What should we do?

Question

We have three 2 year old basset hounds and a friend of ours has a 6 month old basset hound. She brings her over to our house all the time but this dog is is horribly behaved. She is aggressive toward my dogs and comes very close to injuring them each time she is over. She bites my dogs and claws them and though she is supposedly a pure bred basset she is two times as tall as them. Her feet and claws are huge and I am very worried that one of my dogs will get injured because they are so laid back and gentle that they will not defend themselves. We do not know what to say to our friend because she sees everything that her dog does as cute and funny. She also bites us and her owner. How can we handle this? I f she gets much bigger she will probably seriously injure one of my dogs and then I do not know what we would do? Advice please?!

Answer 1

Your friends Basset Hound is still a puppy but if she doesn't start to get formal training your friend will be in for some real trouble.. Bassets can be sooooo stubborn..With out training it will only escalate.
Use your own dogs as an example and tell her it took training to get them that way.. Suggest she needs to do the same thing.. I always tell people that a "Happy dog is a trained dog is a happy owner.. When her PUPPY grows up the things she's doing now will not be so funny. Laughing is a
sign that it is OK for her dog to act that way..
You can even suggest a couple of trainers in the area where you live and give her the info.. You can also tell her that it was all right for her to be the way she is when she was smaller but she's at the stage where it is getting out of hand..
Be her guide and I have a feeling you will remain friends.. After all you had your Bassets before she had hers..That makes YOU the expert right:)?????

Answer 2

What can you do?

It is one of three things you can do - especially since you don't like what is going on..

1. Make it a point when her dog becomes aggressive - put yours away and say matter of factly that "this is just one of those days that I feel a little protective over my dogs"

2. Let her know if there is a dog fight you will make sure yours will NOT loose... (smirking)

3. Ask her to put her dog up or in the car for a few minutes so it will get the idea that it can't play that way with your dog...

Good Luck... what is your friendship with this person worth? that should pretty much let you know what choice to make.

H.O.T. Dog
Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's
Member U.S.A & A.W.D.F

Answer 3

It's hard to determine if the dog is really being aggressive to your dogs or just trying to play. However if her dog bites you, and her, I'd say it's aggression. At 6 months of age her dog should have better training and manners than to bite at anyone, period. If this is your friend I'd try suggesting as tactfully as possible it's time for obedience class! But I'd also ask her to not bring her dog to your home. You have taught your 2 dogs to not bite and you have every right to expect to not be bitten by other peoples dogs. So tell her. Her dog is old enough to know better but that's her fault....

Answer 4

It sounds like this person doesn't recognize that her dogs behavior is unacceptable. Does she allow her children to go around biting others? I doubt it. She needs to use a firm, quick and not loud voice. Nothing high pitched, as it just gets the dog excited. Her reactions, by laughing, are making the dog think this is ok. And obviously she feels this is ok. You need to be stern with her. Tell her there will be no more puppy play dates until she can get her dog under control. She needs to use ONE WORD with the dog in a firm voice, Stating "NO". Also she must pull the dog from the situation, tell the dog "NO" and continue with this until the dog knows he can not behave this way.

Answer 5

Well, she is only a puppy at 6 months, so she's doing what puppies do.. but you should inform her owner that if she doesn't start discouraging this behavior it can grow into a serious aggression problem, and that her dog won't be welcome back to your house because it will be unpredictable. There's not a really "kind" way of saying things that I can think of.. Is she a first time dog owner? Perhaps offer to help her train her pup, or give her a book/gift certificate to dog training classes?

Answer 6

Just talk to her! Don't sound mad or offended, just tell her that when she brings her dog over you will have to keep your dogs in another room or keep her dog closed in another room, because you don't like what she's doing to them. It's your right! Or just ask her politely not to bring her over, because you are worried. If she doesn't do that, she will be rude, not you, so you can ask her again more confidently.

If she says, "No, they're just playing", you must insist. Even if you are wrong, it is your house and it is your right. Say, "well, I am sure, but all the same I am worried, maybe I am paranoid but it makes me very worried, so I don't want them to be together".

Answer 7

Tell your friend to quit bringing the dog to your house!! If the dog is only 6 months old and already is that aggressive (if not just being playful) the dog will only get meaner. Suggest that your friend attends training classes.

Answer 8

you will need to do a tough love act, and sit her down and talk to her about it. Most people don't like hearing that they or their kids/pets are badly behaved, even when it comes from a friend, so be prepared.
Explain to her that you are afraid for your dogs because of the "rough play" that her dog likes to do, and ask her to stop bringing her dog over to your house.
At least if he is not at your house he will not be inflicting damage to you or your dogs!

Answer 9

I think you should call your friend and calmly tell her , that her dog can be cute sometimes can be a little aggressive. If she doesn't take the hint , then the next you see the dog assaulting you or your dog , give it a little kick, it's perfectly normal as training/self-defense .

(If she acts shocked , then tell her you just don't want anyone to get bit or anything. If you/her still have problems they are most likely PERSONAL and have nothing to do with the dogs)

Answer 10

You have to ask her not bring her dog over to visit. You can even say it is because it is stressful to your dogs. She is blind to her dog's faults, so it may be easier just to say your dogs don't behave well when her dog is present.

A friend you can't be honest with is not usually a great friend. If she is just blind to her dog's problems that may be one thing - if it carries over to other things, you might want to think about how much you value this friendship.