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Post Info TOPIC: Possessivness


Master

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Possessivness
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Hi all,

Jet's behaviour recently has gotten a bit worse and he's added barking/growling at people to his repertoire of delinquent behaviour and the behaviourist we go to thinks he may be getting possessive.

I wondered if anyone had come across this and if so what they did to try and stop this behaviour or if anyone has any advice? I am trying to assert us as head of the pack so to speak by ignoring him when I get in/up in the morning, eating before him etc but is there anything else?

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Master

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OHmigod, just read your post after getting back to you on the other page. Stumpy has always been a bit growly when he is nudged or bumped into whenever he sleeps on our bed at night so we have been letting him up during the day but off into his own bed at night, but last night after a hectic weekend and we both crashed with both the dogs on the bed, then during the night Stumps had managed to sprawl over both of us and when OH tried to move him he snarled, bared his teeth and really for the first time ever looked like he was going to bite the worst bit was he wasn't even just waking up he had been awake. OH actually leapt up yelled "no" and shoved Stumps off the bed. He is normally very sweet, this is the only dodgy behaviour he does. But am gutted. Did your behavourist not suggest anything?

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Master

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To be fair this is quite a new behaviour. Before he was not aggressive but when he was scared he'd try and run away, now he's more confident and instead oof running away this has started. I'm just hoping this is a phase like before which he can come out the other side of.

The behaviourist has said to try and get people to come to the house i.e like my friend Alan whom Jet absolutely detests. It's difficult though because it's hard to get people around who know the dog is going to try and go for him, muzzled and on a lead or not.

I just sometimes get really annoyed about it all, then i feel guilty about being mad and not liking Jet because he is a good dog really. I also sometimes feel the behaviourtist suggests things which are not really practical to do, like getting loads of people to come to the house is not really that easy - i don't know loads of people!!! I try to say this but i'm not sure she see's a difference in what she can do and what i am capable of.

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Master

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We use the no free lunch technique. If the dog wants something they have to do something to get it. Just a simple sit or paw is usually enough, but we have also taught flat where the dog has to be flat on one side on the floor. This can be used before giving them the food, before allowing them into the garden, before being let off the lead etc. After a while it becomes second nature. We also try and get other people to do the same thing. So if someone says can I give your dog a treat we say if he/she sits first.

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Master

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I don't know which behaviorist you use,you don't sound happy with them or confident in their advice,maybe you need to research some others,I agree with silverhippo,all privileges must be earned be it food or toys.He probably picks up on your discomfort when you are trying to introduce him to new people/situations which maybe confusing him,and this in turn could make him more fear aggressive.I think you should talk to another behaviorist or talk firmly to the one you have and tell them that you want to seek a second opinion if you feel they are not listening to you,things like going on beds and furniture should be discouraged,you can't let them do what they want one minute then be surprised if they object when you try to move them,it's on the furniture or off there's no in between,some dogs are fine with being moved but if any of mine object to being moved that's it they don't get up again I'm pack leader and I say what goes.I'm sure he's a lovely boy,he just sounds a bit scared and confused.Here's hoping you can get him through this without too much trauma to both of you.I know him wearing the muzzle is needed so that he can't do any harm but maybe this makes him feel more vulnerable,your behaviorist should be able to tell you how to help him and you should be able to talk to them especially if you are paying for their services,I know these things take time but you need to see some progress.Good Luck to both of you hmm.gif

Rachel.


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Master

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Hiya

It is hard to be tough on them, I am particularly bad at this as any grey or Lurcher just have to look at me and I melt, but as also now we have to always keep on top of little Stumps due to his growly stuff, I know how you feel. Urgh new mindset I think. Good luck with Jet, and as this is a kind of behaviour that dog behaviourists deal with all the time, I would hope yours would be a bit more pro active with your case. Have picked up a number of one at my local vets, so will going along that route myself, oh and had him 1 year, so better late than never I hope. Also Rufus not well but will post that in health issues. Och, am having a bad day.

Love ma boys no matter how naughty they are. cry.gif

Jacks
xx

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Master

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We already make him work for any treats he gets, mostly because he's getting a fair bit through training and he'll be huge if he gets many more.He is allowed on one of the couches but not on the other and not on the bed, this has been pretty set since he came to us so it's quite established now.

TBH when I wrote the above i was a bit tired and annoyed/frustrated with Jet. I have to admit the change in him since he started going to the behaviourist in July is amazing because he has changed loads. I think I just have to ask her to be a bit more clear on her instructions more, make sure i know what she's saying as I don't do that enough.

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Master

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It's always good to be able to let of steam when our babes drive us nuts!!!lol,but we love them anyway,thats the beauty of forums,you can get together with like minded folk and discover that you're not the only one with that problem and as they say.a problem shared is a problem halved.Glad you feel a bit more positive,keep going it'll be ok.

Rachel.

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Master

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Yes I can get absolutely furious at mine, yesterday a big goofy 8 month old Great Dane came gallumping up to them , I had put them on the lead and he would not go back to his owner and my two were snarling and growling and thrashing about on the lead, looked like a right couple of lunatics. As I have said before I hate anyone looking at this type of thing and thinking all greyhounds are like this, and then passing it on word of mouth. Urgh i would've been better letting them off as they are better then but they would've bullied the bejeezus out of the big thing. So was angry but of course not their fault and they don't know that they are ambassadors for all the poor greys and lurchers still needing homes. Walked home muttering under my breath. They probably just thought "Mum's a loony" not far wrong mind you.

Jacks
xx

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Enlightened One

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Oh Michelle, Jet really likes to test you guyswink.gif It must be frustrating to see one improvement and then encounter something else but I think you are both doing so well persevering with the behaviourist to try and help Jet settle.
How is he when taken into someone else's home with a dog?
Marie

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Mason's Ma


Master

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He's not been into the home of another dog, i think he'd be ok if it's a greyhound house - he seems to have an understanding of the doggie priniciples of what's his is his and what isn't.

Actually he was fine when we had his greyhound friends maisie and murphy to stay at new year, the boys had a bit of a dicussion over who gets the sofa but nothing major until Suzanne came to pick them up then he stood barking his head off at her?? What is most puzzling is that he meets her perfectly well outside and went off to the beach with her last year so he doesn't have a problem with her.

He's just so unpredictable which is the worst thing, he was barking at a lady last night who was not interacting with us in anyway, just walking on the road near us. I can't see any sort of link that could suggest why he's ok with some people and not others.

Saying that we had a good day today as we have been working on a distraction technique with other dogs which basically involves us sitting him down and feeding him treats until they go by and he ignored a good 4 - 5 dogs, which is a record. hooray!



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Enlightened One

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Sounds like he is just unsure still, poor boy. The thing is if its not happening all the time then you just have to hope that continuing the way you are will make it less and less. I'm sure it will over time. He's not daft, but it must keep u on your toes.
Marie

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Mason's Ma
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