Serious help needed
Submitted by Sherryl Onslow ... on November 25, 2011 - 10:52pmButtercup just attacked Onslow (again) but this time when I pulled her off, Onslow was crying and limping. Buttercup had had him on his back and was chewing on his leg. I have had her to the trainers so meny time even took her to the dog behaviourist and still I am not able to get her to leave Onslow alone. Onslow did not do a thing- I got up off the couch and bumped Buttercup with my foot and she just went after Onslow. I am so very upset I feel like Buttercup will have to go. Onslow is often afrai to come into the room and he gives her a wide birth and generaly has to warch his back all the time. What am I going to do?
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Hang on friend, I can't tell you what to do,
But I can tell you that you aren't alone. Sophie does the same thing to my other 3 dogs. She is not kind to them unless she wants to be. She will go right at Kora and Kora is scared to death of her. They have drawn blood many times. The only thing that has helped me is to know when and where the signals are and stop the behavior before it starts. I know what triggers there are and avoid them at all costs.
Lynn King can help you a lot. She has great wisdom and advice for this situation. Hang tight, I am sure you will get some answers that you can live with rather than letting Buttercup go.
Amy and Sophia
Thanks Amy for your support
I was very upset when I wrote that, and I do have a plan in mind including at least three walks a day for Buttercup, and not letting her on the couch and no free pats, The only problem is that I am not very good at resisting her.
What did the trainers recommend you do?
nm
Lynn King CPDT-KA
Hi Lynn
The trainers recomended no free treats or pats, no getting on the couch, bed etc. Lots of walks, and keep a leash on her at all times. Try to forsee the attacks and distract her with treats. As I say it's probably my fault as I am not so good at keeping up with the rules. My husband loves to have her on the couch with him, andI think I will have to train him at the same time
Sherryl
The reasoning behind the NILF(Nothing in Life is Free) is to teach the dog that the world is not theirs. Dogs are a social animal and any animal that lives in a group has to learn that there are rules/boundries on everyones behavior because it impacts the entire group. Without boundries, some dogs do become pushy and lack impulse control, they react before they think. As the leaders in our "group", because it's the human world we are expecting them to live in, we have control of everything-food, play, affection, space etc., Some dogs have to learn that all is not theirs for the taking, it has to be earned. Being allowed on the couch is a privilege, not a right. If one of Buttercups triggers is Onslow getting too close to the couch when she is on it, she loses the privilege of being there.
I suggest that you adhere to the trainers recommendations. Buttercup has to sit/wait for food, you determine play time and you end it, petting/affection is given-not taken. If she nuzzles your arm for attention, withdraw your hand, love her up when you call her to you and end on your time. I have a feeling that she is probably resource guarding you and your husband, meaning that you guys belong to her and she doesn't intend to share with Onslow. Keep a leash on her, it will give you better control of her. If/when she starts to react to Onslow entering the room or getting too close, a calm "too bad", pick up the leash and remove her from the room (put her in her crate or another room and shut the door)leave her there for a few minutes. Social isolation is a huge punishment for dogs, particularly Bulldogs.
You and your husband are going to have to learn her triggers and learn her body language. Seconds before she goes after Onslow, she is physically reacting. Sometimes its so subtle that its easy to miss, a twitch of an ear, lip licking, a hard stare, muscles tension are all signs that something is about to happen. When you see it, calmly distract her, take her to the kitchen, have her do a sit/stay and give her a treat. If you have a good solid sit/stay on both dogs, you might want to try teaching her that great things happen when Onslow is present. That's when they get the best treats and only when both of them are being polite. Remember to acknowledge good behavior, Buttercup ignoring Onslow's presence is a good time to calmly give her a "good girl"
It's difficult when there are problems between dogs, been there-done that. Its workable but only with a lot of training, of both dogs and humans. They are depending on you to provide them with a safe and sane environment. Training and management will help tremendously but may not completely eliminate the issues. Alot boils down to the basic temperament of the dogs. I've seen dogs that were well socialized, trained just not do well with other dogs.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
Lynn King CPDT-KA
Meds
I'm just repeating what I've heard about, but some folks put their dogs on Prozac.
Hope I don't start a firestorm, as I know training is the best, but as you're in such a place....I wonder if it might help.
Hope I've made clear I don't think I know more than members that have been doing this longer, but it's just an idea.
Steve
Mean people still suck
I have the same problem with Wiggles and Chelsea and hubby
If they get within sight of each other is an all out attack and neither backs down. Matter of fact, if I grab one to pull her away, the other keeps coming after the one I have. I have taken them to see Dr. Haug who is a behaviorist. Made hubby go with me so he could hear all the directions she was giving us. Of course, it went in one ear and out the other. It is way to difficult to train 2 bulldogs and a husband. I resorted to baby gates. Chelsea and Wiggles are not allowed in any one room at the same time. I have 4 baby gates in my house, so they basically still have the run of the house, just blocked off from each other. Usually if I am in my bedroom Wiggles is in here with me and Chelsea is in living room with hubby and visa versa.
believe it or not, I didn't read your post before posting...
you did pretty much what I did! LOL I was also unable to train my husband. He is terrible at reading dog body language.
I had the same problem with Roxy and Junior...
You can manage them, but it's not easy to be on the constant lookout for body language and triggers. I did it successfully with Junior and Roxy for several years until she got older and more posessive of me. I eventually isolated Roxy in my bedroom and let Junior have access to the rest of the house. Roxy was happy to have her own area without Junior and Junior was happy to be safely away from Roxy. I used to go into the bedroom and watch TV with Roxy at night and my husband would sit with Junior in the family room.
Rehoming one of the dogs is a good option if you can do it AND you can find someone who is willing to take a dog that must be an "only" dog. Most people want a dog friendly dog.
Buttercup sure is cute. She reminds me a little bit of my Roxy. If I didn't have Junior and Izzy, I'd say send her to me!
now, that i think about it...
kibby used to do this occaissional snapping thing to gabby, but only when kibby was on the couch with us, and gabby walked around and started sniffing.. i could totally tell when she was about to snap, her stare would get a little intense.. and then we had to snap her out of it and distract her right away from gabby asap. she never hurt her, just gave her a snappy warning that daddy belonged to her!
sincerely, christine
I can relate , I am having same problem. can suggest one thing.
i can really relate to what you are saying, but I dont have the option of getting rid of mine.. I bred and kept all 3 in the litter and could never part with them.. I have a boy named Tonka who can get pretty aggressive with his 2 sisters. they are like pitbulls going at each other.. I had them fighting a couple times a week, I watched a special Cesar Milan had on Bulldogs and started trying a few of the things. the fighting has gone from 2-3 times a week to maybe once a month now. First thing I learned, dont try to get in between them , hubby and I have both gotten nailed that way. instead if you can lift one of them, lift them off the floor, they have no leverage for the feet to keep charging, you can put a collar on them, easier to pull apart when you can grip something. I think the thing that really worked the best though is letting him know how mad I was at him, not allowing him to come by me, not talking to him and putting him in his cage by himself for a few hours.. he has realized that he is locked up while the others are with me playing and getting attention. Even if they start with a growl before charging , throw the aggressor in the locked cage..
Good luck..