people aggression,but friendly body language
#193785 - 05/07/2008 04:12 PM |
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This has happened twice in a year. I have a male 3 year old Malinois that is fixed. I do alpha/pack techniques, exercise, obedience, the things recommended here at Leerburg. Dog is 99% good with people. 1st incident, female came to me with Sam on leash, asked if he was friendly, he was wagging his tail so I let him go to her telling him it was okay in "happy" voice. She was petting him and he was enjoying it than he growled and snapped and I popped and pulled him away with a verbal correction to go with the pop of his leash lifting him off his front feet. 2nd incident, similar on leash away from his area at a park. Little lady asked if he is friendly and I said usually. He went to her wagging, ears back, then after being petted on head for awhile turned aggressive, tried to bite/snapped and grazed her wrist as I popped his leash w/prong collar and hung his head high off the ground with a verbal correction. 1st incident the lady over petted him and hugged his head and that was when he turned. 2nd incident little lady was petting his head then talked friendly to him and bent down a little towards his face which I know dominant dogs don't like. I am very aware when letting him greet people but I don't do the tight leash or convey tension deal but he still comes in friendly with good body language, draws them in then tried to bite in these situations. Other than telling people don't hug, bend down, go close to face, or not even let him be petted what can I do as I want to socialize him w/people but don't want to take the chance of him biting an innocent person. A muzzle will only help when it is on? I now wonder if a person doesn't hug or bend down over him will he still bite, now I have my doubts. Suggestions appreciated.
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Tolea Kong ]
#193790 - 05/07/2008 04:33 PM |
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Welcome to the Forum.
Truly, there is no reason your dog needs to be petted by people. Sounds like he is fine around them as long as they do not touch him.
Not a bad thing at all really. The only person(s) the dog needs to be "friendly" with is you and also the dog needs to be tolerant around your family in the house the dog lives in.
I am sure others will jump in with some articles to read as well.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter |
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Carol Boche ]
#193793 - 05/07/2008 06:41 PM |
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I used the club to help me socialize my dogs. At first I wasn't cool with people wanting to pet Erika or Roxi but I like going to the park with my kids and invaribly some kid runs up and pets them with out asking. So I trained to it and let the kids know not to run up on strange dogs. What also helps is vests. Ed has some vests that simply say "Dog in Training" which I found quite effective for adults. Young kids however sometimes can't read or don't clue into the vest.
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Tolea Kong ]
#193795 - 05/07/2008 06:55 PM |
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With a dog like you are describing, IMO, it is 100% your responsibility to know your dog and where he is at with training.
What I found most helpful with strangers was obedience and awareness of the people around us. If someone did approach and want to talk, I used obedience with the dog. Put dog in sit or platz, then talk to the person...I would make appoint to request no pets at first, release the dog to "say hi" and the person was told to not make any sudden movements. After that, my dog was good with the person offering an open hand, he would sniff and ignore. I'd then reward with tug and go back into obedience.
As Carol said, there really is no need for other people to pet your dog. If you've had "lovin dovin" dogs in the past, it takes some getting used to people not petting your dog, but in this scenario, you are better to err on the side of caution. JMHO.
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Carol Boche ]
#193797 - 05/07/2008 06:59 PM |
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Thanks for the response. Yes I am thankful that he is very loving to my family which includes 3 toddlers. Just felt real bad for the elderly lady who did the right thing in asking first if it was okay to pet and couldn't understand why the turn in aggression as she was female, non threatening, small in stature and my dog came to her friendly. If just the action of petting him and bending over a little towards his face as she spoke to him did it, I guess I shouldn't take the chance with anymore dog lovers wanted to pet him as you can't control how the person or the dog will act. I'm sure I'll get more great advice, this is a great website with a lot of knowledgeable people as well as Mr. Frawley.
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Tolea Kong ]
#193802 - 05/07/2008 07:29 PM |
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I guess I shouldn't take the chance with anymore dog lovers wanted to pet him as you can't control how the person or the dog will act.
Oh, you can control how your dog will act...this is what makes a great handler. Awareness is your friend.
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Michele McAtee ]
#193808 - 05/07/2008 09:11 PM |
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I have found that by staying aware of surroundings and (as mentioned above) having the dog platz first, it keys the unaware that this dog is "different". Usually what I will do is put the dog in a down stay then step in front of it to talk to the person approaching. When they ask about the dog I tell them that she/he is working right now and cannot be petted. This works about 98% of the time. THe other two percent get offended and storm off muttering something about how I should "let my dog be a dog" lol. I never worry about those folks, though. As for kids, I do the same thing, usually getting down on a knee to be at eye level with the child, which will usually get their attention on me while I start looking for mom or dad. If the kid is old enough to understand full sentences I explain about asking before petting and tell them the dog has a job and she can't play right now. Usually by now the parent is there and overhears part of the conversation. So far, it's worked for me in keeping people from petting my dog.
When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower. |
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Cameron Feathers ]
#193862 - 05/08/2008 11:35 AM |
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You are fortunate that people are at least asking you first.
Last night I had a senior man step into my personal space, ask what kind of dog I had, and then make a grab for my 65-lb male dog without warning. Fortunately I was quick enough to body-block the guy and get the dog behind me. My dog is friendly to people but he's nervous, and that's all I need is for some idiot to startle him and make him suspicious of people forever.
Sorry for the rant... and although I'm not an experienced trainer it seems to me that you could train the dog that snapping is NEVER allowed as Dennis has mentioned. I guess to do this you would have to set up scenarios with the dog muzzled. You are correct in saying that you can't control what people will do, but you want your DOG to know how he is expected to react at all times.
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Angela Burrell ]
#193874 - 05/08/2008 12:25 PM |
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My boy is the same way. I just do my best to keep rude stupid "must-pet-your-dog" people away. I was looking at some collars at the petstore and had my dutchie Logan sitting next to me being good. Some stupid guy snuck up on me and I saw him out of the corner of my eye at the last second. I was said "NO!" as the moron reached to pet him without asking. Logan was going to meet him hand with teeth but I pulled him back as the guy jerked his hand away. I then gave him a lecture about how stupid he was. His reason was "he was being so good I thought he might be friendly". What an idiot. I will probably invest in a muzzle at some point.
A tired dog is a good dog, a trained dog is a better dog. |
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Re: people aggression,but friendly body language
[Re: Tresa Hendrix ]
#193878 - 05/08/2008 12:32 PM |
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People are ignorant about petting dogs without asking, but if a bite occurs in a public place the dog owner will be paying the price...
better to be safe w/ a muzzle than facing a lawsuit...
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