How can I get my 3 year old dog to stop growling and biting when you put your face in his face?

Question

The dog can go in your face but if you put your face in his he will growl and show his teeth. He has bitten me (2.5 years ago) and I don't know what to do. My husband thinks we should put him down as I am having a baby. I could never do that, he is like a kid to me. Please help I am willing to try anything.

The dog only gets grouchy about anyone going in his face. You can do anything else and he is an amazing smart calm dog

He was like this from day one and I did try many things that had been suggested by obedience instructors.

Answer 1

get a spray bottle and fill it with water and everytime they do it spray them

Answer 2

Staring at a dog is seen as confrontational. Your dog is telling you something and you can either try to convince it that having a face close to his is ok, or you can 'make' him put up with it. You're better off convincing him that faces close to his mean good things. You do this by adding treats to the equation. As you get close to your dog you give it a really good treat, then you get a bit closer and give an exceptional treat. This could take weeks, but you work up to the dog learning that a face coming close means a good thing is going to happen. I teach my dogs to take a treat from my mouth (don't do this until you're sure your dog is not going snap at you). Make the treats really good. Then any time a kid or baby appears on the scene, give your dog the great treats. Your goal is to have the dog see a baby, or a face coming close and think "mmmmm...gonna get a treat!"

www.fearfuldogs.com

Answer 3

I'd try and find it a good home without small children. Putting it down is harsh and this could have been stopped earlier with proper training.

Since you say it is like a child to you the best thing to do would be contact a behaviorist. They could come to your house and observe the dog and give you advice. The advice can range from getting rid of the dog or how to work with the dog depending on what they saw while there.

Good luck.

PS I love dogs but in your case you're going to have to put your baby first :( Bad situation for all

Answer 4

To dogs, putting your face in theirs and staring them down is an aggressive act. That might be why he gets upset when you do it. I think it would be a good idea to get a dog behaviorist for help. It's also important to know how he'll react to a child putting their face in his. He might not care. But the behaviorist (not the same thing as a trainer) can help you remove this behavior from him. You could either try to desensitize him to having someone in his face, or you could punish him for his reaction when he growls. I would try getting as close as you know you can without him growling and then immediately give him a treat or something he loves. Keep doing that, dispensing treats continually if necessary. Over time, move closer and closer to his face, giving the treats so he'll associate good stuff with people getting in his face. I think that could work for him.

Answer 5

It sounds like your dog has a misconception about who is the leader in the house. In dog packs, the top dog initiates contact, not the subordinates, much like what your dog is doing. If he starts it, the action is okay, but not when you initiate it. Start a very strict Nothing in Life is Free regimen...if you have never heard of it...do a Yahoo search for Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF). It is a training program where your dog has to work for everything he get from you. It's nothing mean, just things like doing a trick (sitting, shake, down, etc.) before they get anything they want (food, water, walk, going outside, coming inside, playing, affection). It makes them realize they depend on you for absolutely everything and helps establish leadership between you and your pet. You also need to start establishing some rules in your house, before the baby comes. Rules such as the dogs needs to move for you to walk through a room instead of you walking around him. Also, you should be able to go through doorways and up/down steps before him and you should have rooms that you are allowed in, but not him (close doors or put up baby gates). Also work on basic obiedience, sitting, down, stay, leave it and establish a set routine before and after the baby arrives. Continue working on the NILIF, house rules, etc., even after the baby arrives. If you are still having problems, you may want to seek the advice of a behavorist (not a trainer).

Your problem can be resolved, it's just a matter of establishing some leadership in your house, before the baby arrives.

Answer 6

Your husband is right. What right have got to pass on this
monster to someone else?
You don't seem to care as long its
not you baby it will bite or kill! This pet is not fit for human
company.
It should be destroyed before it kills a child.

Answer 7

Right now he's on the doggie version of Yahoo (Rah-hoo, maybe?) asking "How can I get this crazy woman to stop sticking her face in my face?"

BUT, regardless whether you can get him to stop or not, since you're having a baby you need to GIVE HIM AWAY. Talk to a rescue. Take out an ad. SOMETHING besides putting him down. Jeesh.....Hate to think how you'll potty train the kid if you're gonna KILL the dog for growling.

Answer 8

My first impulse was to say STOP PUTTING YOUR FACE IN HIS FACE. However, since you're having a baby, I'd say give him away. Putting him down is not very humane. But having an aggressive pet around a baby isn't wise.

Answer 9

I agree with the first answerer. get a spray bottle. put your face in his face often, when he growls and bites, spray him. when he doesn't, reward him with treats and stuff

Answer 10

I had this happen, with a golden retriever, of all dogs, and it turned out she had a brain tumor... if a dog bites once it will do it again!!!