Member

Posts: 95
From:lewisville, texas, united states
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-10-2003 01:37 PM         

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hey guys and gals, i have a female apbt about 6 months old. and when i take her outside to go do her business she barks at the little kids leaving with their parents to go to school. i know she wouldn't attack anyone and she probably just wants to go play, but i know that it worries the parents and they probably think that she's vicious. i just don't want to bring any unwanted attention to myself because as far as the apartment people know she is a boxer lab mix, because technically we're not supposed to have them here. i've seen about 4 other apbt's in this complex though so it doesn't really worry me. i just wish she wouldn't bark at people.

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Member

Posts: 92
From:Savannah, GA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-10-2003 05:58 PM         

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Squirt guns work nicely. If not that, a good pop on the hiney works well too along with a very assertive "NO!".
Those are things I have learned work well, your milage may vary.

[This message has been edited by Ahkahna (edited 11-10-2003).]

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Posts: 128
From:arlington,TX u.s.a.
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-10-2003 06:40 PM         

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You definetely have to nip this behavior in the bud!You can try the squirt bottle method,but as with my dogs,some pits like being squirted!Swatting your pit,may work,but often pain makes a pitbull more intense and determined,as with fighting dogs!Rolling your dog over is a great method as it simulates a dogs wild behavior.Try picking your dog up facing you,look it in the eye for several moments saying'NO,LEAVE IT!'they have head-halters for dogs now too,all you have to do then is pull the dogs head around to you saying'LEAVE IT!!)If you let your dog get away with this even once its going to remember,pits are smart!!Good luck!

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Posts: 353
From:
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 11-10-2003 08:04 PM         

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If her barking is a fear based behavior, you don't want to correct her harsly or physically, as she'll only come to associate the appearance of a person with being corrected, enforcing her fear and possibly making it worse. Is she hackled up when she's barking? On her toes, like she's ready for a fight? Ears up or back? If she's just being a barky pup, saying "pay attention to me", I would tell her once to stop, then either take her in (by barking, she only gets taken AWAY from what she wants), or redirect her to something else; tug, catch, etc. If she's barking out of fear, that becomes more difficult, as you have to be sure not to reinforce her fears. I would try redirecting her, and/or possibly starting obedience work when she starts to bark. That will get her attention off the people with being confrontational and possibly making her more fearful.

quote:

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Rolling is also a definate way to assert your dominance when a pup isn't listening.

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Yeah... or a good way to lose your face. Or break your dog's trust in you. Even the people who wrote the book that originally suggested this method of "dominating" a dog have now said that they wish they had never published it in the book, and do not recommend it's use. In an actual dog/dog situation, a vindictive leader that was constantly going around thrashing any dog that didn't do exactly as it wanted would eventually be exiled from the pack, if not killed when the other dogs caught them at a weak moment.

You may want to consult a trainer or behaviorist if you can, as they can tell you why your pup is doing this, as well as what the best ways to handle her behavior are.

Here's the story I was referring to above: http://www.coloradoan.com/news/stories/20021228/lifestyle/665086.html

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Posts: 353
From:
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 11-10-2003 08:07 PM         

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Forgot to mention... young/adolescent dogs often go through fear periods, during which a well socialized, normally happy, friendly, outgoing pup will become a bit "goofy", and get scared of seemingly unfrightening things. The best thing to do in these cases is to just keep up positive socialization, and ride it out until they're back to normal. It's possible that that's what's going on with her, but again, no way of telling for surew without actually seeing it.

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Posts: 92
From:Savannah, GA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-10-2003 09:03 PM         

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I edited both of my posts. I was obviously very wrong. All I have to say is it works on my dog. But I don't abuse the act of rolling.

[This message has been edited by Ahkahna (edited 11-10-2003).]

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Posts: 128
From:arlington,TX u.s.a.
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-10-2003 10:04 PM         

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Goob is right,the method shouldnt be harsh,but your dog does need to know that needless barking isnt cool,before it turns into a habit.Teaching your dog the 'leave it' command will come in handy in many situations(stealing food,digging in the trash,threatening other dogs,etc.)

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