My dog just turned on me and now I am scared!

seven-day-weekend

I would keep the dog out of the bathroom. Don't let him defend it as 'his' space. He has to see that it is not his space, it is yours. Go in and out of it and let him see you doing it. Close the door behind you. I'm sure there are other places in the house where the dog can cool down.

Hope you feel better soon.

Crisp_£_note

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I would keep the dog out of the bathroom. Don't let him defend it as 'his' space. He has to see that it is not his space, it is yours. Go in and out of it and let him see you doing it. Close the door behind you. I'm sure there are other places in the house where the dog can cool down.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you seven-day-weekend

We usualy keep the door closed as he has had a tendancy in the past to lie in there, on this occasion it was either an oversight of my fault or the breeze from the open bathroom window (which is often closed but due to hot weather has been opened) had blown it open. Its now firmly shut each time we use it and so are the baby-gates for the other areas on his 'no go' list.

Thank you.

meritaten

krlyr wrote: »

Yes, outdated. Even one of the original perpetuators of the pack theory in dogs has changed his mind on it, having misinterpreted the behaviour of wolves
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2007250,00.html
http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/why-wont-dominance-die


If you look at professional organisations like the APDT and APBC, they will go as far as to ban these outdated methods such as "alpha rolling" from use by any of their members, and advice against it in their publications
http://www.apdt.co.uk/members-only/code-of-practice
http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/dog-aggression-FAQs

What makes police dog handlers so much more qualified than dog trainers or dog behaviourists? There is definately a trend of using more physical methods in police dog type training and therefore I would expect to see a bias towards the methods they use/support. I would much rather use a behaviourist with a qualification in animal behaviour and a membership to somewhere like the APBC.

Interestingly, I know of someone who worked at a protection dog training facility. She is a firm believe of modern, fair methods, and raised her working line GSD with these methods. He has excelled at things like Schutzhund, using no outdated, physical-based training methods. Her employer at the time told her she would never manage to train the dogs with her methods - yet she soon managed to get a great response from a dog that others had previously struggled with in the facility.

Recent does not mean faddy - we are discovering the errors in older methods all the time, it may have worked for years but it doesn't mean it was the best or only way. There have been so many studies on the pack theory etc. that disprove it, and I have seen so many behaviourists turn dogs around (even very aggressive dogs) with APDT-supported methods, I feel it's a real shame that the pack leader/dominance/Cesar-Milan type stuff is still being spread around.

A couple of good stories of a trainer "fannying around" with dogs with a bite-history, and turning them around with only reward based training methods.
http://www.druidalegsd.karoo.net/leon1.htm
http://www.druidalegsd.karoo.net/shadow.htm

Where did I mention 'physical based training methods'? I didn't. or 'pack mentality' based on wolves? I didn't.

I simply stated that the dog/human relationship should be one of boss/underling - if you have a problem with that then that's your problem.
my own dogs understood who was boss, 'ME'. they started gentle training immediately. if there was any disobedience the training started again from the very beginning. I NEVER physically reprimanded my dogs - they were trained with love and treats. and I was never ever attacked by any of my dogs. and they adored humans and trusted them.

ariba10

We have always kept Labradors but they are not allowed upstairs or on any furniture.

When they were young they were taught not to jump up to anyone.

If the children wanted to play with them, it was on the floor (Their territory)

The only downside to that was that if you had to get down on the floor to do something they looked at it as an invite to play.

Never had one bite anyone.

They are pack animals and if you are not boss- They are.

Pechow

meritaten wrote: »

Where did I mention 'physical based training methods'? I didn't. or 'pack mentality' based on wolves? I didn't.

I simply stated that the dog/human relationship should be one of boss/underling - if you have a problem with that then that's your problem.
my own dogs understood who was boss, 'ME'. they started gentle training immediately. if there was any disobedience the training started again from the very beginning. I NEVER physically reprimanded my dogs - they were trained with love and treats. and I was never ever attacked by any of my dogs. and they adored humans and trusted them.

You originally spoke of "asserting dominance" and "you may find the dog thinks it can take over as pack leader". They are saying that dogs do not think and behave in terms of "dominance" and "pack leaders", that this old way of thinking is based on outdated and disproven research (that is what the "pack mentality based on wolves" krlyr mentioned refers to), and then they provided links to back up their statements.

rancid-a

Lots of people suggesting the weather may be at fault. OP - Have you taken the dogs out yet in this hot weather and given them a good hosing down with cool water? I'm sure they would love it.... I think. Put some ice in their water to keep it nice & cool?

meritaten

Pechow wrote: »

You originally spoke of "asserting dominance" and "you may find the dog thinks it can take over as pack leader". They are saying that dogs do not think and behave in terms of "dominance" and "pack leaders", that this old way of thinking is based on outdated and disproven research (that is what the "pack mentality based on wolves" krlyr mentioned refers to), and then they provided links to back up their statements.

true - but pack is another word for a 'family' group. and I am not entirely sure the current wisdom is correct. dogs are not wolves - but they are part of human 'families' and should be the lowest in the pecking order.

has anyone told dogs that they are not considered part of a 'pack' btw? and groups of dogs definitely have a 'pack' mentality - or do they have committee meetings these days and vote democratically?

Pechow

What makes you say that you aren't sure the current wisdom is correct? And what do you mean when you say "pack mentality", pecking order, etc. when applied here?

Margaret54

Hello Crisp £ Note Read your posts and wishing you all the very best with your pets. We have a lovely dog which is very old now and have had him since he was a puppy. He is sadly coming to the end of his life which we are so sad about. I can understand you were shocked when your pet bit you. Hope things are okay now for you and please take good care love Margaret

_Andy_

ariba10 wrote: »

If any dog bit me or mine it would die.

It would matter not whose dog it was.

Brillant. What a loving, compassionate, caring, understanding person you are. Not.