[Marlene]

We adopted a four year old male Dachshund Chihuahua in May. He and my huband never really connected. The first week we had him, he would bark and growl at my husband. His foster mother and a friend who knows a lot about dogs both gave me the same advice. My husband put on work gloves and pinned the dog down on the floor to show him who was top dog. There were no more incidents after that. Except Puck doesn't seem to like my husband. Ken says he bares his teeth at him. They've had some positive interaction so I don't know why Puck doesn't like Ken. Last week he nipped at Ken's heels on two separate occasions when Ken walked by him. He has also nipped at my mother's heels, at my mother's house (shouldn't be a territory battle there). My mother has a walker, I didn't know if Puck was afraid of it. Last night he bit Ken on the hand when Ken was petting him. He didn't break the skin but gave him two red marks. Puck is bascially good with my daughters, ages 6 and 8. He bit the 8 year old in the face a few months ago but she was holding him up by his front legs while I tried to take a picture (stupid). So basically I have this dog who bites and I need to teach him to stop. I also wish he would actually like my husband. He's a good dog in most other ways and he has such a good life with us, I don't know why he's being stupid and about to ruin it all. I told my husband I would give him back but we're his third owner and I so badly want it to work out. He was nippy in the shelter after his first owner died, but I figured that was normal. I didn't know I was getting a dog who would bite. He had to be fostered at a home in order to show well. Thanks for any advice. I don't know that much about dogs.

[Northern gal]

First and formost. The safety of your children. One bad bite is all it would take for you to say, "Why did I allow this to happen." You have to get control immediately. He has to learn who is the pack leader and that should be all of you. Make sure that all of you walk the dog for at least 45 minutes to an hour a day, preferrable twice a day if you can. Just trade off walkers. Also make sure you walk him the right way. You in front or the dog beside you. Use a short lead with a coller up high on the neck, not down low where the dog can gain control. Wear your dog out, a tired dog is a happy dog. They love to work for their food and attention. Don't give him any attention when he is bad, except if your correcting him. When he summits, by that I mean, being calm and with his ears back and chest out. Then you can give love and attention.
You must without fale, be calm-assertive. A dog can read your energy, so he will know when you aren't in control. They want to be safe, like they would in the wild with a pack leader. Think of yourself and the others in your family as that leader, who will be his protecter. They have to have boundries and rules in order for them to feel safe. I hope things work out for your family so you can keep your dog as a part of it.

[reeskujo]

Try having your husband be the only one who feeds him and have your husband give him basic commands such as sit and when he obeys have your husband give him a treat.Also have your husband offer him a treat and when he takes it nicely pet and praise him.This way he will associate your husband with something good.You can also spray him in the face with a water bottle when he nips or bites.This way he learns he gets rewarded for good behavior and has a consequence for bad behavior.You can also have your husband put a treat in the palm of his hand and as the dog is taking it take his fingers and pet him under the chin.This way he will associate being pet with something good.If he's a shelter dog and you don't know his past it's possible he's been abused by a man.

[kaps]

• Did you know that your dog may not know why you are trying to correct him?
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My dog Cara, thrives on the consistent messages I give her and
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Gained Control over Dog's Aggression

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Kirsty's dog used to have "a nervous disposition and a habit of going bonkers through fear by barking, growling and trying to nip/bite",

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Her 14 month old puppy used to be a little aggressive towards her new 7 week old puppy

Look, if you:

• Want your dog to obey you wherever you go.
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Dog Obedience Training to Solve Dog Behavior Problems

[fearfuldogs.com]

First of all the dog was initially probably letting you and your husband know that he was afraid of your husband. Dogs do this by growling and trying to convince the scary thing to stay away from them. Not only was this ignored but then your husband did just what the dog was afraid of, he was 'attacked' by your husband. Now you expect the dog to like your husband.

Helping this dog get over his fear of your husband is going to be a challenge. You tried to force the dog to behave a certain way with your husband,which has limited effect, and never as reliable as changing how the dog feels about your husband. You need to learn about triggers, thresholds, counter conditioning and desensitization. Instead of seeing the dog's behavior as a sign of dominance or any of that rubbish, try to understand that dogs will do what they need to protect themselves.

Check out this site for more info about working with your dog. If you can find a trainer that uses positive training techniques you might be able to help this dog. Any further force or punishment may make the situation worse.

www.fearfuldogs.com