I wouldn't trust those places anyway, I have heard many horror stories. They often say one thing and do quite another behind closed doors.

ETA: Food aggression/toy possession is not always because the dog thinks he's boss. I have a schnauzer mix that used to be food aggressive (would growl and bare his teeth). He is actually a very submissive dog. If you walk up to him and look at him, he rolls over and shows his belly. He was possessive over his food and chewies because he never had such things before and he didn't want them taken away. In dog language, only a very rude dog takes food away from another dog. My two can be fed in the same area, and they do not try to take each other's food.

But anyways, I ramble.

EnzoLeya · Mar 24, 2008

Oh I wish I could do it!!! I much better with horse behavior modification though

I don't know of anywhere around here that has a good rep.

I don't know.....

white cat lover · Mar 24, 2008

He's being euthanized at 3PM tomorrow. Many will question my decision.....but I won't risk anyone by keeping him around....I won't let anyone else risk themselves by taking him, either.

He is just way too unpredictable.

sharky · Mar 24, 2008

Originally Posted by white cat lover

He's being euthanized at 3PM tomorrow. Many will question my decision.....but I won't risk anyone by keeping him around....I won't let anyone else risk themselves by taking him, either.

He is just way too unpredictable.

.... I know it is a tough choice either way

goldenkitty45 · Mar 24, 2008

WCL - you are a wonderful person trying your best to take the animals no one else wants. While its a tough and sad decision, I can understand you not wanting some other person to get hurt by this dog's behavior.

I will never put down any of your decisions you make (one way or the other).

laureen227 · Mar 24, 2008

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

WCL - you are a wonderful person trying your best to take the animals no one else wants. While its a tough and sad decision, I can understand you not wanting some other person to get hurt by this dog's behavior.

I will never put down any of your decisions you make (one way or the other).

for you, Nat...

white cat lover · Mar 24, 2008

Tonight he was sound asleep, then all the sudden woke up in full defensive mode. He's never done that before....

I've come to realize that he IS NOT the same dog I fostered a month or two ago....something happened & that Jack will never be back.

I cannot & will not lie to someone about his behavior, & risk anyone else's life.

As much as it is eating me up inside, I've got to euthanize him....for the safety of everyone.

laureen227 · Mar 24, 2008

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Tonight he was sound asleep, then all the sudden woke up in full defensive mode. He's never done that before....

I've come to realize that he IS NOT the same dog I fostered a month or two ago....something happened & that Jack will never be back.

I cannot & will not lie to someone about his behavior, & risk anyone else's life.

As much as it is eating me up inside, I've got to euthanize him....for the safety of everyone.

it may even be something neurological, but there's no real way to tell that i know of.

it must be hard to make this decision, but we all know you'll do what best for all.

sweet72947 · Mar 25, 2008

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Tonight he was sound asleep, then all the sudden woke up in full defensive mode. He's never done that before....

I've come to realize that he IS NOT the same dog I fostered a month or two ago....something happened & that Jack will never be back.

I cannot & will not lie to someone about his behavior, & risk anyone else's life.

As much as it is eating me up inside, I've got to euthanize him....for the safety of everyone.

You are a caring person to release this dog from his torment. A dog like that is not a happy dog and does not have a quality of life. Bless you for freeing him.

2dogmom · Mar 25, 2008

I'm coming into this a little late but I would like to add my two cents anyway.

If you have a dog who is resource guarding, getting advice on the internet is not a good idea IMO. Without being there to see it first hand, we can't see if the dog is reacting out of fear ("Fear agression"), dominance, or is simply scared of the food being taken away. And a method that works for one cause will worsen another type.

This is why we usually advise people to get a behaviorist - NOT to train the dog on behalf of the owner, but so that someone who understands dogs and their body language as well as being versed in training methods can give the owner tailor-made advice as to how to solve the problem.

I feel bad for you having had to go through this. Sometimes there are medical causes which can be treated and sometimes not. At any rate, your safety and the safety of your family come first.

white cat lover · Mar 25, 2008

That's where I'm at.

1) There is too much risk for bodily harm to people & other animals at my house
2) My mom is very forgetful....she is the one he's challenging & could readily forget to close the door or something giving him opportunity to attack
3) I can't afford the extensive training he'll need
4) I can never adopt him out & can't keep him forever
5) I've got no place to go with him....he can't stay here, but no one else wants him

He's essentially a ticking time bomb.....I can stop it from going off, & no matter how hard that is for me.....

callista · Mar 25, 2008

It does sound like he might have been hit on the head or something... the behavior change, the way he went straight into full aggression from sleep... I wouldn't be surprised if he had a brain tumor or a head injury. I guess at the very least, this way he had a little more time in a decent home.

goldenkitty45 · Mar 25, 2008

Brain tumor is very possible. I know of a man who owned 2 GSD - were well trained, friendly, etc. Trustworthy too. One night the man came home and when he went to feed the dogs the one lunged at him and severely bit him and would not stop attacking no matter what was said.

Long story short, he had to have the dog put to sleep - they did an autopsy on him and found a massive brain tumor. The dog's personality changed for the worse - nothing anyone could do at that point. But at least the cause for the 360 degree change in everything was found out!

In need of dog behavior modification!

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