She's got the sweetest temperament, but does snap at dogs who are excited and bouncy. She never actually bites, but does bark and bare her teeth. She was attacked as a pup and I think it all stems from this.
2007-01-24 23:34:10 · 13 answers · asked by BillieJ 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Lethal injection.
2007-01-24 23:37:59 · answer #1 · answered by Shinny 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
She doesn't like it and I'm not sure she's being unreasonable! She's giving a warning, not actually biting. Theres a limit to how much you can ask a dog. Why should she have strangers bouncing around and jumping on her?
If you get annoyed with the other dogs or their owners she'll think she's soing the right thing. But I don't like strange dogs jumping on me either.
Its as rude as if a stranger were to come up to you and give you a hug and kiss, you'd probably shout 'gerroff' and push them.
Millies may need more practice at telling whos aggressive and who wants to play. Dog training clubs are great places to meet lots of owners and their dogs and that could be the best way to tackle this if you decide its a problem.
Because dealing with it in the park may be a bit tricky - you're not in control of the other dog or owner and can't predict what they'll do next; so its too easy for your dog to learn the wrong thing.
2007-01-24 23:43:21 · answer #2 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is perfectly normal behaviour for her to warn other dogs when they are scaring or worrying her, but this can lead to problems, or just make you worried that one day it may not just be a snap and she might actually bite. I am an animal behaviourist and i recommend that firstly you put her in a muzzle when you walk her, just so prevent any problems. Then i suggest you find a good training group/ behaviourist in your area, you vets should be able to help. Take your dog to classes, this will help her socialise with dogs and she should become more relaxed around all dogs after a while. I do suggest you tell the organiser of the group that she is nervous of other dogs so that they can prepare her and the others so as she will not be overwhelmed.
I hope this has been of some help, and just to reassure you this is a common problem and can be sorted out with a little patience.
2007-01-28 09:43:36 · answer #3 · answered by Fred 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's regulating. I'm assuming she isn't allowed to jump up on others.
My Golden gets very upset when other dogs are over and they climb up on the couch (which none of my dogs are allowed to do). She will stand there and bark and bark to get them off. She knows it's not right.
Millie is doing the same thing (in a sense). She feels threatened and upset by this excited behavior, especially if she isn't allowed to do it. I'm not saying that you SHOULD let her do it.
The best way to curb this behavior is by training. Taking command of the situation and letting her know that if it's okay with you it should be okay with her.
When she gets upset. Watch her posture, her ears, her tail, and if you can her eye movement (do they get wide, dialated, and/or shifty?). When you notice these signs redirect her attention onto you. Snap the leash, make a noise, try a shaker bottle. (Shaker bottle - rocks or marbles in a bottle. You shake it and it makes a startling noise). Put her in sit and then in down - at all times.
There are some situations you can control. Ask the other person to calm thier dog and have a nice relaxed meeting. If the other person is unable to control thier dog just ask them not to bring it over, but keep your dog in sit and/or down to make sure she is relaxed. No need to put any undo stress on Millie.
Eventually Millie will learn that in a stressful situation she is to sit and/or lie down - even w/o your command.
Good Luck
2007-01-24 23:47:58 · answer #4 · answered by sillybuttmunky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You definately should socialise her more. Is she still a youngster/ adolescent? If so take her to socialisation classes also obedience classes/ agility etc. Do you know people with dogs who could bring them to your home and she could get used to them. Also dog walking with a friend. Is she better off the leash? she may feel more threatened when on a lead. It sounds like she is scared and that being attacked as a pup has given her good reason. Through socialising she will learn that she is not in danger. She will get worse as she gets older if nothing is done and it will be much harder to retrain her then. Also another point dallys are scatty and very excitable, is the barring of teeth aggression or possibly she could be in the play bow, smiling jumping around herself on the end of the leash?
2007-01-25 01:46:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it necessarily comes from being attacked as a puppy. I have a dalmatian that does exactly the same thing, and we're still in touch with her breeder who kept one of the other pups and he does it too. Maybe dalmatians are just better at expressing their feelings than other dogs! That aside, it upsets everyone involved and the dog trainer at the class we go to recommends putting the dog on the lead and giving it a sharp tug whenever they start becoming snappy. They don't like this and soon get bored - it also turns their attention back onto you so they forget for a second what they were doing (ditsy as they are!). Good luck!
2007-01-25 00:25:49 · answer #6 · answered by Suzie D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dalmatians are notoriously hard to train, I know I have a male one called 'Splash' you can view him on my 360. He has even been skiing in the Alps with me but he is incredibly stubborn. He is quite woofy as well. If I were you and to save any aggro I would muzzle her when you are going to be near other dogs. You need to relax a bit when you are out with her and stop expecting something to happen. All breeds of dogs seem to be more aggressive when one is leashed and the other running free, you do not say whether that is the case. She is probably being very protective of you as that is one of their traits. Good luck hope this info is useful.
2007-01-27 04:53:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes beeing attacked as a pup can have series mental scars and really affect there confidence.Does she have any doggie friends that you can possibly walk with so she learns that not all dogs are the same.Its wise to nip it in the bud now as the older she gets the worse it will become,the advice i get for my dog who has simlar problems is to take her training as she will be in a group of dogs who are hopefully friendly,the more she socilises with happy,friendly,calm dogs the more she will learn that she doesn't have to be defensive.Good luck.
2007-01-24 23:41:37 · answer #8 · answered by Heavenly20 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be difficult because she is protecting the two of you or feels threatened. Call and ask dog trainers if it can be trained but I would want my dog to snap if we're being threatened. The other dogs need the training, not yours.
2007-01-24 23:56:09 · answer #9 · answered by pj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-04-22 19:50:07 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her for walks with just you and her for a little while and then start walking with other people. When you are walking her, and she starts to go off tug on her leash a little and tell her to heel. Keep her on a short leash and tell her to heel whenever she starts to walk off.
2007-01-24 23:41:05 · answer #11 · answered by Chelsea R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋