One step forward, Two steps back

[StarFox]

We were making such good progress!!! Zebra has always had a problem with taking things that he shouldn't have and being agressive when I try to take them away. Well for the last two months or so he has been letting me take things out of his mouth or out from under him (he lays on things so I can't get them :roll: ). He was not agressive at all and I realy thought we were making some great progress. Untill tonight when he got a wrapper for some food and ran under the table with it. Well I went under the table and when I tried to pull it out of his mouth he did this horrible growling and curled his lips at me. Oh I got soo mad! And I said in a deep stern voice "Do NOT do that to me!". Uh then he gets scared and acts like I'm going to hurt him or something. Then I feel guilty for being stern with him. I'm realy getting frusterated with him. He is such a schytsoprenic(sp?) dog! This dog is going to be the death of me I just know it, he stresses me out so much. :stupid: :silly:

[kendalyn]

It's good that he backed down when you stood up to him. Keep doing it and don't let him get away with that stuff! :)

Maybe he was more defensive because he was in an enclosed area under the table and felt cornered? You could try getting him out of there before you take whatever it is he has next time.

[Peng1zrule]

the thing is...he was "cornered" and you went for his prize. he had to fight or flight, and under the table, there's only fight. GOOD FOR YOU to take the alpha tone and let him know he was wrong. absolultely what I would have done! he didn't get scared...he quickly switched roles...from alpha to beta.

[StarFox]

kendalyn napisał(a):

Maybe he was more defensive because he was in an enclosed area under the table and felt cornered? You could try getting him out of there before you take whatever it is he has next time.

I thought that he might have felt cornered but I have taken stuff away from him like that dozens of times. So that's why I was so shocked/mad.

I have tried to get him to come out but he just gets more agressive... :-? .

*Sigh* I dunno maybe he was just in a bad mood or something.

[Guest Anonymous]

Sometimes those things happen... Coal is really possessive over his things, he had a ball the other day and kept growling when I tried to take it, so I kicked it out from under him and grabbed it and got him to sit before I gave it back. He's food aggressive as well and has made a LOT of progress with a lot of hard work from me, but sometimes he takes steps back and will growl if I go near him again, nevermind touch, but as soon as I say "Coal" in a stern voice then he looks ashamed, and wiggles around. Just keep working, it's good he listened to you like that. Don't give up, just keep working, even when things like this happen, any improvment is better then none! He went a long time allowing you to take things and that's good! Even if he did slip up this one time.

[courtnek]

Do NOT do that to me!". Uh then he gets scared and acts like I'm going to hurt him or something. Then I feel guilty for being stern with him

the difference is that this time what you took away from him was food-orientated. Food is the most common problem area with a dog. You did the right thing Star - let him have it with tone of voice. He backed down, as he should. the acting scared of being hurt is instinctive - it they piss off the alpha they could get punished. as only an angry alpha can do. the only thing I would change would be that once he gave it up, I would praise and pet him, to reinforce good behavior. Remember, they dont remember things for long....if he gives it up and you praise him right then (even though you're still PO'd) he will associate being polite with good things...

:)

[StarFox]

courtnek napisał(a):

the only thing I would change would be that once he gave it up, I would praise and pet him, to reinforce good behavior. Remember, they dont remember things for long....if he gives it up and you praise him right then (even though you're still PO'd) he will associate being polite with good things...

:)

:oops: Umm yea guess I should start praising him instead of just walking away mad.. Sometimes I forget that I have to think like a dog to make him understand. Thanks for reminding me. :wink:

[imported_Cassie]

What I used to do with my Rottweiler which had TOO MANY ISSUES :lol: when I first adopted her...first I taught her "off" or some people like "drop it" and "take it"...I reinforce this all the time with play toys like balls, kongs etc. chase, bring back, "off" and throw....etc. when the game is over I tell her "off" and some times I will give it back to her by saying "take it"...I make sure my Rottie does not have a reason to "guard" objects...if my dog had a wonderful food source such as wrapper with some wonderful food stuff still stuck on it...I would either tell my dog "off"...if I am still not sure how wonderful my dogs "off" command is I would offer her some thing "better" in place of the food wrapper she stole. Dogs are natural scavengers, they can be very good at stealing food items. The reason I say I would offer some thing better for the item the dog has stole is you are letting your dog know that you control all resources and have really good things to share with your dog. I have found more people have run into problems by losing their tempers and grabbing an item from a dog...this can lead to your getting bitten...also cornering your dog and grabbing the treasured food wrapper then getting mad is not helping Zebra....to a dog this is making you look unpredictable in his eyes...you just turned on your dog. Zebra is not acting abnormal.
Until you have "off" and "drop it" completely trained I would offer a better treat for the valued resource which Zebra may steal...then reward once he drops it...reward and praise...before giving the treat for the item stolen...tell Zebra..."off" and then offer the good treat and say "take it" then start reinforcing the training with play toys without offering a treat in return, but, instead the chance to chase after it etc. also try to have Zebra come to you when he has a valued resource you want to take away from him...a direct approach by you can seem threatening to a dog which can lead to the dog becoming more defensive.
With my Rottie now, I can take away meaty femur bones...pat her while she is chewing them...she will actually keep chewing while rolling on her back to recieve a belly rub...belly rubs are a wonderful way to bond with your dog and give you an opportunity to have the dog in a submissive position and be very relaxed about it...and this is a dog which attacked me a few times when I first adopted her...she also would not allow me to pat her head (most dominant dogs find this to be a dominant gesture) etc. you can over come these dominance problems with positive training, I know you already do the NIFIL...a happy secure dog is a good dog...and one of my favorite phrases..."success builds confidence, removes confusion" whatever you do....don't confuse your dog. :wink: