Expert: Delores Beck - 2/16/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi Delores,

I'm asking a new question as my thread was long and I was asked to restart....

To give you a bit of back round on what makes Wynston act out.... The last time he got angry and had a temper tantrum, my husband was trying to dry him off after being outside in the snow. He did not want to get toweled off and began growling. When my husband said no and made eye contact, he continued to growl. When he finally stopped, my husband tried it again, Wynn then snapped at him. Almost nipping his hand.

I have also experienced the same behavior when I try to take off his coat after being outside. If he doesn't want to take it off, he will growl. I will firmly say no, let him calm down without breaking the eye contact and then eventually get it off safely.

The other night we were playing catch and he was having a great time, no aggression in sight, when i had the ball and it took me longer to throw it, he came to get it and grabbed a hold of the ball from my hand. When i said no and told him to sit, he began to growl. When i didn't let up, he got more agitated and snapped at me. I wasn't sure what to do, so i did the safest thing i could think of, I flipped him on his back and said no. I had one hand under his chest so he could;'t reach my hand, and one on his belly so he wouldn't flip back up. He was very angry and kept growling and trying to snap. I was able to get him to calm down, but it took a lot longer than usual.

As for the bottle with coins, I have tried this before and he just loves loud noises, so it breaks his attention for the time being, but then he thinks it a game and wants the loud bottle to play with.

When trying the umbilical cord exercise, he follows us around and doesn't seem to be bothered by the exercise. He also follows us around once we are not using the lease. I'm assuming this is good, but it's not changing his behavior when he gets angry. Am I doing something wrong?

Any other ideas on what else I can try? I'm started to get very nervous. I just don;t understand how he can be an angel and listen to his commands most of the times and then, become enraged and want to growl and bite. Do you think there may be something wrong with him that I am missing? he seems perfectly happy and healthy, but i can't think of anything else it could be...

I appreciate all your help!!!
Angela

ANSWER: If you were doing the "one loud crash" with the CAN (not a bottle) of coins, he wouldn't love it.

I'd like a list of every time Wynston has been angry and what was happening.

You mentioned the taking off his coat - have someone hold his leash and at the FIRST growl, give him a leash correction.  That's a short "pop" on his leash with a NO.

With the ball game..the best thing to do was quit and walk away.
Delores




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Delores,

We have tried the technique you suggested with the can of coins and he gets distracted by it and wants to play with the can, but them begins to growl as soon as we try to do whatever it was that caused the behavior in the first place. He is also doing something else, which is very puzzling, when we get down at his level and say “no” in a stern voice he sometimes growls, but at the same time he tries to cuddle up to us and lick our hands. I’m not sure what’s happening in this case. I feel as if he’s sorry for what he’s doing and knows it’s wrong, but continue to growl, which confuses me. Below are some of the instances where Wynston growls.  Also, we have tried the leash correction and he gets extremely aggressive. I have never seen him so angry, he wanted to rip the leash to shreds. We usually have a harness on him, but we have now purchased a collar to ensure we can control him better and give him the lease correction. Am I doing something terribly wrong or is this to be expected and really a sign that it’s going to work???

1)   When we try to brush him
2)   Take off his coat after a walk and he’s not ready to take it off
3)   We are playing catch and he tries to take the ball away
4)   He laying down and getting sleepy and we pet him
5)   We tell him to give us something he’s chewing that maybe he shouldn’t be chewing
6)   We try to clean his ears

Thanks,
Angela

Answer
If you were coming down HARD once with the can - he wouldn't want to play with it.

Re taking his coat off or drying him after a walk.  Come in the house - leave him alone for a minute and go to the kitchen.  When he follows - give him a treat before and after getting his coat off.

Stop petting him so much and let him work for attention.

Brushing and ear cleaning - put him up on a counter with something non-skid under him.
Have your husband give treats and praise while you brush for a very short time.  Don't over do it.  Let him associate this with good things.  Have his leash on.

If you have said NO and he then wants to cuddle - walk away.
Delores