Post by raerae on Jun 23, 2019 12:03:40 GMT -5
Donovan is a purebred chocolate lab. He was born in a puppy mill, seized by law enforcement, he'd lived 4 months in a kennel, then 8 months in a kennel at the shelter before we adopted him. We discovered about 2 years old he had hip dysplasia. He didn't bark ever for a full 2 years. Until I taught him to speak.
He is an awesome dog. Smart as a whip. Never really had to teach him anything, he just got it. He immediately attached himself to dh, even though he didn't want him at first lol.
About 3-4 years old we noticed he's kind of... arrogant. He'd check to see if anyone was watching before snapping at the cat, for example. Or growling at a child. He knows he's not allowed on the furniture, but he's sneaky. We put chairs on the couch and recliners when we leave or go to bed to keep him off the furniture.
-HE CHECKS TO SEE IF ANYONE IS WATCHING BEFORE DOING SOMETHING HE KNOWS HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO.-
Dd says, "you don't even know, he does things when you're not around."
He polices the house. Barks at the kids for rough housing. There can be absolutely no behavior that's not perfectly calm and quiet. Even if you're playing and laughing. You can't even run to the bathroom during commercial breaks. At first it was funny, endearing even. It should be noted that our home is very calm and happy, we're all introverts and avoid stress at all costs. There's no yelling or fighting (not since DD moved out anyway)
He barks at the other dog for bad deeds. He barks at night if he hears us talking or laughing in our bedroom. He'll bark at the cat for getting on the dining chairs. -but he does whatever he wants.
I've hit Donovan one time. Ever. I'm not in the habit of punishment training and my dogs are very well mannered.
But I caught him slinking off the brand new couch when I came in, (several years ago) & smacked his butt. He bit my boots. Glad I was wearing boots. I made him lay down belly up, but he did not submit.
We seemed to have an understanding though, and he began to be more friendly with me. Not that he's not friendly, he's a good dog, he just sees himself as equal to the pack leader, dh, and above everyone else in the household.
I think he's begun to see me as pack leader, as I'm the one at home and working with them 24/7.
I won't bathe him alone. I'm afraid he'd snap at me. I can't cut his nails. Actually, literally ANYTHING he deems intrusive, from flea medicine to a simple brushing, he acts like I'm torturing him, he genuinely feels threatened and will bite me, as he did yesterday when I was brushing him out, he sheds horribly. He didn't break skin. And more surprisingly, dh was sitting right there, which usually keeps him behaved. He's only bitten anyone 3 times. And only me. Not because he's got beef with me but because I'm the only one that requires anything of him.
I don't show fear, or let him get away with intimidating me. I do what I gotta do to take care of him. Just very mindfully. Gently. But firmly.
-lately, our almost 10 yr old dog has begun barking at nothing. Absolutely nothing. Maynard is confused looking for whatever Donovan is barking at, and now just ignores him.
The other day, the cat was sleeping in the chair, I was reading, dogs sleeping on the rug, all within 5 feet of each other for over an hour.
Don just suddenly jumped up and barked in the cats face. She hadn't moved or done anything. He'll bark at the cat, or ds, for just walking through the room. Or he'll stand up and start barking at... what, the wall?
Once he starts in, there's no shutting him up until he decides to. He's not been abused. Not here anyway. He's well loved and spoilt, in spite of his being kind of a jerk.
I think he's beginning to lose his mind. I'm worried his tendency to be defensive, and mildly aggressive, will get out of control if he develops full dementia.
He's not skittish. He's not shy. He's not nervous. He won't move when you step over him, but he'll watch you as you do. He'd snap if you accidently step on him.
Idk what to do. He's in the best health of his life now, vet said he's allergic to being alive. We tried everything for years before finally finding a food that did the trick. Go figure. Years of pills and shots and ointments and a cheap food fixed him. (Kal-Kan, story in another post)
He runs, plays, (he'll play fetch for awhile, but when he's done, he just walks away lol) he actually likes showing off his tricks, from bang (finger shoot him and he'll fall over dead) to find money (he'll bring you a half hidden dollar for a treat) speak, whisper, etc. (I've been unable to teach Maynard more than the kindergarten basics. he's my lovey doofus)
He hasn't had to have pain meds for his hips except for a few days in winter for a couple years, though he can't get into the truck by himself (hasn't been able to since he was about 4) he's on no medications now. He is actually more lively and loving now that he feels better.
So it's not like it's "time", or even close, but what can I do about his mind?
Is there some behavior therapy or training I can work with him on?
Dh is oblivious, but the dogs are at my fingertips literally 24/7, and I see it.
-case in point, picture taken just now, Don left, Maynard right.
He is an awesome dog. Smart as a whip. Never really had to teach him anything, he just got it. He immediately attached himself to dh, even though he didn't want him at first lol.
About 3-4 years old we noticed he's kind of... arrogant. He'd check to see if anyone was watching before snapping at the cat, for example. Or growling at a child. He knows he's not allowed on the furniture, but he's sneaky. We put chairs on the couch and recliners when we leave or go to bed to keep him off the furniture.
-HE CHECKS TO SEE IF ANYONE IS WATCHING BEFORE DOING SOMETHING HE KNOWS HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO.-
Dd says, "you don't even know, he does things when you're not around."
He polices the house. Barks at the kids for rough housing. There can be absolutely no behavior that's not perfectly calm and quiet. Even if you're playing and laughing. You can't even run to the bathroom during commercial breaks. At first it was funny, endearing even. It should be noted that our home is very calm and happy, we're all introverts and avoid stress at all costs. There's no yelling or fighting (not since DD moved out anyway)
He barks at the other dog for bad deeds. He barks at night if he hears us talking or laughing in our bedroom. He'll bark at the cat for getting on the dining chairs. -but he does whatever he wants.
I've hit Donovan one time. Ever. I'm not in the habit of punishment training and my dogs are very well mannered.
But I caught him slinking off the brand new couch when I came in, (several years ago) & smacked his butt. He bit my boots. Glad I was wearing boots. I made him lay down belly up, but he did not submit.
We seemed to have an understanding though, and he began to be more friendly with me. Not that he's not friendly, he's a good dog, he just sees himself as equal to the pack leader, dh, and above everyone else in the household.
I think he's begun to see me as pack leader, as I'm the one at home and working with them 24/7.
I won't bathe him alone. I'm afraid he'd snap at me. I can't cut his nails. Actually, literally ANYTHING he deems intrusive, from flea medicine to a simple brushing, he acts like I'm torturing him, he genuinely feels threatened and will bite me, as he did yesterday when I was brushing him out, he sheds horribly. He didn't break skin. And more surprisingly, dh was sitting right there, which usually keeps him behaved. He's only bitten anyone 3 times. And only me. Not because he's got beef with me but because I'm the only one that requires anything of him.
I don't show fear, or let him get away with intimidating me. I do what I gotta do to take care of him. Just very mindfully. Gently. But firmly.
-lately, our almost 10 yr old dog has begun barking at nothing. Absolutely nothing. Maynard is confused looking for whatever Donovan is barking at, and now just ignores him.
The other day, the cat was sleeping in the chair, I was reading, dogs sleeping on the rug, all within 5 feet of each other for over an hour.
Don just suddenly jumped up and barked in the cats face. She hadn't moved or done anything. He'll bark at the cat, or ds, for just walking through the room. Or he'll stand up and start barking at... what, the wall?
Once he starts in, there's no shutting him up until he decides to. He's not been abused. Not here anyway. He's well loved and spoilt, in spite of his being kind of a jerk.
I think he's beginning to lose his mind. I'm worried his tendency to be defensive, and mildly aggressive, will get out of control if he develops full dementia.
He's not skittish. He's not shy. He's not nervous. He won't move when you step over him, but he'll watch you as you do. He'd snap if you accidently step on him.
Idk what to do. He's in the best health of his life now, vet said he's allergic to being alive. We tried everything for years before finally finding a food that did the trick. Go figure. Years of pills and shots and ointments and a cheap food fixed him. (Kal-Kan, story in another post)
He runs, plays, (he'll play fetch for awhile, but when he's done, he just walks away lol) he actually likes showing off his tricks, from bang (finger shoot him and he'll fall over dead) to find money (he'll bring you a half hidden dollar for a treat) speak, whisper, etc. (I've been unable to teach Maynard more than the kindergarten basics. he's my lovey doofus)
He hasn't had to have pain meds for his hips except for a few days in winter for a couple years, though he can't get into the truck by himself (hasn't been able to since he was about 4) he's on no medications now. He is actually more lively and loving now that he feels better.
So it's not like it's "time", or even close, but what can I do about his mind?
Is there some behavior therapy or training I can work with him on?
Dh is oblivious, but the dogs are at my fingertips literally 24/7, and I see it.
-case in point, picture taken just now, Don left, Maynard right.