Neighbour's problem dog - over-excited, barking and snapping

[Mobile Chicane]

As above. Hopefully someone can offer some pointers on what to do.

My neighbour has a four (ish) year-old rescue springer dog, which is becoming more and more of a problem. It rushes around, barking excitedly, and has recently taken to snapping and biting.

I've tried ignoring the dog when it tears around barking, however somewhere along the line it has learned that snapping gets attention, and tonight it bit me on the thigh. Not hard enough to break skin through jeans, but enough to hurt and leave a bruise.

Question is, how do I stop the dog from snapping at me should it decide to have another go at some point in the future? It goes from absolute calm to barking mad in a nano-second, and is completely impervious to command (from anyone) when it's in that state.

Poor dog (I actually feel sorry for it) gets no exercise in London during the week, so it goes nuts when it gets out to the country. It also has the worst diet of cheap tinned food and kibble. I've suggested raw feeding as a way of calming the dog down, however my neighbour thinks this will make the dog smell worse than it already does. He doesn't engage in any form of structured play or training with it, and the dog is just allowed to run around and make its own amusement.

Clearly the owner needs to do a number of things - including consulting a behaviourist, but that's never going to happen in a year of Sundays. He's not an uneducated chav - far from it - but he's fundamentally ignorant of how dogs see the world. For example, when the dog runs off (which it frequently does) he'll tell it off when it comes back.

My question being, what can I do to make the dog back off? I don't give a toss whether it's afraid of me, I just want it to learn that I'm not to be messed with.

Any advice much appreciated. Calling for its destruction is not an option.

Edited by Mobile Chicane on Saturday 25th January 21:35

[CAPP0]

I think the best thing you can do is to try and get the local dog warden and/or the RSPCA involved, with the net intention of getting the dog rehomed.

Years ago where I lived there was a problem dog; long story short, the dog warden advised that if it bit another dog then the warden wasn't much bothered, but bite a human and it's potentially curtains.

Without being dramatic, what if it bites a 3 year old next time? Better it's rehomed with someone who will treat, train and stimulate it appropriately?

[Jasandjules]

As you clearly appreciate, the dog simply is not getting enough exercise. Too much energy leads to problems.

However, when dealing with it, stand your ground. Body language will show the dog you are in charge. Also actually give it commands like sit - it may be somewhat confused by this at first but it will soon identify you as someone more in charge than it. If barking etc ignore. I would personally push the dog back as well, or when someone comes into my house and my excited dog (she just is, the other two are calm) jumps up, we tell them to knee her in the chest. Once they've done that she stops jumping at them....I am sure many people will think it is cruel but 8 stone worth of dog needs to be prevented from such things.

Get the owner on here, I will happily explain how raw feeding will calm the dog down, give it a healthier coat, smell less and better breath too. And as for the poos, well sooo much smaller and less smelly with it.

[Mobile Chicane]

Jasandjules said:

As you clearly appreciate, the dog simply is not getting enough exercise. Too much energy leads to problems.

However, when dealing with it, stand your ground. Body language will show the dog you are in charge. Also actually give it commands like sit - it may be somewhat confused by this at first but it will soon identify you as someone more in charge than it. If barking etc ignore. I would personally push the dog back as well, or when someone comes into my house and my excited dog (she just is, the other two are calm) jumps up, we tell them to knee her in the chest. Once they've done that she stops jumping at them....I am sure many people will think it is cruel but 8 stone worth of dog needs to be prevented from such things.

Get the owner on here, I will happily explain how raw feeding will calm the dog down, give it a healthier coat, smell less and better breath too. And as for the poos, well sooo much smaller and less smelly with it.

Thanks - I'll try.

When you say 'stand your ground', what should I do? The dog ran in circles around my legs and had a nip before I realised what it was going to do. It's quick, too.

Would baring teeth or making growly/barky noises back at it help?

Unfortunately getting the RSPCA involved isn't an option either. He won't re-home the dog. He dotes on it. He's a lonely old man with few friends.

Thankfully there are no children in the area that the dog could sink its teeth into - just me.

[Jasandjules]

Mobile Chicane said:

Thanks - I'll try.

When you say 'stand your ground', what should I do? The dog ran in circles around my legs and had a nip before I realised what it was going to do. It's quick, too.

Would baring teeth or making growly/barky noises back at it help?

You present yourself square on i.e. your "biggest" body angle. Not a threat posture but plant your feet and square your shoulders so you are "firm". You can also put your arm out facing it I.e. like a police officer effecting a vehicle stop in the road. You have to see what the dog is doing and keep facing it squarely. I assume when it nips it is behind you.

Depending on the dog growling at it may assist. I am not a fan of this really unless it is a dog in my pack. Even then I use it only as a warning to prevent matters escalating.

Personally, I would say "No" firmly or "ahhhhhhh" as in the same way you scold a child. Again, see how it reacts.

Nothing wrong with doting on a dog, it just needs to learn some rules and boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

[Mobile Chicane]

Thanks, I'll try that.

[KFC]

The smell issue is a complete non-starter - cheap garbage canned food makes them smell more than a proper diet. Also with a proper fresh diet they st less, and it doesn't stink so bad either The difference there is unbelievable (coming from someone who regularly fosters dogs and swaps them from a dog home diet to only fresh meat).

How is the dog managing to bite you? The obvious first issue surely is to have it physically restrained. If its not safe around people, how is it actually getting to you? It should be in a secure garden, or on a lead.

[jagracer]

Jasandjules said:

Personally, I would say "No" firmly or "ahhhhhhh" as in the same way you scold a child. Again, see how it reacts.

You need to be fairly loud and forceful using you diaphragm to force the sound out. Keep doing it and it will stun the dog into silence and submission, I was amazed how it worked on our lunatic JRT. The guy who taught me this told me to use a Baahhhhhh sound, same thing but you get a bit more grunt behind it.
As Jas says, use an outstretched, palm facing the dog and keep making the sound and walking it backward until you have it under your control.
It sounds like the dog is master in his house and has no boundries to go by.

[Sharted]

Not very practical but worked for me.

My dad used to have a springer who always played up for me, no one else. I discovered that she was st scared of a mirror, don't know why, if I held a small (say 7inch) mirror out to her she would back right off.