Why does my mums dog have an issue with me?
Discussion
My mum has an american cocker spaniel. He is about 4 now and not neutered.
Ever since mum got the dog, it barks like crazy when I arrive at the house. When I touch him he goes dead quiet, puts his head down, tail between legs and sometimes shivers. He has even been known to wet himself when I first arrive at the house.
When I sit on the settee, he will jump up next to me and put his head in my lap, clearly wanting a fuss. He will let me brush him, smooth him etc.
If I leave the room and then come back in, we go through the same process, barking at me and then wanting fuss off me when I sit down.
If I try to walk him, he cowers and I have to pretty much drag or carry him out of the house. Once out the front door, he is happy as anything and I can walk him for miles with no issues.
Whilst this behaviour is odd, it is not a significant problem. However, every so often he will launch at me with bared teeth and make like he is going to bite me. This will be sustained for about a minute as opposed to a single snap. I have no idea what I have done to trigger this, and I have never hurt him. He goes from happy and having a fuss to full on attack mode.
Any ideas on what is up and what can be done to modify this behaviour. Mum lives on her own so he is obviously protective, but there is no reason I can see for him going from aggressive to happy to wanting to bite me.
Ever since mum got the dog, it barks like crazy when I arrive at the house. When I touch him he goes dead quiet, puts his head down, tail between legs and sometimes shivers. He has even been known to wet himself when I first arrive at the house.
When I sit on the settee, he will jump up next to me and put his head in my lap, clearly wanting a fuss. He will let me brush him, smooth him etc.
If I leave the room and then come back in, we go through the same process, barking at me and then wanting fuss off me when I sit down.
If I try to walk him, he cowers and I have to pretty much drag or carry him out of the house. Once out the front door, he is happy as anything and I can walk him for miles with no issues.
Whilst this behaviour is odd, it is not a significant problem. However, every so often he will launch at me with bared teeth and make like he is going to bite me. This will be sustained for about a minute as opposed to a single snap. I have no idea what I have done to trigger this, and I have never hurt him. He goes from happy and having a fuss to full on attack mode.
Any ideas on what is up and what can be done to modify this behaviour. Mum lives on her own so he is obviously protective, but there is no reason I can see for him going from aggressive to happy to wanting to bite me.
. Cant really help with your problem though sorry.Unusual behaviour for a lot of breeds. Perhaps it's time to make your visit something that dog looks forward to . Most dogs are food daft. I meet dozens of dogs on our walks, and because I keep doggy treats in my pocket ,they're daft on the food first,then take to me .Food with dogs gets friends ,and trust & then they relax. I'd suggest that next time you visit you get some doggy treats, or even stop off at a supermarket and get some cold meat. Then instead of being terrified of you ( which this suggests to me ,and I'm not a dog expert, just a person who's had/been around dogs for a lot of years) he'll take to you .
The fear thing could be because you unwittingly have done something that upset him, possibly years ago, or you could look like someone who has done the same. Is he only like this with you? Does he have any other behaviours that strike you as odd, or nervous?
The way he suddenly turns aggressive could be just an accumulation of the nervous behaviours, or it could be something called Cocker rage. What colour is his coat? Cocker rage comes in various forms, the dog may snap then appear confused and seek affection and reassurance from the same person they just snapped at. I can't summarise it anymore, it's a complex syndrome and would be worth you investigating yourself with the help of a behaviourist.
The way he suddenly turns aggressive could be just an accumulation of the nervous behaviours, or it could be something called Cocker rage. What colour is his coat? Cocker rage comes in various forms, the dog may snap then appear confused and seek affection and reassurance from the same person they just snapped at. I can't summarise it anymore, it's a complex syndrome and would be worth you investigating yourself with the help of a behaviourist.
Blackpuddin said:
Can dogs have mental issues?
Oh god yes. The OH has a Staffy cross which, after much thinking, head scratching, discipline and trial & error, I have come to the highly unscientific conclusion that he has the doggy equivalent of ADHD.Either that or he only has one brain cell, and forgets to use it most of the time...
Superficial said:
The fear thing could be because you unwittingly have done something that upset him, possibly years ago, or you could look like someone who has done the same. Is he only like this with you? Does he have any other behaviours that strike you as odd, or nervous?
The way he suddenly turns aggressive could be just an accumulation of the nervous behaviours, or it could be something called Cocker rage. What colour is his coat? Cocker rage comes in various forms, the dog may snap then appear confused and seek affection and reassurance from the same person they just snapped at. I can't summarise it anymore, it's a complex syndrome and would be worth you investigating yourself with the help of a behaviourist.
That rage thing sounds exactly like it. Within seconds of threatening to rip my face off, he wants cuddles. He came from a breeder and was my brothers dog for about 6 months, the other dogs my brother had seemed to be giving him a bit of grief so my mum took him.The way he suddenly turns aggressive could be just an accumulation of the nervous behaviours, or it could be something called Cocker rage. What colour is his coat? Cocker rage comes in various forms, the dog may snap then appear confused and seek affection and reassurance from the same person they just snapped at. I can't summarise it anymore, it's a complex syndrome and would be worth you investigating yourself with the help of a behaviourist.
I have never been anything but nice to the dog, but he appears to be terrified of me one second, then desperate for affection from me the next. I have not seen him do this to anyone else. Maybe he does just have male dog mental.
He is toy aggressive, so will growl at anyone that dares to try to take his toy, but I've not seen him lunge at anyone else.
And I don't have testicles, so I don't think it is a male thing!
Your brother abandoned him, and he lost his mate (the other dog), whom he was probably bonded to, even if he gave him a hard time. He probably is used to behaving this way around other males (from his time at your brother's). He is feeling abandoned/angry at a subconscious level and he is also used to having to protect himself--this is leading to the aggressive behaviour. In the first minute he sees you, his rage at what your brother has done takes over. Then he asks for the loving he still craves. Problem is, you go away, so he might forget his training. Still, here's a treatment plan.
Play hide and seek, and call him to you. Have him seek you out and reward him with toys, treats. Repeat 20 X. Make sure there is no baring of teeth or any aggression before you move on. You are establishing trust with him.
Sit in the same room as him, five feet away, with him at the end of a long lead/rope, and put him in a "sit/stay". Jerk the lead to correct him as soon as he moves. Do not allow him to move. This is establishing your dominance. Do it from ten feet away, then twenty. He needs to accept you as the alpha that tells him what to do. You can reward him, but not too much. Any time you feel impatient or angry, stop. It's all about baby steps and little bits of progress. If it takes two or three weeks to get here, let it.
Next:
If you can be on the other side of a partition from him, give him treats and pet him from there, then come around while talking, see if that prevents him from reacting as he does. You want to remove as many of the things as possible that could be startling him, and just have a very, very small change in his environment ie. nothing really changes except one moment you are just a voice and touch, then you are in front of him. If he doesn't react aggressively, do it 20 X so it becomes a game with treat rewards up front.
Next, petting, but no talking and again you appear. If no reaction, reward him with a treat. When you can do this 20 X without a reaction, move on to the next step.
Next, no treats, no talking, just petting, and you come into the room. When you can do this 20 X without a reaction, move on to the next step.
Next, no treats, no talking, no petting. Just come into the room. Reward him with a LOT of praise if he does not react. If he does react, have a toy or something to throw so he can "forget" and be distracted. This is probably more difficult than it sounds.
Also, if you can put him together with another (preferably alpha) dog, this should go away. Would your mom consider having two dogs?
Neutering, too, will change his behaviour--that might do the trick as well, but it might not. Don't neuter him just because of this.
Play hide and seek, and call him to you. Have him seek you out and reward him with toys, treats. Repeat 20 X. Make sure there is no baring of teeth or any aggression before you move on. You are establishing trust with him.
Sit in the same room as him, five feet away, with him at the end of a long lead/rope, and put him in a "sit/stay". Jerk the lead to correct him as soon as he moves. Do not allow him to move. This is establishing your dominance. Do it from ten feet away, then twenty. He needs to accept you as the alpha that tells him what to do. You can reward him, but not too much. Any time you feel impatient or angry, stop. It's all about baby steps and little bits of progress. If it takes two or three weeks to get here, let it.
Next:
If you can be on the other side of a partition from him, give him treats and pet him from there, then come around while talking, see if that prevents him from reacting as he does. You want to remove as many of the things as possible that could be startling him, and just have a very, very small change in his environment ie. nothing really changes except one moment you are just a voice and touch, then you are in front of him. If he doesn't react aggressively, do it 20 X so it becomes a game with treat rewards up front.
Next, petting, but no talking and again you appear. If no reaction, reward him with a treat. When you can do this 20 X without a reaction, move on to the next step.
Next, no treats, no talking, just petting, and you come into the room. When you can do this 20 X without a reaction, move on to the next step.
Next, no treats, no talking, no petting. Just come into the room. Reward him with a LOT of praise if he does not react. If he does react, have a toy or something to throw so he can "forget" and be distracted. This is probably more difficult than it sounds.
Also, if you can put him together with another (preferably alpha) dog, this should go away. Would your mom consider having two dogs?
Neutering, too, will change his behaviour--that might do the trick as well, but it might not. Don't neuter him just because of this.
Edited by just me on Saturday 2nd June 00:46
Hopefully Nick007 may see this thread. He's a qualified animal behaviourist and may have some good tips.
Seeking dominance over a dog is an outdated concept these days but reward based training and patience as mentioned in the above post can work.
However your Mum needs to be involved aswell as, although the dog may not behave like this with her their relationship may be a factor.
Seek professional help for your dog and good luck
Seeking dominance over a dog is an outdated concept these days but reward based training and patience as mentioned in the above post can work.
However your Mum needs to be involved aswell as, although the dog may not behave like this with her their relationship may be a factor.
Seek professional help for your dog and good luck
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