Showing aggression

Having read the other posts, I still want some opinions onbehavior modification. Got a malebulldog 6 months old showing dominance. Was doing fine until 2 weeks ago when I gave him a bone; went to pick itup and he snapped at me like a wolf. Ipicked him up and pinned him to the ground; though that was the end of it. The other day I gave him a cow hoof and thesame thing happened. Again I pinned himto the ground until he submitted. Needless-to-say, no more toys for him. To teach him submissiveness and tolerance, I’ve been placing my hand inhis bowl when he is eating. This is alittle scary because he still curls up his lips and shows his teeth but has yetto bit (lucky I guess). As a footnote, to teach him obedienceand my dominance over him, I’ve started to use a pinch collar. Have had some success, but at times he fightsit tooth and nails. Any suggestions onhow to handle this guy?

 

This is the guy I'm talking about.

 

Instead of putting your hand in the food bowl try just petting the dog while praising him while he eats. Get him used to being touched when he is eating or sleeping, hell, I even do it when we are playing tug of war. Keep to doing the controled downs too. Takes some time with a dominate male. In time, he'll learn whos pack leader. Good luck.

 

Hand feed him from now on literally don't feed him from a bowl feed him from your hands. If he goes to growl or snap at you Pick his ass up by the scruff shake him and tell him NO! Then take his food away and put him in a crate. The dog is resource guarding his food you are going to have big problems on your hands if you don't fix this now. Was he doing this as a young pup? Or did this just start at 6 months old?

 

If he does bite I'd say cull him I no it sounds bad but a man biter can't be trusted imo.

 

He was okay as a pup. I just think his testosteron is starting to kicking in. I'll try the hand feeding and see.

 

Try hand feeding him for awhile and then you can introduce his bowl back slowly over a period of time. He needs to understand that this type of behavior is unacceptable. You may have to use a little force with him just to straighten him up so scruffing him and a firm tone and then putting him in the crate should send a message. You control when he eats, where he eats, how much he eats, and when he's done eating not him. You feeding him from your hands establishes you as the leader and not him he must eat from your hands. When you introduce the bowl back make sure you fill it only a little bit at a time each time placing the food from your hands back into the bowl. make him sit and wait before he eats. As he improves and is showing good behavior reward him with tone and praise.

 

Just as an added note try to be as confident as you can it does wonders

 

What sadieblues said sounds about right to me. Also, once he gets used to eating from your hand and you want to use a bowl again, make him do a trick before you give him the food. Put the food in the bowl and then make him sit or lay down before you put the bowl on the ground.

 

I started hand feeding him this AM. Will continue to do so and keep you advised of my progress. How do I know when it's appropriate for me to start introducing the bowl?

 

Yeah what sadie says was on point ive always made my dogs sit before eating. I think it teaches them respect and patience. What a good dog woman you are!

 

If worst comes to worst and hes only aggressive while eating just put his food in a corner away from everyone and by himself and just dont fuck with him while hes eating.

 

I don't know I don't usually make it point to jack with dogs, mine or others, while they are eating. I think if you get bit because you're messing with a dog that's trying to eat you kinda deserve it, lol.

 

I don't want to "jack" with him by no means. I just want him to uderstand/respect that I'm the hand that feeds him. Sort of like a pecking order that is generally established in pack animals, or for that matter among people (lol).

 

Oops. Just read the REST of sadieblues' post....the part where she said the same thing I said....Well, I reckon it must be good advice. :lol:

thepeon: Messing with a dog that's eating isn't too smart, but letting a dog think he can back you off of his food (or anything else) isn't too smart, either, especially if they live inside. Ever seen a dog charge halfway across the room to scare someone away from his food or toy? Not cool...usually a bluff, but what if?

 

I would hand feed for at least 4 weeks and then start introducing the bowl back and see how he reacts when you place his food down make him sit take the food from your hand and move it to his bowl and let him start eating off your hand while it's in his bowl. Then slowly drop the food into the bowl wait for a few seconds and try to put your hand back in his bowl with a little more food and see how he reacts. Then while he's eating stop him and take his bowl from him make him sit again and put it back down and let him finish. If he attempts to growl, or shows any negative behavior stop him immediately scruff him tell him no! and put him in his crate immediately. Make him sit in there for a 20 minutes. Than bring him out and try it again.

 

Point well taken; your advice makes sense to me.

 

I agree with not messing with dogs while they are eating but if for any reason you have to move them or their food while they are eating you should be able to touch them or their food without them trying to take your head off. Also if you have kids running around and I don't mean letting kids bother the dogs while they are eating but if the kid is in the kitchen with you and let's say your dog is eating and the kid walks by the dog and the dog growls or snaps at the child you don't want dogs doing this shit. A dog should not be allowed to guard it's food from it's owner. I don't care about them guarding their food from other dogs I get that. But if I touch you or your food you better not even think about growling or snapping at me lol.

 

Amir for future references if you ever get another pup always hand feed them and pet them while they are eating from an early age that way they can get used to you being in their food bowl and touching them while they are eating. I do this with every pup that has ever stepped foot into the home. It's just good practice to start them off early to try and prevent or correct any issues from a very young age. Let me know how it goes...

 

I'm totaly at falt here; didn't put in the time like I should have from the start.