Benny bit the neighbor!

[nobarkus]

How long has Benny been like this? Did it start at a certain point in time? He's obviously feeling threatened by someone or something.

[Benny]

Started roughly 4 weeks ago… he started by snapping at a kid and an old man who tried to pet him on a walk. Then it progressed to him biting the neighbor, biting my neice, snapping at my nephew, my friend, and then biting the trainer... now today he snapped at my mom, dad, and my gf.... I approached him and did the same thing shortly after and he didn't snap at me. I didn't think he would, but I wanted to make sure of it.

[Benny]

I have noticed his fur got slightly lighter around that same time. We mentioned it to the vet and he said it was normal…

[nobarkus]

How long have you had Benny? How old is he?

[nobarkus]

I really suspect there's a physical problem going on with Benny.

[Benny]

Also, back in February, my sister's lab started getting a little bigger. She snapped at benny when he tried to take his bone back from her. Benny backed off somewhat… The very next day, benny started snapping at her when she tried to take his treats and bones from him.

[Benny]

@nobarkus:

How long have you had Benny? How old is he?

We've had him for 13 months… he is 16 months old.

[nobarkus]

How often does your sister come around with the lab?

[nobarkus]

So Benny's behavior before this was pretty good?

[Benny]

@nobarkus:

How often does your sister come around with the lab?

2-3 times/week… It's my nephew's dog really.. and she goes where he goes. He comes over after school a few days a week and spends the night over the weekend 1-2 times/month. They love each other, they occasionally snap at each other (when one is trying to steal the other's bone)

[Benny]

@nobarkus:

So Benny's behavior before this was pretty good?

For the most part. Before we got him neutered, he humped a lot and seemingly got bad for about an hour every night. We got him snipped and started taking him for an additional 2-3 more walks and it did the trick.

[nobarkus]

@Benny:

2-3 times/week… It's my nephew's dog really.. and she goes where he goes. He comes over after school a few days a week and spends the night over the weekend 1-2 times/month. They love each other, they occasionally snap at each other (when one is trying to steal the other's bone)

The lab and Benny love each other?

[Benny]

@nobarkus:

The lab and Benny love each other?

They're best friends… when they're together, they play non stop with the occasional nap in between.

[nobarkus]

OK, well get that full blood work done then and see what comes up. Do it as soon as possible. Keep us updated on how Benny is doing.

[ComicDom1]

@lvoss:

Considering what happened with the trainer, it is not surprising that Benny does not want humans to touch him. It is going to take some relationship building and trust building to help mend what happened with the trainer.

As for humping, many dogs hump not because of dominance but as a form of stress relief or because they are over stimulated.

Yep. lvoss is right on it. I would second the idea that your dog is over stimulated. Just to go further, do you mean humping in a sexual way or hopping on his back feet and pulling as you attempt to walk him. When my Basenji sees another person in the park, and believe me he is interested in meeting everyone, he attempts to pull so hard, he ends up on his hind legs walking and hopping or what appears humping along. He also does this when he sees a bird, a squrriel, a rabbit, another dog, or any other animal that he might be approaching. That was one reason I wanted to try the Gentle leader or a harness. Of course I understand this means my Basenji is very nosey and has a strong prey drive.

Jason

[Benny]

I don't think it's a sexual thing… I think it's a dominant behavior. It seems like he does it to show who is boss (we got him neutered). I know that doesn't stop the urges completely though... He stopped humping since we got him neutered until recently... he doesn't do it often, but he started doing it again when he started this aggressive streak.

[Quercus]

@nobarkus:

I really suspect there's a physical problem going on with Benny.

I don't. He is resource guarding the chair, and his personal space. He may, or may not be fearful of strangers, but he certainly doesn't want them approaching him for whatever reason. He is completely overwhelmed by recent experiences regarding interactions with people.

I think you (his owner) need to just stop for a moment, and regroup. No one should approach him except for you and whoever lives in your house right now. If someone wants to pet him on a walk say 'no, I am sorry, he is afraid of strangers' whether he is or not. And you need to 're-program' him (for lack of a better word) that it is a great thing to have people approach him, but you have to do that slowly.

Start off dealing with the chair by teach him to be called off of wherever he is sleeping. And no one moves him physically at this point. You call his name and wave a treat around, and until he routinely jumps off the chair as soon as you call his name, then you start to fade out the treat.

There are lots of steps involved in this training, and honestly I don't have the time and energy to write them all out here….a lot of people have mentioned some great books, and there are lots of others. When you call a behaviorist (which you should), interview him or her...make sure what they say makes sense to you. Dominating this dog is NOT going to work...you have to establish trust...if the professional that you are going to be paying doesn't talk about this, look to someone else.

[nobarkus]

It doesn't help to rule out anything physical going on to start with. I would still have his thyroid checked just to be certain. Then go from there. Andrea is correct in that he's too overwhelmed right now. Bringing in a stranger that's holding him down on his back really makes him much worse. When I first got my my red and he was on the couch and I needed him to go out I never forced him or tried to pick him up as he would have tried to bite or fight. I always called him off and let him have some self determinism in getting him to do what I need him to do. He'd get right off the couch and go out without any battles. I would praise him right away. After a while I could pick him up because he trusted me. It takes time and patience.

[Benny]

Yeah, I'll make sure I get the thyroid checked asap. We're scheduling an appointment today. Benny had no problem letting me pick him up last night, but he didn't like it when my girlfriend and my mom tried to. He might just love them more than he does me, so that really shocked me, especially with my girlfriend (who is his mommy).

[Quercus]

Okay, try this school. Hopefully they are close enough to you. I have talked to Ed, and he seems to be a really great trainer…I haven't actually met him, nor observed him train...but according to their website, and the feedback I have gotten from him, I agree with their methods:

www dot northcoastdogs dot com