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Dogs and adults.
So, I have five dogs- three basset hounds(mom, pop, daughter), one mutt(girl), one schnauzer(male).
Now, the daughter basset and pop like to fight with each other, and the schnauzer, who is quite old. Sometimes they growl or bark, but then others they like to get into vicious fighting. And sometimes the daughter likes to go after all the dogs. Now, the mom basset likes to bark when someone takes her bone, or has food, even though she has the exact same food.
My step father likes to scare and kick(not terribly) the mutt and schnauzer, and they are both quite old. As well, he and my mother and everyone else, besides me, like to scream and beat on the dogs when they are yelling and such. I would like to know how to stop said things when they arise, the barking, the growling, and vicious attacks, without having to scream-which is no help at all- and beating.
Thanks!
on a side note, my step father use to like the mutt and schnauz before we got the bassets, now he loves and babies them out the wazoo, except when they bark when he doesn't want them to.
Now, the daughter basset and pop like to fight with each other, and the schnauzer, who is quite old. Sometimes they growl or bark, but then others they like to get into vicious fighting. And sometimes the daughter likes to go after all the dogs. Now, the mom basset likes to bark when someone takes her bone, or has food, even though she has the exact same food.
My step father likes to scare and kick(not terribly) the mutt and schnauzer, and they are both quite old. As well, he and my mother and everyone else, besides me, like to scream and beat on the dogs when they are yelling and such. I would like to know how to stop said things when they arise, the barking, the growling, and vicious attacks, without having to scream-which is no help at all- and beating.
Thanks!
on a side note, my step father use to like the mutt and schnauz before we got the bassets, now he loves and babies them out the wazoo, except when they bark when he doesn't want them to.
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Comments
That's what I usually use, if I can.
@robot-
Yeah, that is like my dogs and mother. Somewhat.
Not trying to be overly harsh, but I am trying to wake you up to the fact that you are responsible for 5 life forms that are clearly not behaving peacefully, but aggreisvely and at times violently. Dogs easily confuse kids for dogs and will treat them the same way they treat their fellow canines. You need some help learning how to care for these dogs in a way that allows them to be healthy, unstressed and happy (and thus not use violence to settle petty issues)
Speaking as a Dog behaviourist, you don't deserve to own animals, if this is how you treat them, and allow them to behave.
There are some serious issues to address here, and the dog behaviour, if bad, is entirely down to the lack of direction of the humans.
The dogs don't have the problems.
The humans have.
But it's all solvable, and there are easy remedies you can implement for quasi-immediate positive results.
I charge for my services, by the way.
Dogs are emotionally and socially very similar to humans. If they're being abused by someone in power over them, who they have no ability to protect themselves from, they're likely to become abusive. It affirms they have some measure of power and control in their lives.
I've watched perfectly nice puppies get ruined by abusive owners. This is to be avoided.
There are two things you can do. The bad news is, they take effort. Are you willing to spend it? The good news is, they'll really work!
First, you can practice metta meditation, and send metta to your dogs and your stepfather. Do not do this when they're violent, or immediately after. Before is fine.
Second, you can get a book, or find YouTube videos, on clicker training. Karen Pryor wrote the classic book. But it is very important that you are scrupulous and precise in the way you click and reward.
Over a month or two, you can easily train the aggressive and loud dogs to come to you and sit quietly at your feet; or to go to their basket and lie down, if they have one; or whatever works for the layout and organization of your household.
Then, when a dog starts barking, you send it to its basket, or call it to you. When the dogs start quarreling, you call them or send them to lie down. Dogs are really good with anything that involves a small, delicious treat.
And they like the structure and the ability to meaningfully participate in the household. But it will take an hour a day for a month or so to get powerful results.
Buddha bless,
Conrad.
I wasn't going to say that out loud, but I'm glad you did
If you can't treat animals with love and respect, you shouldn't have them. Same goes for children.
we are socially very similar to dogs.
we just refuse to acknowledge it. No, they become defensive and aggressive. Dogs are not, and cannot be 'abusive'.
Humans can, though.....
No, it affirms that they are trying to establish control and power in a situation they cannot understand.
Agreed....
Agreed again....
This will do nothing to fundamentally alter anybody's behaviour though. It might make you feel better, though....
Clicker training is all very well, but first of all, you have to understand why the dogs are behaving this way.
Training is the icing on the cake.
behaviour IS the cake....
This is compliance, not co-operation . What you are looking for is partnership with your dogs, not dominance.....
Only if they agree with your motives. Otherwise, while the going is good, treats are great. When they set to, and have a person kicking them, it doesn't work so well.....
No.
This is a lifetime, constant practice that must be implemented all day, every day.
but once you get the hang of it, it's as natural as breathing in and out.
Lovely to meet you. Reaching out for help was the smart thing to do and it's clear that you care very much for these dogs.
You've definitely got a situation on your hands. You need to get someone in there who knows what they're doing to rectify and defuse this time bomb before it explodes into something really bad. Find a professional as soon as you can. The people in your house need proper training and the dogs need rehabilitation.
That is one school of thought. There is another that stresses the role of human as pack leader. Cesar Milan would be an example of the latter.
Trust me, I can see that behaviors do not work in trying to calm them, and they don't want to get rid of them. Which is what I don't understand- it's like a camel that chews on prickly pines- it cuts and bleed, but it keeps on chewing. They don't do it often, but my family is not much for thinking in a rational way, when it comes to what angers them. They just go for the quick fix, instead of what would actually work. The unfortunate quick fix is to scream or beat. :-/ Usually when they would start up, or growl, I would just stop it by petting or using a squirter, or moving them.
I understand that. We really don't need to have them if that's how it is. Because I surely know I wouldn't want to be kicked just for happening to be near you. And I wouldn't want to be easily thought to be thrown away so something better can take my place.
I can't give them away, because they aren't 'mine.'
And you can't change people who don't see their actions as painful, or really don't care what they do to stop the noise.
:-/
He use to, then he quit. He wasn't like that for awhile, I can't remember when he even started to.
I couldn't understand why he would just sometimes kick the mutt or schnauz, my mom said because he just wanted to irritate me, or because when he lost his son, he gets mad whenever he sees the dogs. Which I don't believe, because my step-brother use to love for the mutt quite a bit. (the bassets are more recent than the others)
That's true, I don't understand how anyone could do badly to a dog or child, their own child, especially...
Like the Michael Vick character- raised dogs to fight, but he was raised doing it, so what he didn't wasn't right, but it was his upbringing as well.
If he paid his dues, then I'm happy for him.
Thank you
I don't know where to go. The only thing I could say is swallow my ego and get rid of the dogs I've had since I was a kid so they can be better off.
My step father and mother refuse to let even one of the bassets go, even though my mother hates the mother one. She keeps it because her father gave it to her and he has passed.
I don't know if this advice is helpful to you or not but I can tell you what I would do if I was in your situation. I would contact the SPCA or equivalent organization in your area, whoever deals with animal abuse, and get as much info as you can about how they can help with your situation. If you're afraid they might come to your home and remove the dogs even though you just called for information, have a friend call on your behalf and tell your friend not to give out your name or address.
Then go from there.
It's clear that you love those animals and want the abuse to stop. It's also clear that you are an intelligent person so I'm confident that the next steps you take will be the right ones. We'll be here if you need us.
Thank you. I'm looking up any thing I can find, as well as someone who would know what to do, and maybe could guarantee a good home. I wouldn't want o give them away, but as long as they have a nice home, I would be okay with that.