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Original poster

Getting scared now....aggressive puppy

137 replies

Idunnowhyibother · 07/08/2022 18:46

10 month old Bull Terrier growling at me when at home alone with him and has snapped at me several times. He is usually a happy sociable dog - good with other dogs and people. But just doesn't seem to like me....is fine with DP etc. I work from home so am with him all day but I'm starting to not feel safe around him. He's medically fine but goes into s sulk when DP is out. Today I am trying to relax at home and watch a film while DP is out with friends and his behaviour is just strange - he's slinking around avoiding me and has growled at me while I walked past him with his fur standing on end and lunged at me. Not a happy situation and I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

OP posts:
WhatWouldHopperDo · 07/08/2022 22:25

Lazybedhead · 07/08/2022 21:28

Put to sleep? That’s horrible!
You clearly don’t like dogs saying something like that. Dogs pick up on people’s fears and anxiety.
You have to come down to their level (sit on floor and put your head down so they can sniff and suss you out and trust you).

Show quote history

Are you insane? The OP has clearly described this dog displaying aggressive behaviour towards her and you are suggesting she make herself completely vulnerable by putting her head near his.

It’s extremely naive to suggest putting a dog to sleep indicates someone doesn’t like dogs. Some dogs are aggressive and there’s nothing else that can be done without them causing someone some serious harm. In recent cases where dogs have been pts after killing a person, what do you think should have happened to those dogs?

Lightningrain · 07/08/2022 22:30

I’d get a vet check first if it’s new behaviour to check he’s not in pain.

He might just be pushing boundaries as an adolescent male, or it could be fear based. Do some research on canine body language and you should be able to judge whether he’s fearful when you approach him. If so, as others have suggested a behaviourist would be a good idea.

CoffeeAndWinePlease · 07/08/2022 22:46

This is absolutely incorrect. “Top Dog” and “Pack Leader” style training is incredibly outdated and a potentially dangerous technique.

Southend Dog Training have wonderful resources, both free and paid that definitely do not follow that style of training.

If that is the approach/idea you have gotten from SDT, I think you maybe need to look again.

CoffeeAndWinePlease · 07/08/2022 22:51

OneMoreTimeBaby · 07/08/2022 19:18

If you're willing to put some work in and can act with confidence, I'd try hand feeding, I can recommend Southend Dog Training, they have lots of free content on social media. The dog needs to see you as 'top dog'. Good Luck

Previous post was meant to quote this just to reiterate how completely wrong any sort of dominance theory is.

Frequency · 07/08/2022 22:59

Southend Dog Training have wonderful resources, both free and paid that definitely do not follow that style of training

After a four minute Google I found them using an E Collar on a fear reactive dog and a prong collar on a dog who pulled on the leash. Again, I wouldn't trust them to train a flea.

PersonaNonGarter · 07/08/2022 23:01

godmum56 · 07/08/2022 20:11

two choices as i see it.....rehome or find an APDB accredited behaviourist and get the dog assessed.

Or ditch the DP.

Honestly, you have a DP problem. Don’t feel scared in your own home. He needs to take the dog away.

caringcarer · 07/08/2022 23:06

I never understood why people buy these types of dog. They are so powerful. This dog clearly does not like you and is a threat to you. I would give it one chance by getting behaviours training for it but if that failed would re-home it. It would probably be ok with just your DH. I would insist it was rehomed to single male, certainly not in a house with children.

DelphiniumBlue · 07/08/2022 23:07

All these reasons why the dog might be like he is... the reasons don't matter. Bottom line is that you don't feel safe with this dog in your house, because it is aggressive to you. You 're feeling like this because you are in danger. It could attack you and cause a lot of damage, really hurt you.
DP doesn't seem to be taking this seriously. Your only option is to tell him he can't keep this dog at your house any more, and that he can't leave you alone with the dog until he gets this sorted. He might not like it, but if he is prepared to stand by watching you frightened that the dog will attack you, then you know he is not the man for you.
You've seen on this thread that there is no consensus on how to train a dog reliably, that people are pushing various theories but there are no guarantees that there is any behaviour training that would make this dog safe to be around.

k1233 · 07/08/2022 23:34

has growled at me while I walked past him with his fur standing on end and lunged at me
**
This part of your OP is very concerning. A dog growling with its hackles up isn't good, particularly when followed by lunging at you.

No one can say why your dog is behaving like it is without seeing him in the environment the behaviour is occurring. You need to address quickly, before it becomes a big issue. It may already be a big issue, but no one online can say one way or another.

Whilst waiting for a face to face, I'd recommend googling the behaviours you're seeing so you can piece together what might be happening. Raised hackles are a sign of high alert. It's involuntary and can be for a number of reasons.

BloodyCamping · 07/08/2022 23:44

was he on the sofa?

marvellousmaple · 07/08/2022 23:49

Yeah agree with pp, hackles up is not good. I have 3 dogs and our big Shepherd has occasionally taken a dislike to a certain courier or someone and barked and growled with his hackles up ( on the other side of a screen door so no actual issue) until they left our property and he meant business. If he did that to me , as much as I love him he would have to go. I couldn't have him in the house.

WhackingPhoenix · 08/08/2022 00:00

Aye, terrifying Hmm I think they’re gorgeous little clowns, on the whole.

What were his parents like, and are you in touch with any owners of his littermates?

You do need a behaviourist on the case ASAP though. We have a nervy street dog rescue who bites when he’s scared, but working with a behaviourist has helped us enormously. We live by a set of rules now which help us create structure, routine and stability for our dog, minimising the risk of him meeting any of his known triggers.

Write down all the times/places/ways your dog has displayed behaviour you find unacceptable and see if there’s a pattern, and find an accredited behaviourist who has proven experience with EBTs as this needs nipping in the bud ASAP. He’ll grow to be a powerful dog and he will also come to learn that you are afraid of him.

Where does he sleep, who feeds him and how, who walks him, who trains him?

Getting scared now....aggressive puppy
WhackingPhoenix · 08/08/2022 00:03

Also, if it helps, this time last year I couldn’t even sit beside my dog without him growling or snapping at me and we were seriously evaluating what the fuck we were going to do with him.

He’s currently fast asleep with his head on my lap Smile

PritiPatelsMaker · 08/08/2022 00:07

I'm not prepared for 10 years of this! I'd rehome or PTS

The Dog or your DP? Not sure he'd be my DP if he was minimising the situation.

PlinkPlonkFizz · 08/08/2022 00:21

Hackles up, lunging, growling and snapping - I'd PTS. WAY too strong a breed to have this behaviour in, they are like a lethal weapon. I love dogs and was a dog owner too.

CrossStitch87 · 08/08/2022 00:27

Fuck. That.

Get shot of it. It’s dangerous.

Thekormachameleon · 08/08/2022 00:38

Pack theory
Top dog
Pecking order
Dangerous breed
Descended from wolves

Why do people who clearly know nothing about dogs share these statements with absolute authority ?

Terrariatime · 08/08/2022 00:46

It does my head in when I see people recommending positive only training for dogs like this. I have one, and wasted a year from the point my dog was at this stage on nonsense positive fantasists. I use an e-collar and at no point has my dog been scared of it, it's used positively as he's conditioned to it at his lowest perceived level, for corrections it's used at the lowest level possible in proportion to his level of energy at the time. It's actually made him more confident as it's a clear communication tool that lets him know exactly what's expected, if I press the button on the back of my hand I can't even feel it so it's definitely not hurting him when it's used for daily training.

People who recommend positive training for this type of dog, who have aggression in their dna are putting people at risk. Absolutely use south end dog training for this type of dog, who in their right mind would pass up the opportunity to live at peace with their dog because they don't want to correct it's behaviour? So you'd rather someone got their face torn off or a dog gets pts because you don't want to safely let it know it's being a knob? Behave! People who think you can train this out of these dogs have never met a truly aggressive by their dna terrier, the ones it works for will be displaying learned behaviour and easily fixed. Don't make the mistake I did op, get yourself a balanced trainer. I realised when I met my dogs brother they are wired differently, he's lanky and placid and mine is solid and bitey. Mine has been trained from day 1 and his brother left to make the rules up but mines the aggressive one.

k1233 · 08/08/2022 00:49

I'm not saying PTS as a first option. I'm saying work with a specialist to understand behaviour. You do not want to stop the dog showing warning signs. That's how bites "come out of nowhere". The dog is not allowed to show it's uncomfortable and then when it can no longer tolerate the situation, it lashes out.

Nobody can say one way or another what is happening here. The situation needs hands on, in environment assessment.

Frequency · 08/08/2022 00:57

People who think you can train this out of these dogs have never met a truly aggressive by their dna terrier, the ones it works for will be displaying learned behaviour and easily fixed.

There is no such thing as a dog who has aggression coded into its DNA. Aggression is primarily caused by fear. You cannot train away fear. You can modify the dogs reaction to fear using force or "correction" but the fear itself will remain. That is creating a dangerous situation. Luckily for "balanced" trainers who know very little about canine behaviour the vast majority of dogs would never give a serious bite no matter how wound up or fearful they are but no-one can know if their dog is one of the exceptions who is willing to cause serious injury until it happens.

A behaviourist will identify the cause of the fear and work with the dog using scientifcally backed methods to remove the fear by building the dogs confidence. You wouldn't help someone overcome a fear of spiders by tapping them on the nose every time they reacted to a spider, would you? How is using an E collar on a fearful dog any different?

Corrections and distractions have their place in positive training but not with fear reactive or nervous dogs.

JanePrentiss · 08/08/2022 00:57

WhackingPhoenix · 08/08/2022 00:00

Aye, terrifying Hmm I think they’re gorgeous little clowns, on the whole.

What were his parents like, and are you in touch with any owners of his littermates?

You do need a behaviourist on the case ASAP though. We have a nervy street dog rescue who bites when he’s scared, but working with a behaviourist has helped us enormously. We live by a set of rules now which help us create structure, routine and stability for our dog, minimising the risk of him meeting any of his known triggers.

Write down all the times/places/ways your dog has displayed behaviour you find unacceptable and see if there’s a pattern, and find an accredited behaviourist who has proven experience with EBTs as this needs nipping in the bud ASAP. He’ll grow to be a powerful dog and he will also come to learn that you are afraid of him.

Where does he sleep, who feeds him and how, who walks him, who trains him?

Off topic slightly but your EBT is gorgeous!

Terrariatime · 08/08/2022 01:08

Frequency · 08/08/2022 00:57

People who think you can train this out of these dogs have never met a truly aggressive by their dna terrier, the ones it works for will be displaying learned behaviour and easily fixed.

There is no such thing as a dog who has aggression coded into its DNA. Aggression is primarily caused by fear. You cannot train away fear. You can modify the dogs reaction to fear using force or "correction" but the fear itself will remain. That is creating a dangerous situation. Luckily for "balanced" trainers who know very little about canine behaviour the vast majority of dogs would never give a serious bite no matter how wound up or fearful they are but no-one can know if their dog is one of the exceptions who is willing to cause serious injury until it happens.

A behaviourist will identify the cause of the fear and work with the dog using scientifcally backed methods to remove the fear by building the dogs confidence. You wouldn't help someone overcome a fear of spiders by tapping them on the nose every time they reacted to a spider, would you? How is using an E collar on a fearful dog any different?

Corrections and distractions have their place in positive training but not with fear reactive or nervous dogs.

My dog isn't scared of anything, he's selectively aggressive when he feels like it. He tries to eat the tiny mini spaniel across the road for fun, he's best pals with the working cocker next door. No way he's scared of the little dog. He's been like this since he was a pup but got aggressive at puberty. Neutering makes no difference I've asked numerous people who have tried it and bitches in the breed are exactly the same. They're bred to kill how can you say it's not in their dna? People have been trying for decades now to breed it back out!

Soproudoflionesses · 08/08/2022 01:09

Haven't rtft but are there children in the house?
Either way the dog needs to go.
Stay safe op.

Changechangychange · 08/08/2022 01:10

It’s strange that all of these Southend Dog Training satisfied customers have coincidentally ended up on this thread tonight isn’t it? Hmm

BreadInCaptivity · 08/08/2022 01:21

We live by a set of rules now which help us create structure, routine and stability for our dog, minimising the risk of him meeting any of his known triggers

As per my pp as a non dog person this bloody worries me.

You live a life with a very strong, unpredictable dog and "minimise" his triggers.

What happens when someone else who encounters your dog doesn't follow these "routines/structure"?

It's basically an admission that you own a dog whose on a hair trigger and yet posters are saying what a lovely pet he is.

FFS 🤦‍♀️