Hello, it is me and Andy again. I was wondering if my thoughts are correct:
Andy for some reason is very aggressive and has actually tried to bite my nieces husband. He is the only individual that he has this reaction to. When every they come to visit Andy goes ballistic and will not quiet down.
Not sure if it is because he (niece's husband) is a chicken farmer and Andy is reacting to the smell of the chickens, cows, horses, etc.
Any ideas on how to get him (Andy) to calm down during visits?
How often does B come to visit? If he comes often enough, how about having him bring the yummiest dog treats available. Go out and come in repeatedly until Andy begins to associate good things with B.
Posts: 481 | Location: Rio Grande Valley | Registered: Apr 14, 2007
B doesn't come very often but whenever my sons are home from deployment they get together at my house for dinner and night of just relaxing and catching up.
As far as another owner don't think so I got him from a pet store when he was 8 weeks old.
I feel bad because B has dogs and even my daughters dog likes B so I guess maybe he reminds Andy of someone.
The idea of the treats is a good idea not sure if Andy will let him get close to him though. Andy will actually bark the entire time B is in the house (very annoying).
Have you been to niece and B's house? How does he treat his animals? Does he kill the chickens and cows? What kind of shape are his horses in? Ask niece if he has anger issues...I'd trust Andy's reactions to him...something isn't right. If you really want to break Andy's insistance on this guy,,,have the guy come in and when Andy freaks, tell Andy LEAVE IT!! with a quick jerk of his collar...do NOT do anything else physically with Andy....especially don't pet him and say, "it's ok". Do this repeatedly until Andy doesn't throw a fit when B comes in. It might take several times. I would alternate people coming in and REALLY praise him when he doesn't freak on people. That will re-enforce what you are wanting.
I would not attribute the dogs reaction to abuse by the nephew. People are so ready to jump on that. It could be a smell the dog is reacting to...it could be something about the nephew like the way he walks or talks is familar and unwanted to the dog. Most dogs act aggressive with someone because of a smell or mannerism that is familar to the dog. I have a dog who adores older folks. She runs right up to them and loves all over them. Her previous owner was an elder lady and this is something that is familar and comfortable to her. Another dog here freaks and snaps at my son whenever he comes over. Something about my son sets Fox off into a barking, circling and snapping frenzy. I just hold Fox when my son comes over, talk calmly to him and explain that my son is a good guy. Fox does calm down enough to let my son stay and he will go up to him after a few minutes. Abuse is NOT always the culprit in these instances. My son does not have a mean bone in his body and all the other dogs adore him
**************************** "Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." Ann Landers **************************** Come check out my "hairy"kids and My Avatars
Posts: 6893 | Location: Beach Front Property minus the water | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
I agree with you about either reminding him of something. I was wondering if he was picking up the chicken farm smell from B.
Thought maybe Andy could smell the chickens/cows on B even though I couldn't.
Anyway gonna try and work with B on this. I am going to take Andy to the farm on a leash and see if we can get him use to the sights and smells and help relax him around B.
B gets upset because Andy is aggressive and can't figure it out either. B has never had a dog even strays that act this way towards him and he feels bad when he comes to visit because it upsets the household.
SIL's Chihuaua has a thing for "bald" men?? They've had him since he was a pup, so can't be connected to a former owner or experience. He doesn't attack or anything, but pretty much gets very macho around my EX and her BIL?? I'm think this mighty-mite thoroughly enjoys intimidating them!!
Had a very docile Rott that didn't like men in HATS?? Clueless as to where that came from. Again, never attacked but made it VERY clear the hat HADDA go!! Once b-ball cap was off, she was all lovey??
Posts: 2291 | Location: mount holly, NJ, USA | Registered: Sep 19, 2002
Jake went crazy when a friend came over wearing a black hat. He normally loves this woman and she has been coming into our house for years and years without any incident. I asked her to remove her hat and voila . . . he stopped growling and went over to her for his usual belly rub. I personally don't think it was the hat per se. I think he just couldn't see her hair and eyes and it kind of scared him. We've also noticed an odd reaction to the kids across the street. He loves to look out the window and watch the kids play. This one day he went nuts and we noticed the kids were walking in their ditch. I guess it freaked him out because he couldn't see their legs. We tested this one out several times and it definitely only happens if they are walking in a ditch and Jake can't see their legs. Perhaps this gentleman in your case is sending out a vibe that he is afraid of the dog and the dog is picking up on this vibe.
Posts: 576 | Location: Southwest Florida and Ontario | Registered: May 08, 2005
skoash, the smell thing makes sense, My Maizie hates the smell of pine. If I burn a candle with that scent, or use PineSol she will bark and howl incessently. I needed to change my cleaners with something else. I tried using the pine Sol after reading this post and sure enough... a barking howling session commenced. Your baby might be able to smell the chicken or cows and is disturbing to your Andy
**************************** "Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." Ann Landers **************************** Come check out my "hairy"kids and My Avatars
Posts: 6893 | Location: Beach Front Property minus the water | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
I am reading FOR THE LOVE OF A DOG, by Patricia McConnell, an animal behaviorist. She goes into this problem in great detail.
Her thought: move the dog to another room and give him a special treat BEFORE the person comes into the house. If possible, repeat this several times during the visit, having the man leave the house and come back in, and you give the dog a treat a remove him BEFORE the door is opened. Then, sometime after, let the dog in the room, maybe on a leash, ask him to sit, and give him a treat. Gradually work up to the man tossing the treat to the dog lots of times before he ever tries to give the treat directly to the dog.
I know it sounds time consuming, but it also makes sense to me.
I highly recommend this book - it makes for great reading, even if you have a PERFECT dog!
B and I have agreed to try and get Andy to calm down around him and I took Andy to B's house the other day and Andy was so involved in the sights and sounds of the farm that he didn't bark at B while we were talking.
It was a start. B came to the my house and Andy acted up again but not as long or as aggressive as before. So I will go and visit the farm with Andy at least once a week. Hopefully the repeated visits will alleviate whatever upsets Andy.
I went thru the same thing with my neice and new german sheperd puppy. She would growl and bark at her every time she came in. My neice finally started ignoring her and paid her no attention at all. Now they both get along fine. Don't know if this will work with your dog or not.
Sounds like you are on the right track w/Andy...it might take a little time but worth it in the end to restore peace to the household when y'all are visiting.
If only we could read our dogs' minds...who knows what little things will set them off or remind them of something! My beloved German Shepherd that I had years ago was very well trained & obedient...once I let her know a person was "ok", that was it. But one day...and I can see it in my mind as clear as a bell...I was sitting on the couch & the dog was at my feet.. & my cousin was standing in front of the fireplace. He was wearing a ball cap & just talking to the dog & me...he got ready to leave & jokingly tipped his hat to my dog...gosh she reared up & was going to sail over the coffee table to get to him, barking her head off! Soon as I called her "DOWN!" she stopped.
I agree with a smell of some sort reminding the dog of something it doesn't like. not the man. My poor hubby almost got trampled by an elephant he'd never seen before. he evidently looked like someone that elephant had bad memories of.
