You are here:

Canine Behavior/aggresive behavior

Advertisement

Expert: - 1/6/2008


Question
i have a 3 year old pit bull who is very friendly and usually great with people she is trained in waiting for her food sitting staying but latlely something is wrong my 19 year old nephew has been staying with me the first few days the dog was great with him but new years day we went out my nephew and my self when we came home sasha was jumping on him and my nephew went on the computer and the dog followed him she let him pet him but then snapped and growelled at him i punished by putting her in her caged .i tryed to have her go to by nephew this time keeping her on her lease she tryed to launge and snapp at him please help me i love my dog but i need to nip this in the bud now thank you

Answer
Unless you have been observing your nephew 24/7, you don't know what might have transpired between him and your dog when you weren't looking.  Putting the dog on the leash might worsen the problem if she's responding from fear.  If she does not show this behavior toward anyone else, then you know the problem isn't the dog, it's the nephew.  I would advise the nephew to stay away from the dog, not to force the issue, and attempt to re-establish a bond of trust between them by allowing the dog to make the first move - ONLY with you present.  Be prepared to call her quickly if you see her hackles come up; what she should be doing is trying to avoid contact with him.  I strongly suspect he did something to initiate this behavior and she is simply afraid of him.  If that's the case, you have to choose between your dog and your nephew.

Canine Behavior

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.