Off limits paws
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| I can't help with dominance issues, but maybe he had something (a pebble etc.) stuck in in his paws and he was being sensitive? Or a mat was forming? I'm sure others will chime in. |
| I would suggest getting a positive reinforcement trainer and work on desensitizing exercises so that he gets rewards while you touch the spots he doesn't want you to. I did this with Walter and I can now touch his paws, though if I linger I will get bit. You may also want to get him used to a muzzle so that if you need to handle his paws for injury, mats, or other issues you can do so without worrying about him snapping. |
| Thanks for the insight and suggestions. He may have had a mat but he also has the same reaction when he has buried his head in the couch and we try to get him off. Usually he is a very sweet dog and will curl up with us on the couch with no problems but when he thinks he smells something inside the couch he gets possessive. He has also been possessive with food before but is getting much better since we started working with him on that issue. I fear that all of these things point to a larger issue and I'm worried that I reinforce his bad behavior. Where can I find a positive reinforcement trainer that is credible and won't over-charge me. I don't even know what a reasonable rate would be but my husband and I don't have much extra money right now. Are there any sites or textbooks you could recommend so I can try to fix the problem myself? |
| Where do you live? Perhaps there's someone here in your area that can recommend a good trainer. If he gets possessive on the couch, he shouldn't be allowed on the couch. To me, the biggest tool you can have is keeping your dog out of trouble in the first place and minimizing conflict. If you do that and work on teaching basic commands, and the holy grail, the "down stay", you will have a much more harmonious household! |
| We don't let him stay on the couch if he isn't laying down with a chewy and it's definitely off if there is any acting up! I agree basics are key but sometimes my husband and I don't agree how to deal with Rupert when he is doing something bad. I live outside of Portland, Maine, near Sebago Lake. Do you happen to know anyone near or in Maine? |
| Has Rupert been neutered? |
| Yes, Rupert has been neutered. My husband didn't want to do it but I thought that Rupert would easily be able to take me off my feet if he smelled a girl dog in heat. Also I was told by our vet that it would be healthier for him and lessen any agressive tendencies he may have had. |
| correct me if I am wrong but didn't Hudson's mom work on a similar issue. I think she took control of the "area" and after some huffing and puffing he was much better. I am not sure if you can search for the tread and I forget what the specifics were. Hopefully she or others will chime in. |
Not being able to touch his paws is a serious issue, firstly because that's a prime area you and your vets need to be able to have a good look at/ groom/ etc (same goes with every area of your dog really) secondly, my trainer did mention that over-dominant dogs specifically don't let people touch their paws as a dominant behaviour. This could lead to all sorts of further issues, it's bad enough that your dog snapped- but don't panic- most of us have been there! I would say try positive reward training on a one-to-one basis with a good qualified dog trainer as SOON as possible. They will give you a heap of tips, like boundaries you need to set and lifestyle changes that signal to your dog who is boss. These will be little things like not letting him up onto furniture at all  |
| Thank you for the information about the link between paw touching and dominance. I have already started to set more boundaries, especially about the furniture, and Rupert seems confused but isn't really upset. I've also noticed some of the inconsistent behaviours that my husband and I present to Rupert. I'm trying to make sure that we have all the same rules so there is no confusion as to what is expected. Can anyone recommend a good book about training sheepdogs through positive reinforcement? |
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