I have to walk my neighbor's dog everyday for a week. When I open the door, he immediately growls at me and bares his teeth. I didn't mind too much (other than it being scary) because I thought he was just guarding the house. Then he would walk into the laundry room, lay down, and growl at me if I get near him, with or without holding the leash. So, to be safe, I decided to have my dad (he is a pretty intimidating looking guy) help me. My dad opened the door and the dog just wagged his tail and came over happily. H elet me hook on the leash and I took him on a walk. I come back later alone and he is growling at me. My dad said "I visited yesterday, so he must have just remembered me". That didn't make sense to me because I worked there for two months and was never mean to the dog, and yet the dog hates me. Then today I came over, he started growling again, so I go back home and my mom offers to come with me. I walk in before she does and the dog growls at me, and then when my mom walked in the dog walked happily over to her, wagging his tail. The dog has barely ever even seen the dog.

So I put two and two together and concluded that since I am a small girl (I am only 105 lbs even though I am sixteen), he thinks he can boss me around, and so far it is working because I am afraid he will bite me (he is a pretty big dog, especially compared to me.. but oddly enough, my mom is only a few inches taller than me and she had no problems).

How can I make myself the dominant figure? Whenever he growls at me I give him that "cold, scolding stare" and tell him no or bad dog in a deep voice, but he isn't phased and still growls and bares his teeth at me. I am determined to make myself the dominant one because this feels like it is actually gettign personal! Lol. Help!

I would advise against trying to stare him down, especially if you go over there alone. In fact, I wouldn't advise you going over alone either. He knows by now that 1)You are afraid of him and 2)If he growls, you retreat. At this point he is more than confident that you are below him. Where are the owners? Are they on vacation? They really need to be there to reinforce that you are above him in rank. Until they come back and are able to work with him and you together, take your dad or mom over when you go to walk him. How does he behave on the walk? Is he a Shepherd or another breed?

You need to read ed frawly's article on dominant dogs. Like now. Right now. This dog is showing dominance based aggression and you are at risk of being bit. The way to show it you are boss is not by staring it down. this could actually trigger a bite. It is not your job to show it who is boss that is the owners job to correct it. If the owner won't do it or isn't there, and the dog is already showing aggression to you then unless you are a trainer who knows what they are doing and you are not, then dont mess with the dog. "dog bit"isn't fun at all you wont like it trust me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> . If you must interact with this dog then take a parent it dosent challange with you. The dog is prob chalanging you because of your age or the way you carry yourself it knows you are afraid. Please be carefull. It takes time to correct dominance and it isnt your job to do this.

Melody, as brave as you seem to be you are in danger of being badly bitten or worse. I have no idea what breed or size of dog you are dealing with but you are "NEVER" going to make yourself the dominant figure. Trying to stare down this type of dog is a BIG NO NO! You are dealing with matters that are out of your league and continually trying to push the issue with this dog will get you hurt. Don't be stupid! If this dog is allowing your father to do what needs to be done then you need to be responsible and smart enough to ask him to continue taking care of this dog until the owners come back. Reading Ed's articles are not going to help you solve this particular problem.

Glenn

Okay, thank you all very much. I posted it after I took him home so that I could have advice on what to do tomorrow. I really was pretty clueless on how to handle the situation. Sadly, he is no specific breed. He is a mutt, that is probably about 2 feet in height fromt he ground to his shoulders. The owners are on vacation right now with my little sister in Florida. I called her (the owner) and told her about it and she said that I should try offering him treats and such, and that I only have to walk him once a day instead of twice a day now. She told me if he fusses with me even if I coem over once a day then just leave him because she doesn't want a lawsuit, LOL. I am not sure if I should try the treat thing, it sounds bad to me. Okay, this dog will growl at me, and then go into the laundry room, lay down, and growl at me if I try to get near, right? Her suggestion was to throw treats towards him to try to get him to warm up to me. I did not do this because it seems like I would be rewarding him for disobeying. It's really frustrating because the owner already paid me before she left, so I have a lot of pressure to do the job right.

I know that I am not the best dog trainer (obviously), but this family is raising their dogs pretty badly. I work with the owner making medical ID bracelets, and a worker there and I were talkign about dogs and she said that one of the owner's dogs (they have two) ran down the stairs once and started growling at her. I wouldn't doubt it, and I told the owners about it because I thought they should do something about it, but they looked at their beloved "puppies" and said "Oh, Murphy would NEVER do that! No you wouldn't Murphy!" and would hug and snuggle the dog. It disgusted me. That is only an example of what they do.

The dog I am dealing with though is not Murphy. I have to deal with Buddy, who is probably 4 years old.

Oh yes. While walking he isn't that bad, but his owners did not train him well on walking so I do have a few difficulties. He does not growl at me or anything with walking, just acts like a normal dog. But I think he does try to show dominance because sometimes he does not listen to me and will not follow me, and will actually try to pull back towards his house. I try not to allow this, but what do you guys think I should do about that? He also doesn't have very well leash skills because the only leashes they use on their dogs are retractable leashes and they are too lazy to control them. Whenever I walk my dogs and see them, their dogs are always in the street and what not and the owners are just like "buddy come! Buccy no, come!" Sorry, I guess this is just become a rant now! I will end it, Lol.

Glenn is right, and thanks for writing that glenn, I had to suddenly leave the computer and couldn't finish up my post. I wanted you to read the articles to hopefully help you understand how serious this is. You do not fix this problem in a week. It takes months of correct training, and as I said before it is not your place or job to do. Glenn is right, take your dad with you to do the job because you will get bit otherwise. If you feel bad about the money, then return it when they get home. It is not worth the bite, Trust us. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Also,you were right about the treat thing. You do seem brave, lets not add stupid to that list <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> . Let your dad read these posts, I am quite sure being a parent my self, that he dosent't want his "little girl" bitten. It doesn't matter that he only shows aggression sometimes. If he is showing the behaviors you describe at all, then what we have said applies. please listen and good luck.

Thanks for all of your advice. They could have been life saver's, literally. Well, today was the last day I had to walk the dog. Needless to say, I am never walking that dog ever again, Lol. I am glad I remembered the forum because everyone around me was giving me pretty bad advice, and I myself am pretty ignorant about dominant dogs. This is the first dominant dog I have ever had to deal with before. Don't worry, I had my mom come with me (He isn't dominant towards my mom) after I read your posts. I ordered some books, including Fatal Dog Attacks, and I am hoping that will give me more insight to dominant dogs. Thank you all =)