dogs, biting, jumping up, talking to people

[gypsyd]

Kane my GSD doesnt like me talking to people when i am out with him - he barks at the other person then jumps up at me - if he want muzzled he'd bite me too - so frustrating!!

I have a behaviourist help Kane but well to be honest its rather pricey they want over £100 per hour for 10 sessions that is a £1,000 i cant afford!!

Can anyone help

behavioursit says that kane need walksign away from dogs - finding a ruddy place is difficult cos fields = dogs, streets = dogs parks = dogs
I love walking him but hate the behaviour

I want to stop him jumping up - he bashes my legs when muzzled it hurts not to mention could trip me over if he bashed me hard enough

if he wasnt muzzled hes jump up and bite my arm

he also hates me talking to people in street anyone - he barks atthem then as i apologise for his behaviour or explain he then jumps up again if not muzzled he'd also bite me little devil

I stress I LOVE MY DOG very much and coudl once walk him no problems now i say godo boy and treat but it works with cats argghhhh!!! SOMETIMES but not with dogs so behaviourist tells me gotta work at a long distance and work towards getting dogs closer and takes ages ie a year - yikes I cant afford £1,000

anybody been thru this that can advise me please what to try

he behaves for his Dad. Also when at the field tonight a dog came up to him but no trouble so why does he behave so badly on walks with me HEEELLLPPPP!!!

[wildmoor]

he sees you as weak and in need of protection, you need to regain control, focus on your control of him without distraction first, he needs to earn everything, nothing without earning it first whether that is a sit for his food, only praising him voice or touch when he has completed a task or for good behaviour, priorities should be discipline/training, exercise, food then affection

[kita]

Originally Posted by gypsyd

Kane my GSD doesnt like me talking to people when i am out with him - he barks at the other person then jumps up at me - if he want muzzled he'd bite me too - so frustrating!!

What command do you give him before you start to talk to the person? For example do you see the person, then tell him to 'sit' or 'down' before you speak to the person? Or do you say nothing until he starts to bark?

Originally Posted by gypsyd

I have a behaviourist help Kane but well to be honest its rather pricey they want over £100 per hour for 10 sessions that is a £1,000 i cant afford!!

That does sound expensive, they don't all cost that much. What area of the country are you in? Some behaviourists costs are covered by insurance (if you have Kane insured?). You could try here (click on your area to give a list of trainers):

APBC Members by Region | Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors

Originally Posted by gypsyd

I want to stop him jumping up - he bashes my legs when muzzled it hurts not to mention could trip me over if he bashed me hard enough

if he wasnt muzzled hes jump up and bite my arm

What sort of muzzle do you use?

Have you ever tried a Halti (they will fit over or under a muzzle)? It is also useful to use without a muzzle. That would stop him from jumping up at you - it is easy to hold their head down and keep all four feet on the ground.

Originally Posted by gypsyd

SOMETIMES but not with dogs so behaviourist tells me gotta work at a long distance and work towards getting dogs closer

What they basically mean is that when you see a dog you have to try and keep at a distance from the dog so Kane does not react, the more he repeats the behaviour the more he will want to do it. It does take time, although some dogs are faster at learning than others. Like wildmoor says you need to practice getting his attention on you without any distractions first.

In the meantime if you have to take him into a situation where he meets other dogs/people try and get the 'leave' command in before he shows any reaction to the dog/person, once he is jumping up and barking he is committed to the action and it is more difficult to stop him.

If you want to stand and talk to someone tell him 'leave' and then either 'sit' or 'down'. Ask the other person to totally ignore him and not even look at him. When you have finished talking get them to walk away, then release him from the 'sit' or 'down'. Only give praise when you release him.

Sue

[ClaireandDaisy]

It actually sounds as though you haven`t trained your dog. He`s all over the place. Dogs can`t read minds. You have to teach them what you want them to do.
Lose the muzzle. Unless you think your dog will bite someone else or their dog.
Train your dog.
It`s you who needs to learn first - read a good training book like Jean Donaldson`s Culture Clash. Go to a APDT training class. (BTW a behaviourist asking that much is taking the p**s. £70 tops for a programme of work and ongoing support is more usual)

In the meantime: to teach your dog to walk nicely:
Using a flat collar and loose lead, start in a quiet place, on your own. (Don`t take the kids, OH, mum, other dog...). Just walk. Every time the dog jumps or pulls ahead, turn. Turn away if hes nipping, any way if he`s just pulling. Keep twisting and turning until the dog is following not leading. Praise the dog calmly and continue the way you wanted to go.
Repeat as needed.
You have to keep calm and you have to keep quiet and you have to keep the lead loose. Let the dog learn.
This method does work. But it takes time and persistance.

I agree with the above posts. Train him, establish boundaries, back to basics with obedience, reward good behaviour. It's all standard with owning a dog. Have a read up on positive dog training methods, there's loads of help out there which won't cost a lot.

[gypsyd]

the reason he is muzzled is cos when he jumps up at me he bites my arm I have been told in the past my arm looks like a druggies arm - it hurts and that isthe only reason he is muzzled

he hates wearing it and knocks into my knees legs when wearing it else i end up bitten to bits

inm fed up with not being able to walk him when i want where i want like i used to

went to the field last nigth a dog came up to him he wasnt scared but i guess thats cos his dad was there but hes 18 months old now and i need to exercise him and get him used to dogs
cant think of place where i can take him where there are no distractions i live in a city fields = dogs streets loose dogs even, the park = dogs argghhh if i have treats i can get him to sit stay down at home and outside but as soon as he sees a dog all hell breaks loose

behaviourist says got to work at a distance with them ??

[nisbreagha]

think your behaviorist is taking the pee!!! find a good training class that dosen't only train for obedience but also dog mangment and teachs you all the basiscs about owning and looking after your dog. Your dog will need socilaised so exercising him away from the distractions and not interacting with other dogs and people isn't going to help its only going to make the problem worse and not teach your dog that those behaviors are not acceptable.

[GypsyGSD]

I did offer to help a few months ago as I think we live in the same area, but Im due to go into hospital in the next 2 weeks then will be on crutches for 2months so not able to help now but if you want I can give you telephone numbers of training classes in our area that might help I also agree with others posts training is the key x

[LOVEGSD]

I agree with the above posts, you need to really concentrate on training your dog

[gypsyd]

I got a cheaper trainer for kane and first session i asked for dog practise and explained how he re acts etc

first session with the trainer we did exactly that dog practise kane at a distance from the trainers dog who walked by a helper whilst she helped me

got more sessions tomorrow and monday and the first one was great i actually walked kane from the car to house with a dog yapping only a few yards away and guess what he didnt react - fantastic

i need more practise though get my confidence but i was actually walking towards the dog in training with a loose lead in one hand unmuzzled - i was amazed

i want to get more confident though so i can win - i did walk past two dogs and he didnt re act so i said good boy and treat - but prob i had was a loose dog in a field that was empty when i arrived unfortuantely the dog was there behind us before we knew it. I seen it at first at a distance but thought the owner would call it back

i was hopin to use the dog for dog distance practise and walk my dog towards it but as it was loose and ran up - no aggression on either dogs part butkane lost his head and barked non stop as he does which i want to stop

if i can get this sorted (my biggest problem with kane) then im halfway there

i AM NOT giving up no way!!!!!!!!! I WILL WIN

More sessions with dog practise and ill be fine - I WILL!!!!!!!!! determined