Need help with a dog--ASAP!

[Terri O]

I am looking for a few suggestions to handle this dog I am watching for 10 days. He is an almost 2 year old, extremely spoiled cock a poo type. The woman dropped him off on Thursday and he was shy but OK. Then I put him in his kennel for the night. In the morning I got him out and took him outside and went to visit my Mom for the day. My DH watched him during the day and I guess he (Max) actually sat in DH's lap. The dog got in a little tange with our JRT so he went back into the kennel. When I got hhome about 6 I tried to take him out ant he snapped at me! He did not go out last night and he did the same thing this morning! This dog is afraid of EVERYTHING! The woman has picked him up every time he looked "scared" since he was a pup! (I had a rescue like that and it took me 3 years to get him normal...he never offered to bite though!) When she was dropping him off she must have picked him up 8 times in an hour! She commented that someone at the dog park told her not to do that and she replied that it was her dog and she would pick him up if she felt like it! So now I believe I have a fear biter on my hands for the nest week!

Anybody have any good ideas? I dont have 3 years! I am going to google fear biting and see what they say; and maybe print it out for this woman! I feel so bad for Max--he looks terrified in there...and he must have to "go" ya know? He has been eating and drinking in the kennel but it is just big enough for him. Thanks! Terri O in WI

 

[onthespot]

I'd leave a leash on him in his crate and fish it out with a hanger when it is time to go out. Other than potty breaks, he'd just live in a crate for a week, sorry. She isn't paying you to train or re-hab her dog. She will just ruin any progress you make while she's gone in the first three seconds when she gets back, so don't bother. Just food, water, a bed, and potty breaks, and don't get bitten.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

My mom has the same breed of dog and he acts like what you discribed anytime my mother leaves town. He is friendly with people but if she is gone things are different. He is afraid and will bite if you try to put/take him out of his space to go to the bathroom.

When my mom left town for a week he sat at my sisters door crying. Her dog has caused her to stop traveling. Its that serious.

The only thing I can think of is peanut butter? I hate to say it but thats just a weak attempt. I wish I knew something to stop it, I would be telling the owner that the dog is stressed out badly and wont go to the bathroom. Maybe she will consider taking him with her next time.

 

[TwoChicks]

Two suggestions that could work for getting him out of the crate without being bitten: Oven mitts and a towel if you want to go in after him, or open the door and tilt it until he slides out.

I agree this is a dealing-with-it situation rather than a re-training situation.

Good luck!

 

[EweSheep]

All I can say is the dog is very insecure about himself.

He knows he is controlling you with his fears.....it is not the time to be afraid of him but to step up the plate that you are the dominant owner, not him.

If he is getting dangerous, call the woman that the dog attempted to bite you and other members of your family and you feel it is not in the best interest to keep him there any longer than you can. If possible, take the dog to the boarding kennel or vet kennel for the time being and you will have them charge it to her, not you in the expenses IF the woman does not tell you where to take her dog to (another friend perhaps).

It is not fair for you and your family and your dogs to be subjected to this insecure dog.

Where is Cesar Milan when you need him LOL!

 

[radiodog]

Tilt the crate up so that he has to slide out....then I would put a leash on him and leave the leash on him the entire time he is with you. When he is put into the crate, I would make sure a part of the leash is left outside the crate for easy access to him. Take a gentle but no nonsense approach with him. If possible do not feed or water him in the crate...he will think he never has to come out. He is a food hog? I would use treats to gain his trust. Cheese..hot dogs...etc. Every time he does sometime good, give him a treat. Ignore any bad behavior, but reward the good. A fear biter needs to know they are protected and that nothing bad is going to happen to them...plus no baby talk. If he fights you on the leash, just keep walking but no tugging or jerking...he should stop fighting the leash for the moment and be more biddable. You'll probably have to repeat this every time you want to do something with him. You are the boss...a kind & gentle boss. I have 3 fear biters that are my good dogs, but I don't trust them with anybody else. Yeah..her constant picking him up is not good..he associates being rewarded (picked up) with everything he considers negative...but he is her dog. These 3 days will be a training exercise for you & him! ie: if he fights you on the leash, ignore the 'bad' behavior...the second he stops fighting you, pop a treat in his mouth to reward the 'good' behavior. he'll get the idea pretty quick.


Also...did you check him out to make sure he didn't get an injury in his fray with your jrt? plus he might be smelling the jrt on you and remembers the fray

 

[Egg_newton]

Use a muzzle or gloves to get him out. I have a sweet little boston terrier. She is friendly to everyone except new dogs. When she meets someone new she wears the muzzle.

 

[RiverOtter]

Quote:
What she said. Plus, to get him out of the crate to get the leash on, feed and water outside the crate. If he flat out will not come out, don't try to drag him out or tilt him out, just take the top of the crate off. Snap on the leash while he's still shocked that there is suddenly no crate to defend.

 

[Terri O]

Thanks for the replies. I got him out by the "dump" method. Took him outside to do his business...he must have peed for 5 mins! LOL! He is now walking about the kitchen panting. Tried my dogs' favorite cat treats (he doesnt like them) but he does know how to sit! That was the only " Good" behavior I could think of...

About the muzzle, that meeting new dogs thing must be a terrier behavior....the JRT usually does wear a muzzle meeting new dogs. It is pretty funny at the dog park...the smallest dog wants to be the ruler! Only problem was that the muzzle was in the car that my daughter took to work and DH "didn't think she would react that way..." Duh! I am so mad! (no bite marks tough--he is pretty hairy!)

OK so now they have peanut butter filled bones...the fat beagle (another rescue) took Max's (the boarder's) bone. He was ok with that...seems that he doesnt care for peanut butter. Now if Dh would just stop letting him hide under his robe and stop petting him and praising him every time he puts his feet up on him! I need a Cesar Milan for HIM!!!!

Terri O--pulling her hair out!

 

[mekasmom]

I would leave a leash on him, so you don't have to touch him in order to get him out. And a muzzle will also help you. He is simply a fear nipper. That is much more difficult to fix than an aggressive dog. You only have him for a few days, so just deal with safety issues by using a muzzle, leash, and crate. Making him a "velcro" dog will also help him get use to you, but is it worth it for a dog that you will only have for ten days?