Having a problem with a housemate’s dog.

[Drdogface]

Originally posted by scottmandue
I have seen people walking their dogs with a collar that has a soft strap that wraps around the mussel I presume to keep the dog from biting people/other dogs. I suppose that would work for barking also.

Actually that's a training collar to keep their attention when teaching them to heel and to just basically pay attention to your commands.

THE BEST thing for barking is to take an empty soda can and put in about five pennies, tape the top shut and when they bark give a command..e.g. 'no barking' and shake the can hard to produce a harsh sound. This will work. They hate that sound and run or cower from it. Soon all you will have to do is show them the can....soon enough the barking will subside. Cheap and easy training aide.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by scottmandue
I have seen people walking their dogs with a collar that has a soft strap that wraps around the mussel I presume to keep the dog from biting people/other dogs. I suppose that would work for barking also.

Actually thats a halter. You'll generally see it on larger/stronger dogs.

Makes a dog that pulls easier to control, has nothing to do with biting.

The lead attaches under the chin so if they try to pull it forces their head down and back and they go nowhere.

We used one on our Mastiff when we were at crowded public events, kept her from pushing thru crowds.

Scott

[Jims5543]

BBC has a show where they use a dog trainer to "retrain" the unruly husband. When my wife and I saw the comercials for this show we looked at each other and laughed.

They thought the joke was on the husband, which is really funny because any good dog trainer knows 80% of the training is the owner not the dog. So the wife is the one the joke is on.

That said, 80% of what the dog does is a reaction to what you and your flat mate do. If you were to go to a dog trainer or obediance school they would spend as much if not more time working with you, the owner of the dog than the dog itself.

I had a friend that sent a unruly lab off to obediance school and 1 week after it was home it was back to its bad ways.

Positive reinforcement is what the dog needs. I have never met a dog that will turn down a pirce of hotdog or string cheese. Stock up and have little sessions with the dog.

10 minutes long at first just to get a trust going. After a few weeks the dog will be your best friend.

If you are showing hatred towards the dog and are yelling at it a lot it is mearly reacting to you. Win it back over.

[Rikao4]

Jim is so right ,no dumb dogs ..lots of clueless feeders.
Rika

[cstreit]

Originally posted by notfarnow
Sounds like the dog is scared of you, and is trying to "protect" her owner from you; hence the barking. Get some dog treats and reward good behavior like sitting, being quiet etc...

Easier, effective and less likely to cause fiction with the housemate.

Agreed.

[Jims5543]

When I say session with the dog, I mean spending 10 minutes enticing it over to you with a treat. Once it takes it move away from it and call it over agian. After doing this a few times it will get used to approaching you. Try this at first with you down low to the floor at its level. Then as time progresses you can try it when your on your knees. Then when your standing.

If you take if for a walk keep a supply of treats, praise it and give it treats while your walking. Always hold the treat by your face and have the dog make eye contact with you then feed the treat to it straight from your face to the dogs face maintaining eye contact. This is important it will create a bond and trust between the 2 of you.

I use a training collar with my lab. It look barbaric but compared to a regular choker its much gentler. A choker will damage the dogs throat.

[Rikao4]

Disagree,
that dog is most likely in the house all day/yard by himself.
She shows and treats it like a little kid..aka No discipline at all for fear of upsetting the little person.
Nostril..is just annoyed and can't stand being around the japper period.
Unless both feeders put something into this 'effort' it will not stop.
Like putting diesel in your P and then asking
'why doesn't it run right..I mean fuel is fuel right'
Own the dog , or give it to someone that will, as for her...get her a stuffed dog..we really don't need dog owners that dabble at it part time.
Rika

[gaijindabe]

They are pack animals and she is pulling rank on you.. A rolled up newspaper should work just fine.

Unless she is one of those crazy inbeed pure breeds. They she might need a little puppy prozac..

[Moneyguy1]

You mean "Doggie Downers" (old SNL reference)

Actually, I kind of agree with the sense that this dog is a foretaste of future relationship problems. If forced, which would your roomate choose? You or the mutt?

Some people have a pet for the right reasons. Others use the animal as a substitute for something missing in their lives; love, something to "order around", child substitute.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally posted by Rikao4
Disagree,
that dog is most likely in the house all day/yard by himself.
She shows and treats it like a little kid..aka No discipline at all for fear of upsetting the little person.
Nostril..is just annoyed and can't stand being around the japper period.
Unless both feeders put something into this 'effort' it will not stop.
Like putting diesel in your P and then asking
'why doesn't it run right..I mean fuel is fuel right'
Own the dog , or give it to someone that will, as for her...get her a stuffed dog..we really don't need dog owners that dabble at it part time.
Rika

exactly. I am a dog person and it sickens me how she takes care of hers.

It's not my responsibility to discipline HER dog. Nor am I going to walk her dog. I will fill a spray bottle with lemon juice and try the can trick.

[Rikao4]

Thank you Nos, I wanted to hear that you at least like dogs..your problem is really twofold..
training Her and the dog..
those D-downers might come in handy..one for her , 1/2 for the hellhound and a handful for You.
Again, have her watch the Dog Whisper guy, if she still doesn't get it..let the dog escape to someone who will take care of it. Then install the NO Pet rule.
Rika

[deanp]

"The dog really is a mess, neurotic, paranoid, abused. Plus she coddles it."

What's the history here? If a pound pup then there is history and reason the dog is acting this way around you. How is the dog when other visitors come over? Sounds like behavioral issues that YOU'LL have to help. Spraying with water, lemon juice and otherwise startling and frightening her will only make the problem worse.

[Nostril Cheese]

Think it was a pound rescue when very young, although im sure she has never really trained the dog. It's like a cuddly thing to her. I've had dogs in the past, and all of them were trained well.

The main problem here is that she only barks when her owner is home. One time, she barked at me as I came in the door and I yelled "SHUT THE **** UP! NO!!!" to which the dog ran away in fear. My housemate looked at me and said "dont talk to her that way"

She barks at everyone else too. She tried to bite a friend's kid at a barbecue we had a few weeks back. We immediatley put the dog in my roommate's room and did not let her out til it was over. My housemate was upset about us putting the dog in there, despite it almost biting a child.

[Moneyguy1]

This sounds more and more like a very psychologically unhealthy threesome.......

Start thinking of other alternatives, like "outside the box".

Did the neighbor (friend) make a complaint when the dog attempted to bite the child? If not, they should have filed a complaint with local Animal Control. This would have gotten the onus off of you.

Once again, not to belabor the point, but you have to ask yourself where this relationship is going and whether it is worth it.

[Rikao4]

Nos,you did right..
went to a local store a while back..enter and hear wailing,
little kid throwing a fit in the store with mommy,
had a bad day I admit,
standing next to the banshee, I said shut up.
erie quiet,
you don't tell my kid to shut up,
I'm telling you both to SHUT UP,
real quiet now,
no joke..applause as I left the store.
The dog just wants a leader.
Find another housemate.
have a quiet weekend
Rika

[scottmandue]

Find some good BBQ pork recipes on the Internet and cut and paste the text onto your computer. Edit out the word "pork" and replace it with "dog".
Put the recipes on the refrigerator at the bottom at dog level.

[pwd72s]

obedience school...for both the dog and your house mate. Offer to pay for it.

[sammyg2]

Stop telling us about it and tell your roommate about it.
Make the roommate and/or the dog go bye bye.

[911boost]

I read this thread, and may have missed the most important question of all but...

Is the housemate hot?

[rammstein]

If so, please provide sexy pictures.