jonny b. Thank you so much for sharing that. It is soooo true. 🙂
Why I Hate People!
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"Why I hate people"?? You scare me with that thread title! Anyway sometimes people have fixed ideas on how to fix a problem whether they got it from someone or their culture or concocted themselves and just need to be given new data on handling a problem a better way. If you try to shove it down their throat and say "you're an idiot and what the hell are you thinking" they'll just resist and keep the old idea to be right. Try a little patience as not everybody you run into knows what you know. Believe me even I have to remind myself of that and that even my ideas about handling something may be dumb and be open to learning something new. I have had Basenjis for 34 years but I can always learn something new or help someone else learn from my experience and that's why I joined this forum. Just my 2 cents. I see you have experience with Dalmations. I had one myself as a teen named Gus. What a wonderful and fun dog he was. Had the best temperament and loved to ride in the car.
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Mr. Dan: I'm glad you had a good experience with Dalmations. I, myself, have not, but rather, have found most of them to be snippy and territorial. I had a step-daughter whose baby-sitter had 2 Dalmations. She had to put the dogs away (crate) while the children were in her care because of this habit. I was okay with this because it showed responsibility on her part.
Back to the original subject, however: If a dog is showing food aggression and lunging/nipping at small children, likely it is a dominance issue. This, without further information, appears to be a fine example of a dog who is confused as to its place in the family. When a dog in this position is confronted with other creatures near its own size or smaller (including children) who are on an eye-to-eye level, it will try to establish a superior place over these animals or children. Remedial socialization may work, or, as ComicDom1 said, lock the dog up while there are visitors over. As far as adding children to the family, that's another question entirely. The dog must be trustworthy in order to do this.
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I think it is the words "Put Down !" that have the unfortunate effect of making people see red. Hopefuly this person will recieve the help they need to work with their dog, but sometimes people dont want to make the effort.
Sorry MDSPHOTO wandering a bit of topic but want to comment on Dalmations.
I had a Dalmation Amy years ago and she was a great dog, a bit ditzy but very loving and what a smile she had. -
I am sure there is a rescue group that handles this breed.
IMO, the MDSPHOTO should contact them for trainers and advice to help
the dog stay in the home.
If they decide not to keep the dog, then at least have rescue eval the dog in case it can be rehomed.
That is my advice. -
@AJs:
Back to the original subject, however: If a dog is showing food aggression and lunging/nipping at small children, likely it is a dominance issue.
I have to disagree about the cause of resource guarding. My mom has a resource guarder, he was the smallest puppy the breeder had at a time when she had 11 puppies from 2 different litters. During a critical development period my mom's dog learned that other pack members will take his things and occupy his space if he didn't guard it. He is not a dominant dog, but he growls and protects chewies and will nip to move people out of his space. My mom has worked very hard with him over the last 3 years using trading up for chewies or giving them only in his crate. She has worked with family that visits regularly to change his feelings about them being near him. This was a process starting with just tossing treats toward him to now sitting next to him and giving treats. Luckily, he likes his crate and when he becomes overwhelmed he is happy to be crated until everyone leaves.
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I find folks who love their dogs learn to manage them..be it crating them when company comes, or finding the right trainer, and then DOING what the trainer says to help the dog become the pet it should be.
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I am with you 100% Sharron " folks who love their dogs learn to manage them."
Rita Jean
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My granddaughter has a one year old son who has just been walking recently - when he is in our home, both my B's back away from him - I do believe it's because of the eye level contact. When Evan is on the floor, neither dog minds sniffing him and being around him, but when he is on his feet, they become wary. At that point, everyone is watching very closely - any sign of the wrong kind of contact, and they would be put into a separate room. So far, so good - but children do sometimes have a different kind of energy that makes dogs nervous, so to be safe if your dog shows aggression, hire a behaviorist, and separate them until they learn.
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I have to disagree about the cause of resource guarding. My mom has a resource guarder, he was the smallest puppy the breeder had at a time when she had 11 puppies from 2 different litters. During a critical development period my mom's dog learned that other pack members will take his things and occupy his space if he didn't guard it. He is not a dominant dog, but he growls and protects chewies and will nip to move people out of his space. My mom has worked very hard with him over the last 3 years using trading up for chewies or giving them only in his crate. She has worked with family that visits regularly to change his feelings about them being near him. This was a process starting with just tossing treats toward him to now sitting next to him and giving treats. Luckily, he likes his crate and when he becomes overwhelmed he is happy to be crated until everyone leaves.
Of course, I completely agree, Lisa. Resource guarders are more likely to be LESS dominant, and less confident than other more balanced dogs.
If you think about it like this: if I am a confident/dominant (if you must) animal, a look will suffice to keep people away from my stuff….if I am nervous and scared about others taking my stuff, I will over-react every time.
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@Shaye's:
My granddaughter has a one year old son who has just been walking recently - when he is in our home, both my B's back away from him - I do believe it's because of the eye level contact. When Evan is on the floor, neither dog minds sniffing him and being around him, but when he is on his feet, they become wary. At that point, everyone is watching very closely - any sign of the wrong kind of contact, and they would be put into a separate room. So far, so good - but children do sometimes have a different kind of energy that makes dogs nervous, so to be safe if your dog shows aggression, hire a behaviorist, and separate them until they learn.
The most likely reason is the way in which they move. It is kind of hurkey-jerky, and unpredictable…dogs don't like that much. And they naturally stare at things that are interesting. Little kids also don't have much sense about when it is okay to reach out towards a dog, and when it isn't. Most adults have grown to be able to read a dog even a little, and if the dog looks nervous, they don't reach out...but kids, nope..they reach out no matter what
Again, dogs can't predict what they will do, and their typical warnings don't stop a child.I have always said, the trouble with dogs and kids doesn't happen when you bring the baby home...it is when the baby starts walking!
