She may weigh 190lbs less than he does, but she could take him out with one bite.

July 2, 2007 9:28 PM

[lunchfilter] Looking for ideas on how to a) keep my dog from barking at every little thing that moves and b) keep my dog from eating my boyfriend.

My dog Olivia hates people. Almost all people, especially men. She does good with my boyfriend maybe 99% of the time - in that 1%, she has attacked him spontaneously and bitten him repeatedly. We're not sure what the trigger is, because it's something different every time (either a sound or a look or a gesture or the wind blowing, etc).

I've tried taking her to obedience school and when we're there, she is spastic and acts like she wants to eat everyone. When we leave, she is shaking in fear and absolutely nothing has stuck. I can't even take her to the vet or the groomer's without her freaking the hell out. When we get home, she is visibly shaking and then hides in the closet for a few days.

My other problem is that she barks at EVERYTHING in the yard. Outside of the yard. Random noises. And I'm really tired of having to sit in the yard with her at 6am while she pees - and barks at the same time.

SO, I'm looking for

a) some sort of ........ SOMETHING that will stop her from attacking my boyfriend and other friends - either a collar or a drug or something.

and

b) a anti-barking device/spray/what have you that actually works.

I somehow feel the need to point out that she is a chihuahua/pekingnese mix and weighs less than 12lbs.

posted by damnjezebel to pets & animals (18 comments total)

If you boyfriend lives with you the easiest way to get the dog to love the boyfriend is to feed him. I don't just mean feed him when it's time to feed him, but break up his feeding into smaller meals so that your boyfriend can feed him more often. The more often your boyfriend feeds him, the easier it is going to be to love him.
posted by bigmusic at 9:35 PM on July 2, 2007

I had somewhat of the same issue with my dog + my ex-boyfriend. We eventually figured out that anytime he wore a hat she'd either run away from him, or attack him. Not wearing a hat, no problems. We eventually worked out a system where every time he came over he gave her a couple treats, eventually we had no issues. Took about a year though. Might take more if you have an insecure dog, and it sounds like you do.
posted by heavenstobetsy at 10:01 PM on July 2, 2007

How long have you had the dog?

When I first got my chihuahua/pug mix 13 months ago she hated every single thing that went by the house (bikes, cars, people, cats, birds, etc) and would bark and lunge. She especially hated children. I had to have the vet and groomer muzzle her so that she wouldn't attempt to eat them.

Over the past year I've worked and worked and worked on getting her socialized and secure in her being & surroundings. I did a basic obedience class with her. The most important thing I've done with her is to take her out in public on daily 2-5 mile walks. The only barking she does now is the occasional protective bark when we are outside late at night or when there is a stranger in the yard. She also now enjoys the company of other dogs.

She still does not like children...but she also does not lunge at or act like she is going to eat them. I've simply gotten her used to the idea that there are children in the world and that it's definitely not okay for her to be a shithead about them.

She also really enjoys her crate. She will crate herself when she gets annoyed or when she is tired.

It sounds like your dog isn't secure and/or doesn't realize you're the boss. You need to convey to her that she is not the boss.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:14 PM on July 2, 2007

#1: trainer for the dog, preferrably immersion training (vs a class once a week.)

#2: trainer for you, to ensure that you're properly reinforcing the training the dog has received. If you don't bring it home, it will never stick.

#3: practice, practice, practice.

As for the barking at things in the yard, you have a yippy little dog, and that will probably never go away entirely.
posted by davejay at 10:15 PM on July 2, 2007

You need to develop a relationship with this dog such that when you tell her it is OK, she believes it and relaxes. This will take some time but not forever. You need to set boundaries for what's acceptable behavior ie don't ever let her act aggressive in front of you because you are in charge and you decide who to attack! Get in her face and make her back down, then tell her good dog and walk away like it wasn't a big deal anyway. Teach her a settle command, when you tell her to she needs to sit or lie down calmly and wait for you to tell her what to do next. And be consistent: spray her every time she barks, make her back off every time she shows attitude and make her listen every time you tell her to do something. This might mean putting a little leash on her at all times in the house so you can give it a little reminder tug to get her attention if she's freaking out or just plain ignoring you.

Above all, be matter of fact, don't rush to reassure her everytime she freaks out- act calm and disinterested and she will start to copy you. If she barks at something or someone don't react to them or start running around yelling. If she's a drama queen who enjoys stirring everyone up make sure you don't reward her for being bad with attention. Reward her when she's being good by playing with her and petting her calmly.
posted by fshgrl at 10:20 PM on July 2, 2007

There's a vicious cycle going on between the dog wanting to be "leader of the pack" and the dog feeling threatened by everything that moves.

There are probably things that you and/or your boyfriend are doing that signal to the dog that it's ok for it to attempt to assume dominance. You need to figure out what those things are and always ensure that you're sending the right "I'm the boss" signals. It could be body language, eye contact, tone of voice, etc.

If the dog feels that you and your boyfriend have things under control, then it will likely be less fearful (and therefore less likely feel the need to dominate).

If you don't feel it inhumane, choke collars (responsibly used) can be quite effective in teaching the dog who's boss. (Also, I'd suggest watching a few episodes of the Dog Whisperer.)
posted by treepour at 10:23 PM on July 2, 2007

An electric collar?
posted by A189Nut at 1:58 AM on July 3, 2007

My dad has used an (anti) bark collar on his corgi and it worked.

I agree with walking her getting her to be more social. My Chi gets bored when I don't take her out to see people. She will start chewing up stuff and barking at everyone that walks by the window. But, if I will take her for a walk or(even better) take her to the pet store then she is much better.
posted by nimsey lou at 2:56 AM on July 3, 2007

The dog has you trained pretty well. You're not sure what little trigger sets her off, but you are quite detailed in describing her reaction to attempts you have made to train her. You have described a situation where the dog is in full control.

Seconding davejay's list, but adding to #2: training for you, so both you and the dog know who is boss, and both of you agree that it is you.

And nth-ing the several 'boyfriend repellent' comments. Think about how long you'd tolerate a relationship with someone who had a pet that would spontaneously bite you. You sound sort of intellectually concerned about the issue; but for the poor sucker who is getting bit all the time, it is a fight-or-flight issue. Fix it fast before he exercises his right to flee.
posted by foobario at 3:21 AM on July 3, 2007

Seconding taking her on walks - they get her exposed to people and/or other dogs without suddenly immersing her in a situation with lots of both, which might be overwhelming. Also, dogs are much less high-strung and mouthy (i.e. prone to biting) when they're tired out. Is she getting lots of exercise?

In the meantime, train her on your own. There are lots of books out there - borrow a few from the library and see which methods fit. Whichever you decide to do, make sure you commit to the training. Do it regularly, daily, and be consistent. Crating her is also a good idea if she's not crate-trained already; dogs like to have their own little "room" in the house.

Also, if your dog is from a shelter or rescue, it's possible her behaviour is linked to some past abuse she's suffered - if that is the case, try to recognize her triggers and work your training around them. There are lots of resources out there for working with dogs who have been abused, and a local rescue group might also be able to give you some ideas, as they see dogs with abuse issues frequently.

Finally, ignore the ridiculous "boyfriend repellent" comment (it's not 1950 anymore, girlfriend can have a dog if she wants) but do realize that having an un-trained dog is a disservice to both you and your dog. It's a crappy life for both of you, and if someone less forgiving than your boyfriend was bitten, you could get sued or possibly have to put her down.

So: train that dog, gradually work up to socializing her, and make sure she gets lots of exercise and positive reinforcement. Good luck!
posted by AV at 5:03 AM on July 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

Victoria Stillwell did an episode of 'It's Me or the Dog' with a similar problem with a small dog. The dog thought it was the alpha, was overwhelmed by all the 'threats' it perceived, and reacted by going on the offensive. I don't remember all the techniques she used, but the idea was to reinforce the owner's dominance so the dog would feel safe. Someone else was in charge of protecting the pack, and she could relax.

You can see the teaser trailer for the show (series 2, Tallulah), but sadly it only shows some of the 'before' behavior--which I imagine is a lot worse than what you are experiencing! Sorry I can't help more with any of the techniques.
posted by happyturtle at 5:36 AM on July 3, 2007

Both you and your dog (and maybe your boyfriend, too) need training. Since the classes didn't work, I think you should find a trainer to work one-on-one with; you want someone who has a specialty in "problem dogs" because that is what you have. Your vet might have a recommendation, or ask around at a dog park, or ask at the animal shelter. Retraining you will probably be harder than retraining the dog, so you have to be pretty committed to the process. But your current setup is not fair to your neighbors (who have to listen to the barking) or to your boyfriend (who gets bit), and imagine the consequences if she bit someone else, like a child.
posted by Forktine at 5:56 AM on July 3, 2007

Although I'm sure you don't want it to be the first thing you try, dogs can take Prozac and similar meds for anxiety, aggression, and related behaviors. Ask your vet if you get to that point.
posted by walla at 12:59 PM on July 3, 2007

SO, I'm looking for a) some sort of ........ SOMETHING that will stop her from attacking my boyfriend and other friends - either a collar or a drug or something.
and b) a anti-barking device/spray/what have you that actually works.

You're hoping to control your dog via collars, drugs, devices, or sprays? Are you sure you don't have a cat? Dogs LIKE to be controlled, if they're sure the controller is qualified to do it. Obviously your dog does not feel you're qualified. You have to get him to trust you, and to do that, you have to be trustworthy. Would you trust someone who sprayed you with anti... whatever? Watch The Dog Whisperer - he trains humans every week.
posted by desjardins at 1:17 PM on July 3, 2007

I think the collars and the drugs might be a quick fix.

As much as I want to hate this guy, he really helped me control my very nervous min pin. I suggest watching a few episodes and get down his philosophy. Cesar counsels people to calmly, assertively, and consistently give their dogs rules, boundaries and limitations to establish themselves as solid pack leaders and to help correct and control unwanted behavior.
posted by brinkzilla at 2:27 PM on July 3, 2007

With my chihuahua, I use a ballon pump (the kind you'd buy at a party store) to tell her when barking is not allowed. She hates the noise it makes, and she hates to have the air blown on her. Now if she's barking, I just pull it out, say, "Twinkie, NO!", and she stops.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:05 PM on July 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the answers, guys. Let me see if I can't expand a bit.

bigmusic: we currently live together, yes. When I first brought him over to my apartment, she went off on him. She even accidentally bit me while lunging for him. Once she realized what she'd done, she went into "oh god, i fucked up" mode and hid under the bed for days. So once we started living together full time, I put him in charge of feeding and treating all three dogs, not just Kid Vicious (yes, that's her real nickname). Since he's been in charge of the food, she rarely attacks him now. It's helped a lot.

heavenstobetsy: he doesn't wear the same thing when she attacks. The only thing we can think of is that he looks like someone at the shelter we got her from.

fluffy battle kitten: I adopted her when she was 6 months old. She is now almost 6 years old. I used to walk her all the time, and the only difference I can see between then and now is that she's not so stressed out. I want to put her in an obedience class again so I don't have to leave her at home all the time when I take my other dogs to the park or to a friend's, but I wanted to pose my quandary to askmefi to see if there was anything I could do to help. She's always "Crated" herself - that is, if she thinks she's in trouble or is in a bad mood, she will go lay down on a pillow in the closet. Most of the time, she does act like I'm her Alpha. For instance, if she gets out of the backyard to go run after some random person/dog, I just have to clap my hands once and say her name loudly - at which point, she will run back to me and immediately flop on her back, begging forgiveness. But then there's the random barking and attacks on FutureMrDamnJezebel. I get the feeling that she thinks she's trying to protect me, but it's just pushed me to the edge.

davejay: that's what I was interested in, because I really DO want to see her become the great dog that I've seen her be around myself and my close friends. She's this great, sweet dog and it really pisses me off that she can't be that way all the time. As far as the yippy goes.... yeah. Not happy about it - but if I could limit that as much as possible, it'd be awesome. I mean, if she was barking at a dog or a rabbit, I can understand. But when she's just barking at NOTHING at all....

fshgirl: i'm going to try that this week over the holiday and see if there's any radical improvement. I'll post my findings back here. Thanks. =)

treepour: FutureMrDamnJezebel and I have talked about that before. Olivia has always been the "beta" - she's always kept the other dogs in line, and she's always deferred to me. Now with FMDJ, she's no longer the "beta". HE keeps the other dogs in line. HE doles out the discipline. So a possible (if not THE) reason for this whole thing is that she's worried about her place in "the pack". I can't just pat her head and assure her verbally that she's still "in", so it's taken a lot of adjusting. FMDJ has backed off with the disciplining and she's resumed doing that. And he makes sure to give her more attention than the other dogs, so she sees how important and loved she is. But things are still iffy enough to the point where she is not allowed to sleep in bed with us, because of her attacks on him - whereas when I was single, Olivia slept on the other pillow under the covers.

A189nut: I'm definitely down for a collar, just not sure what kind at this point.
posted by damnjezebel at 9:06 PM on July 3, 2007

[continued - sorry, aforementioned dogs needed out. and excuse the previous and current examples of wordiness. I tend to err on the side of too much]

nimsey lou: I've thought about those and I'm very curious as to if they really work or not. Do you recall the brand your dad used?

foobario: she's definitely in control, in that she'll go a month without so much as growling and then suddenly bite him for no reason. He can't really roughhouse with her like I do, because we never know when she's going to lunge. As far as boyfriend repellent, he's frustrated by her but he's not going anywhere. He still actively pays attention to her and feeds her. If either of them were different than they are, I'd think about finding a home for her. But I've seen her be awesome with my best friend and my aunt - and while my boyfriend is frustrated that she's biting him randomly, he understands that it's not just a Him issue and he's very interested in fixing the matter.

av: from what I've been told by the shelter (it may be a selling tool or the truth, I'll never know), she was dropped off at the FIRST shelter with her brother and sister when they were 4 weeks old because their previous owner would manhandle them. Supposedly, there were 8 puppies total and only 3 survived. The first shelter was shut down because of employees mistreating the animals, and they were taken to another local shelter. My main concern right now is not really that my boyfriend gets bitten again - I mean, that's been an ongoing issue. My issue is that I'm residing with him in a family-friendly community. There are families walking up and down the street at random times of the day. I don't want her to run out of the yard and bite a child because she views it as a threat.

Happyturtle: I've heard of that show - I'll hunt it down, thanks!

forktine: I never realized that I could get a one-on-one trainer for her/us. I'll look around for one locally. Thanks!

walla: a previous vet actually recommended that I put her on an antidepressant because of her "sulking" for days on end when she thinks she's in trouble (which is most of the time). I didn't take him up on it, but I'll look into the prozac or other medication that can help her. My concern is that I don't want her to be medicated and dopey all the time.

desjardines & brinkzilla: I'm not interested in a quick fix - I'm interested in a fix, period. If the best fix out there is some magical spray that will make her keep her mouth shut when she feels the urge to bark, then so be it. I don't care what the fixes are - I just want the problems fixed to at least a manageable capacity.

ThePinkSuperhero: I'll look into that, thanks. I was also told to look for a training clicker, that that's supposed to enforce "good" behavior and I need to do that as well as punish the undesirable behavior.

Sorry for being long-winded, but all of you asked good questions, raised valid points and gave great advice. Thank you very much for your help. I'll make sure to post an update here soon to give you guys an update.
posted by damnjezebel at 9:54 PM on July 3, 2007