Chesapeake bay Retriever growls at me
Bob McDuffee
healthy). He sleeps in our bedroom, when wife goes to bed first (most
nights) and I come in later in the dark he will growl at me. Even
after talking to him, turning on light he will continue to growl.
Hasn't bit me yet but...
This problem has just begun in the last few weeks.
Any ideas ?
April Quist
: Ted has been with us for almost 5 years now (he is 9, neutered,
: Any ideas ?
Yep - your dog needs to learn that sleeping in *your* "den" is a
privilege, not a right. Sounds like he's decided the bedroom is
*his* territory (maybe he thinks your wife is, too).
Even though I agree with those who think a dog should sleep in
the bedroom, in this case I'd throw him out. He's lost his
privilege. Don't let him come past the bedroom door. (At the
very least, put him in a crate if you want him in the bedroom.)
And whatever you do, DON'T even let him THINK about getting
on the bed.
Then get a copy of People, Pooches and Problems, by Job Michael
Evans, and check out the chapter on the RRRR program (stand for
Radical Regimen for Recalcitrant Rovers). It'll put you back
in charge.
April with Levi and Caper, the Border Collie Maniacs
aqu...@netcom.com
Lisa White Abbott
>Ted has been with us for almost 5 years now (he is 9, neutered,
>healthy). He sleeps in our bedroom, when wife goes to bed first (most
>nights) and I come in later in the dark he will growl at me. Even
>after talking to him, turning on light he will continue to growl.
>Hasn't bit me yet but...
>This problem has just begun in the last few weeks.
>
>Any ideas ?
>
Hi Bob,
I suggest you change the routine so that the situation doesn't occur, by not
allowing your dog to go to bed until you do. (I.e., don't let him go to bed
at the same time as your wife.) Shut him out of the room until you're ready
to go to bed, then let him in. Pay attention to him during this alone time,
and pat him and talk to him after you're in the room. If he growls then,
react strongly with a "don't you talk to me like that" attitude. Alpha-roll
him if necessary. (Clearly by this time your wife is wide awake.)
I think this is the best approach, because without the change in routine (where
he's in the room with your wife asleep and you come in), any corrections could
seem to be correcting him for growling whenever anyone comes in the room at night
(including intruders).
Hope this helps!
--Lisa.
This will help break the habit of it.
April Quist
: I suggest you change the routine so that the situation doesn't occur, by not
: allowing your dog to go to bed until you do. (I.e., don't let him go to bed
: at the same time as your wife.) Shut him out of the room until you're ready
: to go to bed, then let him in. Pay attention to him during this alone time,
Good idea.
: and pat him and talk to him after you're in the room. If he growls then,
: react strongly with a "don't you talk to me like that" attitude. Alpha-roll
: him if necessary. (Clearly by this time your wife is wide awake.)
Be *r-e-a-l-l-y* careful about rolling any large dog that's acting
aggressively - it's a good way to get seriously bitten. If you need to do
some dominance stuff, you'd be a lot safer following some of the
non-confrontational programs, like RRRR from Job Michael Evans.
April with Levi and Caper, the Border Collie Destruction Crew
aqu...@netcom.com
Dogmag
turn on the light! Use a nightlight. Talk to him as you come in so he
knows who you are. Check his hearing.
DABouldin
Hey, maybe the dog is losing his eyesight! You said"when it was dark".
turn on the light! Use a nightlight. Talk to him as you come in so he
knows who you are. Check his hearing.
>>
The dog should be able to identify the person by *smell* even if he was
blind and deaf. If he was consistently growling at people sneaking up on
him from upwind while he was outside then you could suspect deafness or
blindness, but even in that situation you have to remember that dogs can't
"see" what they can't smell. In the close proximity of a bedroom the dog
knows very well who he's growling at.
Deborah dabo...@aol.com
"She hath more qualities than a water spaniel, which is much in a bare
Christian." Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona