My Bichon/Cocker spaniel 6year old boy barks and growls at EVERY dog AND uknown people! WHAT DO I DO?
I bought him about 8 months ago, and he has been like this from the very beginning. The previous owner mentioned to me that he has 2 other dogs and that Benji ( my dog) thought he was the ALPHA. Benji will bark and growl, even try and snap at other dogs when we go on walks. He gets very excited, out of breath, jumping up and down, pulling of the leash, walking in circles around me – that type of thing, whenvever we approach a dog.
We live in a small apartment and he also barks whenever he hears someone in the hallway opening a door, talking, walking up stairs, even when they are outside getting out of their car!
Should I buy him an anti bark collar?
***ALSO – I attempted to take him to the dog park twice, in attempt to get him socialized.
I thought that walking/running around with him would get him tired out and therefore he wont get as riled up and worked up over the other dogs, but my plan failed. He still reacted the same way he always does – the barking and growling. People thought he was crazy!
Please help. Benji is a very affectionate and smart dog. He gives paw, sits, stays, "speaks" for a treat. He is housetrained and has no problem staying home while I’m at work all day. He now recognizes my friends that come over on a regular basis, along with my family members. But anyone NEW , who he hasnt met, he barks and growls at – no snapping at humans though.
He is a gentle dog, I just need some tips !
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Tags: Bark Collar, dogs, family members, hallway, paw, small apartment, staying home, walking in circles, walking up stairs, walks
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
I think taking him to a socialization class will do the trick you will notice a big difference going this route if you want to try and do this yourself you should look up some videos about socialization.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
He just is very nervous and jumpy. NOT a family dog.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
obedience training
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Enroll in an obedience class and ask for help training "leave it" and "quiet."
Taking a poorly-socialized dog to dog park is like strapping on concrete boots and jumping in the deep end of the pool. You need to set up play dates with known-friendly dogs in neutral locations. If he’s uncomfortable around one dog, for heaven’s sake don’t subject him to dozens of dogs at once. Dog park is okay in the wee early hours (dawn, if it’s open that early) when there are only one or two dogs around.
Daily exercise, two 30-minute walks per day AT THE VERY LEAST. Serious walking, 3-4 mph, not strolling. Daily work on obedience and trick training. He needs mental and physical stimulation to truly be tired out.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
not much you can do. it’s 6 years old and the way it is. if fact I read somewhere that that cute little Cocker is one of the breeds your most likley to get bitten by, little home work goes a long way.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
take him to a doggy training class i took mine to the Pets Mart training center and she was like perfect after that. i could also suggest a puppy grenade- not as dangerous as it sounds- fill an empty can a quarter full with beans close the top and whenever he barks throw it at the ground (the noise will startle him) or you could just spray him with water whenever he barks (this works best if he does not like water) DO NOT GET AN ANTI-SHOCK COLLAR! this can hurt your dog a lot (especially if he is small ) i might also try to get another dog, maybe pet-sit one or let your dog have a play date maybe he needs to learn to get along with one or two now maybe more later so he can gradually learn to get along with other dogs_______________hope this helps
BYE!
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
You basically answered your question right at the beginning…when you said Benji was the alpha dog in his last pack… he still believes this is so. You have to get his respect and let him know you are the alpha.
When you go for a walk..you must leave the house first…and he must be in a calm state..not all hyped up. When walking…take charge..be in control. watch him..you can tell just before he will go"nuts" he will give you body language that you are sure to pick up on. Catch himjust before he goes nuts..when you see he is not paying attention to you and the walk..but looking elsewhere…getting all tense up to lunge or bark…give a quick pull sideways on the leash..not backwards. If he is in front of you..he has already taken charge of the walk….he must be beside or slightly behind you. So… a quick sideways correction on the leash…and a gentle tap with your foot to his rump…sort of a tricky dance step. Not a huge KICK..just a tap to get his attention. This will pull his attention back to you..and away from the other dogs. Don’t say anything to him..just keep walking.
If you can take charge of the walk…the rest will follow through. You just have to take charge. Not being aggressive or hurtfull…just larger than him… make him wait for his food…set in down and have him wait for permission to eat….always go out the door before him… don’t allow him to jump up on you unless invited… etc.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
have a party with a whole bunch of people and make sure that it is centered all around your puppy put him in a room that is gated off with the door wide open and let him take A look at everyone. there should only be like 8 people that way he doesn’t get overwhelmed. when they come in, have someone else in your family go get the door and hold benji in your arms until they are out of sight. gradually get the people that you invited to come in one by one inviting each one in after benji has grown accustomed to the people already there. after everyone has come in and the dog is used to them, pass him around. if you invite more than 8 people, which would be a good idea, have them keep quiet or maybe gather in a spot out of sight and earshot for your dog that way he has a chance to get used to people coming and going that he is nt familiar with. then, take the first person that came into the room and have them go where the dog wont know that they are there. do that with the second one and so on until it is just you and the dog. then take any other people who haven’t been in the room before and bring them in one by one repeat and then afterwords, try leaving the dog in the room without you with someone that he doesn’t bark at and has kind of grown used to during this process. leave them for a while until he is used to it. next time, have a puppy party and do the same as with the people but with dogs. just keep on pushing him a little bit out of his comfort zone until he grows used to new people coming and going.
good luck!