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› Behavior & Training
My blue heeler dog is 3 yrs old and still bites. I am afraid I will have to get rid of him.How do I stop his biting.
Dog will attack if you scream
He does not like "new: people. He is ok once he gets use to them.
Bit a friend(one he knows well) after she would NOT stop dancing with him.
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Guest 247578
on Aug 24th 2009
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in Behavior & Training
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Answers
Bite aggression usually comes from fear or pain. If your dog has been cleared by a vet and is not in pain it has to be fear.
If your dog lacks confidence it will be fearful and that leads to the aggression.
The solution is to desencitize, and socialize the dog. This will take some time, (several months or so) so dont try to rush the rehab.
You will first need to build the dogs trust and confidence. Take lots of time to work with your dog & give LAVISH praise when it executes commands correctly. As its confidence grows, it will become more outgoing & less fearful.
To socialize, slowly begin introducing your dog to people and sounds. Start from a LONG distance. Gauge your dog's reaction and make sure it stays calm. When it becomes unsure , cautious or aggrevated back away, turn around and allow the dog to relax. Once relaxed you can begin again.
DONT push the dog. Allow it to work at its own pace or you will make things worse.
Patchs
answered on 8/24/09.
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Herding dogs don't always have the most calm nerves. Our Border Collie Mix is my ADHD "child", high energy, high strung, excitable. Her reaction to new is to bark, and she sounds ugly. Strict training to "sit", "stay", "down", and "quiet" are needed. She is asked to go to her mat when company comes in the house. Playing anything exciting is a no-no. Dancing or running or any other exciting games should be forbidden around the dog. Put the dog away before any horseplay.
Always give the dog a very sharp "NO!" if he puts his mouth on a person.
Don't separate him from new people, but leash him and make him sit or lie down.
Pepper
answered on 8/24/09.
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Biting can be a very serious problem, and you are right to be concerned. Fortunately, most dogs can be trained out of most behaviors, if humane methods and positive reinforcement are used. No yelling, no leash-jerking, no forcing him to lie on his side.
Take him to the vet, to rule out any physical illness or injury that could be causing the biting behavior.
Once he has a clean bill of health, the best thing you can do is to consult a behaviorist or trainer who specializes in dog aggression. See www.k9techsupport.com for an article on how to select a reputable trainer.
Make sure he gets enough exercise, and don't let anyone "dance" with him; clearly, he does not appreciate it! Supervise him at all times.
Read The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell, Ph.D. for photos and written examples of dog behavior. This book will help you understand where your dog is coming from, and how to help him calm down and stop attacking.
Good luck!
Katie
answered on 8/24/09.
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Sounds like he can be trained to somewhat not bite people coming in the house? sounds like that is where it is occuring.
Also what do you mean by dancing?
Have your friends be calmer while visiting. You can start by simply taking a nice mat and placing it in the living room. Without other people teach the dog to down on the mat. Direct him over to it and give the command. Then when he complies he gets a reward, maybe a toy maybe a piece of hot dog. Small piece that is. If the dog gets off mat gently lead him back to it and do same. Then after Many repetitions, go sit on the couch. If he gets up calmly lead him back. Reward for complying. Then after many times and a few weeks do this with distractions, the friends. Same thing he gets up it is mat and down, then reward. This way the dog learns mat-good, down/stay-good, friends/mat-good, calm/mat-good. If the noise is bothering her then when you want to get loud with friends, she goes to a crate til the party is done. Reward/crate also
Dieta
answered on 8/25/09.
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I agree with the other posters and only wanted to add that you might need to put a leash on or crate your friends.
Don’t let them tease or torment your dog and if your dog shows she had enough, make them stop.
It is not okay to have fun at the expense of an animal and if the dog showed your friend she wanted to stop and the friend didn’t they she was responsible for making the dog bite her.
Fritz
answered on 8/25/09.
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