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Author Topic:   Dog snapped at my boyfriend
lovemydog
Member

Posts: 33
From:Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-24-2003 12:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lovemydog     Edit/Delete Message
Hi,
would love your thoughts on this...we've had our dog Tyson for 1 month now (and all this time we've both been with him, though me moreso) and yesterday my boyfriend was cuddling Tyson and he really snapped at him, scaring both of us!! (my boyfriend's face was close to the dog's face at the time). To the dog's credit he did growl a couple of times first to warn Matt. I don't think he'd do it out of the blue. Still he's NEVER shown aggression with either of us before and I cuddle and kiss him and hug him ALOT. Is this a dominance thing? How should you treat your dog after he does that? Is it appropriate to punish him? He's an Akita cross so it's pretty scary when he's agressive.

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Maisey
Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 08-24-2003 01:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maisey     Edit/Delete Message
This is just my opinion but I think if the dog growled...he gave fair warning that he wasn't comfortable with the cuddling. Many dogs do not like to be crowded like that. The dog should have been told "no" in a stern voice the first time he growled, and then your b/f should have removed himself, or sent the dog to another room or area. My 8 month old pup loves to be cuddled, unless he is trying to sleep. We respect that and let him sleep.
Another thing to consider...he may be hurting somewhere and your boyfriend may have caused a bit of pain in leaning on him or squeezing him.
As for it being a dominance issue... how does he normally act around him? does he take commands from him readily? The only person in my house my pup has ever growled at is my youngest daughter, it was for laying over him and he felt he could get away with it because he see's her as only a playmate, not someone he has to listen to. (we are trying to change that)I scolded him for it and made him move to another room. It would have been better if my daughter had done that, but we are still working on timing with her, she doesn't get that it has to be immediate.
How old is Tyson?

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puttin510
Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 08-24-2003 04:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for puttin510     Edit/Delete Message
I completely agree with Maisey. Disapline everytime it happens. My poo bit me on my lip and I needed stiches. It was because I thought she was ready for regular play. She was abused and I was very wrong. I had her for at least a year too. I would keep your faces away from your dog until you really know this dog. I have gone thru this whole issue already. Again like said above your dog may be in pain or something. My girl now has been diagnosed with deg. arthritis. So she was in pain. Be very careful until you can really read your dog.

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lovemydog
Member

Posts: 33
From:Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-24-2003 06:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lovemydog     Edit/Delete Message
puttin510, that must have been scary to be bitten by your dog
Maisey, the dog is 8 years old and it may be that he has arthritis..the last owners only took him to the vet twice--no blood work or anything. Once we're settled in our new home I"ll take him for a full check-up and that will let us know. He does listen to my partner's commands so I guess that's a good sign! Also, after he snapped he started licking Matt and wriggling almost like he knew it was "wrong". I'm sure it's not a big deal but it's freaky when you don't know where it came from.

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Maisey
Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 08-24-2003 06:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maisey     Edit/Delete Message
I understand you being a little freaked...but it didn't come out of nowhere...he did warn, he was telling you politely(in his mind) "I don't like that". When you adopt an adult dog like this, you have to keep in mind he has 8 years of history, it is going to take a while to get to know each other. His licking and wriggling was probably due to your reaction...he didn't want to snap, but he wasn't heard when he protested. I am not saying let him run the house...just that in THIS case there is an explanation.
It's good that he listens to your b/f...thats a great start, now just give it time in getting to know each other, and by all means have him checked by your vet just to be on the safe side. BTW...I think it is wonderful that you adopted an adult dog, they often get overlooked for the puppies. KUDOS to you!

[This message has been edited by Maisey (edited 08-24-2003).]

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Karriesue
Member

Posts: 277
From:Nellis AFB, Nevada
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 08-24-2003 08:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Karriesue     Edit/Delete Message
I totally agree with Maisey. Dogs do not use words. He was growling to tell you something. If he was in pain from arthritis or instead something else, he was trying to tell you to get away or maybe that he was hurting and not to touch him in a certain place. Maisey was right in pointing out it takes some time to get used to each other at least 6 mos normally. If this is the first time this has happened then give the dog the benefit of the doubt and look into other causes like pain as to why it happened. This message board is a great site for advice and help if you need it. It has helped me more than once. Keep us posted!

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puttin510
Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 08-25-2003 03:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for puttin510     Edit/Delete Message
One tell tale sign of arthritis is that the dog takes his time sitting down and sometimes getting up. Start him off with some glucosamine chondroitant. I used Seatecs Phyto greens supplement. It got alot of good things in it besides the needed gluc-chondr. Your don't need a vets word to put him on it. This brand I chose was the product my pet supply store told me was the best they had. I walked in there ask for the very best and thats what they gave me. the thing that surprised me was that I thought it would be like $40 dollars or something like that. It was only $18. They sell it on line also. Its the one for Senior dogs. * years old is getting up there for an akita.

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