Who knows about Big Dogs?

Question

I just got a dog for my hubby. He is half Rottweiler/ Bull Mastiff. He is a very sweet boy BUT...he scares the hell out of me sometimes! For example.. My daughter (3) was eating cereal, she has a bad habit of feeding him while she is eating. He is not food aggressive but I got pretty PO'd because he totally stuck his face in her bowl and went to town. When I tried to pull him off he growled...I got scared. That was the only time he's growled at me. To be honest when I tell him to do something and he won't, I don't push it. Help please. I really want this to work out.

Answer 1

You can't be scared of him or he will run your entire life.

You have to do what they say and be the alpha with him. If he growls at you separate him from everyone. You have to push him when he doesn't listen. You need to know his reaction before someone else tries to push him (Like your daughter) and it is a bad reaction. YOu want to know what he is capable of.

Answer 2

I have two labs. The one is almost 3 and since he was a puppy and he has something in his mouth he will not let you have it most of the time. However, when he was a puppy we always pet him when he was eating. That way when he was older he would know that we are not taking his food away we just are petting him. I don’t have kids yet by my husband and I wanted to make sure when we did or if a child did come over he would not do anything. We also pulled his ears and tail all the time so again he would be used to it and now he could care less. However, we got another lab in July and he is now 6 months old. He eats his food really fast and then wants to eat our 3 year old lab’s food. The 3 year old will not have it and will growl and nip at him, but he still does not at me. I would suggest when you are feeding your child you do it where the child cannot give “snacks” to the dog. First of all because dogs should not eat people food because it is not good for them, and two it teaches them that they can eat on the table. He was just being a little territorial but you need to make sure you disapline them. I wouldn’t worry all that much but I would defiantly keep a close eye out. But like I said by two dogs growl a lot even when they are playing but I have never been bitten. But I would defiantly suggest the petting during eating out of his own bowl and pulling his ears and tails. It worked tremendously with us. Good Luck with the new puppy!

Answer 3

Hello there,
Well, first thing is first - no feeding from the table at all - not from your bowl or don't allow your daughter to feed him from her bowl - he is trying to run the house. It's time your family becomes the pack leader above him. Start in-forcing things you ask him to do - leave him on a leash until he learns some manors and respect foo your child.

Also, consult a professional trainer for some assistance - you don't want to let this problem go on for any longer! It sounds l like your dog wants his way or no way!
tell your daughter that the dog has his own food and don't allow her to feed him from her bowl of cereal. His growling may be a sign of possessive behavior -- he thinks he own the bowl or is trying to protect your daughter - call around your area and find a good obedience school and practice practice!
Start being in charge -- if you say no! Mean it! or say leave it! if he has or is trying to get at something he shouldn't!

I would be afraid if he growled at me too, but try not to show your fears to him because he wants to dominate the household, and by his growling, he's telling you who's boss and that he will try to get his own way!

Good luck with this!

Answer 4

That's a bad thing that he growled at you I so hope you made your point with him and scolded him--Animals know if you are afraid so that's going to be a problem--size doesn't make the dog a small dog can learn how to be aggressive --I would tho make sure he is outside at meal time --and certainly not bother him when he is eating his meals--just as you were put out by him in your daughters meal they feel that way when someone invades their dinner bowl too--I have a 100 lb shepherd and he is very good with people he knows the boundary's and unless he can gently get away with sneaking a lick of a sucker he wont even try --repeatedly telling them NO works

Answer 5

I have a newfoundland and is 7 mths old and already 80 lbs. Your first mistake is you are 'scared' of him. He already thinks he has won and is the alpha. You can't show intimidation. Show him YOU are the boss. The problem with you getting him out of the bowl...you can correct this by placing a food bowl down and using the end of a broom, move the bowl, his food, tap him with it, etc. That will get him used to someone messing with him and the bowl while he is eating. Then move to use a gloved hand, then your bare hand when you are comfortable. He is thinking he is the alpha in a pack...he thinks he should eat first and you shouldn't even be touching it...even though it *is* your daughters. lol. Be aggressive and don't let him bully you or he will continue to do so.

To show dominence over him, when he gets aggressive or tries to overpower you....pull him to the ground and on his back with your hands on his chest. Everytime he struggles and tries to get away you shake him, firm but gently, and yell NO or AT....something to get his attn. Do this everyday on different occasions. It shows him you are the alpha and he is the submissive one.

Answer 6

The growling has nothing to do with whether the dog is big or not. And it has nothing to do with him being a Rottie or a Bull Mastiff or any other breed.

Dogs are pack animals with a heirarchy (pecking order if you will) and they quickly find out where they rank in the pack. And dogs are opportunistic -- they will try to move up in rank any chance they get.

I suggest you take the dog to obedience classes and work with a trainer to help you learn about canine behavior. Good luck :-)

Answer 7

We have a boxer whose like 5 years old now....and like you said the sweetest thing, but when she was younger if you tried to take a bone away from her she would growl at you. We had to take them off of her because she would chew the rawhide ones down to just the ballon the end, and she choked on one once and my dad had to pull the bone out of her throat becuase she couldn't breath. So my dad would periodically just walk up to her and take her bone. If she growled he said "NO" and wouldn't give it back for several hours. If she didn't growl she got a "Good Girl" and got the bone back right away. She wasn't growling because she was mean, just because that seemed the natural thing to do. We were worried because my sister was about to have a baby and we didn't want the baby around a "mean" dog. But my niece is now 3 and her and ginger play like there best friends, and ginger hasn't bit or growled, (except at strangers at the door...but thats why shes there) for years.

Answer 8

Well, it sounds as if he's going to become food aggressive, if he's growling when you pull him away from the child-puppy's food. Think of your family as a pack of dogs. Your H is the alpha male, you are the alpha female. It is your dog's job in the pack to protect and care for your puppies (your child). He needs to learn his place. If he growls, you need to be more aggressive than him, shake him by the hair on the neck, or roll him over onto his back for a bit of submission. If you don't start to curb his aggression towards the pack, he will try to take over because all dogs want to be alpha dogs.

Answer 9

He is dominating you and that is not acceptable behavior. Dogs don't think the way we do about things, and he feels that he is in charge. I highly rec. that you get in touch with a behavioral specialist to help you retrain him and yourselves. They will be able to stop his bad behavior and teach you how to relate and reorganize your pack. Right now he is challenging you and he feels a little higher on the totem pole than he should. Nip this in the bud before it becomes a real problem- you will all be happier. A dog with rules and boundries is a happy dog- and you should never have to be afraid of your pet. go to www.barkbusters.com and they may be able to hook you up with a good trainer. The barkbusters program is great and many of the vets I work for have used it with their own dogs. Good luck!

Answer 10

It's not unusual for a dog to growl when he is eating. This is a time he is territorial because he wants the food and he wants no one else to get it. You might try putting him in obedience school. Your local petstores usually have lists of up and coming classes.