Dog Calendars, Dog Breed Information, Training Aids & Everything Else |
 Profile Logout
|
 |
|
 Forum Pics Shop Ask a Trainer Find a Trainer Adopt a Dog Dog Websites |
|
|
Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Elaine has been training dogs professionally for 14 years. She is a CPDT as well as an endorsed member of NADOI. She is also certified in narcotics detection and is one half of a (twice) certified explosives detection team - the other half being her Dutch Shepherd Spawn, who is also titled in several protection sports. Elaine is the owner of Canine's Best Behavior, a Los Angeles based training company, offering Basic Manners, CGC, K9 Games (soon!) as well as behavior modification for aggression fears phobias etc.
Click here to join Elaine's mailing list and receive an email each time a new
column is published.
printer friendly
email this column
comment on this column
[Edit]
8/23/2006
We have a half English / Neo mastiff. He is about 3 years old. If someone comes to the front door he is very aggressive. He jumps on the door, barks and it is like he wants to attack. My husband thinks if we have him neutered that this would take some of the aggressive moves away. What can we do about this problem with the door? (hooch, New York )
Hi Hooch,
Or maybe that is your dog's name ?
Your dog's behavior is not uncommon for a dog with that kind of genetic make-up. Neos patrol DMZ's (literally) with a bite now/ask questions later attitude. Mastiffs used to pin people to walls until their policeman partner took over.
Neutering a 3 year old may have bigger medical than behavioral benefits. Best case scenario for altering behavior in a male dog would be neutering at 7-8 months and the window pretty much closes at around 24 months or so. That said, I do advocate neutering him, the medical benefits are worth it, plus if he is presenting true aggression do you really want to breed more of that?
Did you know that doorways are the number one place dogs bite? Followed very closely behind by reaching for their collar.
Your dog needs to have a job incompatible with charging the door and if that means managing him while he learns something new then do it!. It is important that he not get to rehearse this behavior at all. Put a sign on the door saying dog in training and we will be right there. Add in a picture of what I am picturing at least 125## of beast and I will bet not one person will be unhappy to wait!
Your dog needs to view people coming to the door as a positive thing, not a confrontational one. Easier said than done with that DNA! But possible. Try this: 100%
of everything your dog values/needs to survive (food, water, leash for a walk, treats, dog bed, slobber towel, toys etc) will be arriving from someone he kinda knows from the outside coming through that door. The good thing about doing this is 1. You will get a rapid turn around in about a week. 2. You have to deal with it. Someone new has to come over 2 or 3 times a day or he doesn't eat, drink water, sleep on a bed, play with a toy etc.
It is important that he be on a leash (use specialty equipment if you cannot physically hold onto him) I would avoid aversive equipment like prongs or choke chains, they will not improve his perception of what people coming in the door means and in some cases, could even contribute to a bad association.
The people have to be familiar but not family and not strangers dressed up like the UPS guy!
Once he starts anticipating people coming in the door as possibly something good for him, you can start to teach him a station (well away from the door, but within sight of it). If you don't redefine what the door means first, he will not be able to stay put on the station. Using a treat n train (a remote controlled treat dispenser-hard to find but rentable at www.petexpertise.com ) and having the only time he eats his meals is when he goes to the treat n train on his station as the doorbell rings and the door opens and closes, getting him well conditioned to what you want him to do before you add in the big Kahuna of stimuli: someone actually coming in the door.
If he has not bitten anyone at the door by now, we can cross our fingers that with some redefinition and counter conditioning he will keep that record intact.
Hope that helps
Elaine Allison CPDT NADOI
Canine Behavior Consultant
Canine's Best Behavior
1.866.K9s.Best
www.caninesbestbehavior.com
|
Are you a trainer? Interested in being involved in the Ask a Trainer column? Click here!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
