Problem with my Dog

[carrot_tit]

Anyone got any suggestions. We currently have three dogs, Emily (who is nearly 20), Benji (who is 3) and Stumpy (who is about 2) At the end of October we had both dogs castrated (Emily was done years ago) but since then Benji's behaviour has become worse. As a terrier we expect him to bark but now it's gotten out of hand. He's barking at everything! Not only that but he has started to become agressive both to our other dog and me and my Mum. It doesn't seem to faze my father but me and mum are terrified!

Can anyone suggest anything? I'm at my wits end and also terrified he will bite me.

[michellemuffin]

hes trying to become the dominant one alpha male, by being and showing your nervous of him hes getting the message he is boss dog, I would throw a bunch of keys onto a tray or hard floor when he starts barking and distract him, when my charlie started this years ago I actually grabbed him put my face in his and said I'm boss dog dont forget it, made my family laugh think charlie was a little bemused but he respected me from that day on, talk to him in a stern voice and say No loud and precise every time he trys it on, if he goes for the other two, again pull him away and shout at him no in his face, maybe spraying with a water spray might make him associate bad behaviour with getting wet,
we actually brought charlie an anti bark spray collar but he got wise and when he barked he ran next to max who always got a spray of lemon in his way, in the end max ended up boss dog out of the two of them( behind me,) max would stare Charlie down and he would back off and walk away, it would amaze me, when some one knocked at the door both would run for it and then max would give Charlie a look as if to say my job shut up, it worked every time, its all about dominance and can happen any time Charlie died in July and max is now 14 but it happened between the two brothers off and on since puppies but max was always alpha male lol

[cavykind]

when my charlie started this years ago I actually grabbed him put my face in his and said I'm boss dog dont forget it,

I really wouldn't suggest that anyone does that with a dog that is showing aggressive tendencies or has dominance issues. You could end up with a very badly bitten and scarred face and the dog in big trouble :(
Please don't even consider doing anything like this, it might have worked for michellemuffin, and thankfully she wasn't hurt, but it's a dangerous thing to do and not in line with modern training methods.

My advice is to call your vet and ask if they can recommend you to a good dog behaviourist who can visit you, your family and dog at home and assess the situation. Try and do this sooner rather than later as it sounds as though things are getting out of hand or soon will be.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. I really do believe that you need some professional advice.

The Dogpages forum has a good training section*, it might be worth posting there, but do speak to your vet soon!

Barbara
*pm me if you want the address :)

[michellemuffin]

I might add I did know Charlie and although he tried it on he would back down and I would use this method every time the issues with him were more to do with max anyway, I have had 3 wonderful dogs and neither of the 3 have ever bitten anyone think it is the way you bring them up, my sis in law always says its not the dog its his trainer, she actually did dog training while a vet nurse and has done wonders with dogs with all sorts of temprement problems showing them whos boss is a must.