|
Conflicting behavior?
My dog is displaying conflicting behaviors. She growls sometimes when I feed her, but she has gone a long way to getting use to me handling her food. I fed her piece by piece so she's 90% use to me touching her food bowl now. She will growl at my girlfriend when she tries to touch her food bowl and I told her to do the same thing as I. Once we take the food bowl away she completely submits though, like she knows she did wrong, but couldn't help it. She will come to us with her lowered head and lower body and tail down and will put her head in between our legs. Today my girlfriend told her to sit and jump up before giving her a piece of treat ,which she ate and walked away, but when my girlfriend pet her she growled and barked. My girlfriend called her over and our dog laid down and displayed a submissive body language. What is going on? I am trying to figure out if she aggressive/fear aggressive/ or just has a strong attitude. She is a golden retriever shiba inu mix and I know that shiba inus are strong in attitude, so I don't know if that is just the shiba inu in her or what. She doesn't do that with me, maybe it is because I spend more time with her? I feed her the all the time as well as take her out to reliever herself. My girlfriend plays with her more though.
Sincerely,
Confused pet owner
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Pets?
You didn't state how long you have been with your girlfriend or whether she lives with you or not.
Your dog is showing signs of aggressive behavior because YOU are her owner. Most dogs don't like people they aren't fully comfortable with handling their food.
I am sure the more time your girlfriend spends with the dog, The dog will begin to bond with her. Your dog may feel she is a threat or perhaps she is a new person that just recently came into the picture.
I have a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix and a Shih Tzu pure bred. Anyone who is not familiar that comes into the household will be barked at. Dogs are territorial and are dominate. She may be acting out because she is not used to your girlfriend being around. I would suggest not letting your girlfriend handle her food just yet but take it slow and try to spend time with the dog little by little and slowly she should adjust.
]
Cesar Millan seems to be the all time expert on dogs with an owner as 'leader of the pack' style of training that works. What we think a dog will understand is totally different than how humans think. I no longer have a dog, but if I did, I would buy and study his book.
For advice from other dogs owners who have faced the same issues and found a solution, I would suggest posting a question also on the Cesar Millan facebook page.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
I do know this much, only one human can be taught to be the pack leader over a dog. Attempting to add a 2nd pack leader as in your girlfriend only confuses the dog. With a dog who is not sure yet as to who is supposed to be the pack leader, as in you or her, the dog feels scared and insecure. But as to what exact steps to doing in training the dog first to understand you are the pack leader and then as pack leader training the dog to behave a proper way with other humans, I do not know. Try the facebook site. I saw others post questions to get them answered by many other dog owners.
]
More Questions: |