Be careful when giving your dogs treats!

[lobsternoob]

I was trying to give my little (about 55 pound i just call him little) pit/boxer mix a small piece of shredded tri tip earlier. wasn't paying attention cause my phone rang and he almost took my finger along with it. Tore up my index finger and thumb something good, I don't blame him, it was my fault. But I've been trying to teach him to be a bit gentler lately and he's still a puppy. Obviously I've had little success. Guess i need to watch when i give him treats, OUCH! Thought that might be good for a laugh...

He's an adopted pup, from a shelter, we're still trying to undo a lot of what his former owners did to him, he was in line to be a fighter. We recently did get him finally house trained and walkable though!

[Sharon]

Oh dear! That doesn't sound good...

[Kaga's Kritters]

you need to do something about that dog and fast before he hurts someone else and they put him down and fine you!

[Wild Turkey]

agreed, work on making it take the treats gently. My dog never bites my fingers if my hand is open or i give food (fists are for play) and the same goes for anyone else. In fact, 99% of the time you can get her all rowled up with fists and then open your hand and she will take it in her mouth put not press down at all.
Its an important trait/behavior to work on since as kaga mentioned a little nip or something could be misinterpreted by someone else as an attack, and it could mean severe consequences for the dog.

[Lady Hobbs]

My dog used to "lunge" at me with food like that until about 5 times I told him NO!!!!! with a slap to the nose. By then he knew what NO!!!!!!! meant and that was all I had to say to him. He got to know "EASY!! pretty darned fast too after playing too rough.

Dogs without manners are useless dogs. You need to get a handle on this dog before some little kid comes around him with some food in her hand. All dogs need good manners and especially large dogs.

[Sharon]

If that's his only problem, it's usually easily corrected, as LH said. One of ours was a bit "snappy" when taking treats, especially if it was something that dangled. A couple of times being told EASY, in a firm voice, and she responded well. She didn't get the treat if she didn't take it properly.Of course all dogs are different and some are more difficult than others. But do correct it now, as it could be trouble! Good luck! :ssmile:

[Tigerbarb]

My dog used to "lunge" at me with food like that until about 5 times I told him NO!!!!! with a slap to the nose. By then he knew what NO!!!!!!! meant and that was all I had to say to him. He got to know "EASY!! pretty darned fast too after playing too rough.

Dogs without manners are useless dogs. You need to get a handle on this dog before some little kid comes around him with some food in her hand. All dogs need good manners and especially large dogs. The "NO!!!!" seems to work for our dog as well, whenever he bites any of us.
He'll often bite/growl at us for no reason, just when we walk by. We solved this problem by giving his fur a trim.

Well, I wish you luck training your dog to accept treats more gently! Keep up the good work!

[Wild Turkey]

He'll often bite/growl at us for no reason, just when we walk by. We solved this problem by giving his fur a trim.

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: Couldnt see you huh?

[Lady Hobbs]

I hope the author of this thread doesn't mind my bit of a hijack here to tell you my story of the dog given to me.

This was many years ago but a guy asked me if I wanted his Alaska Malamute. Man, the dog was beautiful (weighed over 100 pounds) and was HUGE. He drives in my yard to deliver the dog, the dog jumps from the back of his pickup and breaks his leg! Off I go to the vet for my first major bill for this dog. (Many more bills to come.)

As the doc is checking him out, I am rubbing his neck and head (the dog, not the vet) to quiet him down and feel something on his neck. He had an embedded #@^%*&(%$
choker chain into his skin. More surgery for that.

This was the worse dog in all time history. Dumber than a bloody doornail and had never been taught one thing or was too bullheaded to do anything but run, run, run.

1. He attacked a neighbors throughbred horse. Vet bills for me
2. He attacked another neighbors collie. More vet bills for me
3. He killed another neighbors piglets. Big fine for me.
4. He killed all my chickens, geeze and ducks.
5. Dead cat total......unknown.

I replaced screens and windows in my home because he would dive thru them. I bought 50 feet of chain, attached him to my barn door, come home from work and the dog, the barn door and the chain was gone. He ran across a frozen lake dragging all this crap behind him, fell thru the ice, was rescued by animal control and another fine for me.

This was one dog that needed to be shot. He was too large to handle, was totally out of control and a nuisance to everything around him living.

I gave him to a poor unsuspecting fool just as I had been.

I then rescued a cat from the pond. Had the cat for 1 year and it that time had shelled out $700 on this cat only to have to have him put to sleep because he had twisted intestions.

So goes for rescue animals for me.

[Wild Turkey]

LOL hobbs. Its like pay it forward with a dog. :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: For some large dogs that are so strong and active as such, sometimes you need to be able to physically overpower (not beat up) the dog in order to even begin training it. Some dogs just dont have the desire to please, and must be dealt with in a more dominant/submissive relationship/manner. Without the ability to show the dog you are bigger and stronger, sometimes you really dont have a prayer.

Thats is one hell of a story
Sorry you havent had better luck with rescues

[Northernguy]

I would stay away from furry pets Lady Hobbs!At least full grown ones!
Thats a run of bad luck.Malamutes are big and very aggresive dogs when not brought up properly.A dog like that cannot be chained up.

[Lady Hobbs]

I've had animals all my life and oddles of dogs. Had a steer I bought to raise and butcher but the kids loved it so much it become another pet. Had a horse, cats, rabbits, a goat, ducks, geese, chickens........you name it.

"Bad" animals that come across my path were gone. I would not keep a horse that bit or kicked, a dog that bit, a cat that peed in my house or a dog that would run. Not worth the bother they cause and there are a hundred others that would make a wonderful pet needing a home.

Heck, you don't keep a person in your life that is only a pain so why keep an animal that is? LOL

[Lady Hobbs]

I would stay away from furry pets Lady Hobbs!At least full grown ones!
Thats a run of bad luck.Malamutes are big and very aggresive dogs when not brought up properly.A dog like that cannot be chained up.

And obviously couldn't be let loose either! I couldn't even walk to my car with him without he taking off. I hated him. I also got a red setter that was full grown and dumber than a box of rocks. Had 20 others that were great.

[lobsternoob]

Its an important trait/behavior to work on since as kaga mentioned a little nip or something could be misinterpreted by someone else as an attack, and it could mean severe consequences for the dog.

That's been my biggest concern with him since day 1. We haven't had him too long and he is steadily getting better though. He's not openly aggressive towards people or other dogs, gets along great with my Min Pin. He definitely needs more work on taking treats gently, but I should have known better than to let myself get distracted. He was sitting there really nicely waiting for me to give him the treat, and as soon as my phone rang and i turned my head, CHOMP! He knew he was bad, instantly. This morning when i tried to give him a treat he wouldn't even take it from me at first. When he did take it he was pretty darn careful. He just needs a lot of work, and consistency.

[Sharon]

At least he was really ashamed of himself...and obviously upset that he had displeased you...That's half the battle!thumbs2:

[Wild Turkey]

That's been my biggest concern with him since day 1. We haven't had him too long and he is steadily getting better though. He's not openly aggressive towards people or other dogs, gets along great with my Min Pin. He definitely needs more work on taking treats gently, but I should have known better than to let myself get distracted. He was sitting there really nicely waiting for me to give him the treat, and as soon as my phone rang and i turned my head, CHOMP! He knew he was bad, instantly. This morning when i tried to give him a treat he wouldn't even take it from me at first. When he did take it he was pretty darn careful. He just needs a lot of work, and consistency.

Thats actually a really good sign. it shows an eagerness to please and that makes things so much easier :D Sometimes even when i put food on the floor maggie wont take it for the same reason, shes unsure whether im offering it or not...as if i was going to come back for a piece of chicken i left on the carpet :hmm3grin2orange:
But if you tell her, "go on, its okay." or "thats for you" Shes not shy about gobbling it up.

[lobsternoob]

Ya, typically he knows not to take a treat from me until i say "ok", or "go ahead" but it's a whole nother story if he thinks I'm not going to notice. Of course, if he takes half my hand with it it's kinda hard not to notice...

[Wild Turkey]

Ya, typically he knows not to take a treat from me until i say "ok", or "go ahead" but it's a whole nother story if he thinks I'm not going to notice. Of course, if he takes half my hand with it it's kinda hard not to notice...

LOL agreed :hmm3grin2orange:

[Nick89]

No dog should lunge for food, or bite for ANY reason.. Dogs dont understand what people are saying, such as "NO" or "STOP", they sense how the person is saying it, so if youre yelling "No", the dog is sensing the anger in the tone.. not a way to correct things.. Positive, calm, assertive tone/energy is best. It takes time to correct a dogs behavior, just be patient.. You have a very powerful breed, be careful.

[Sharon]

You'll never convince me that dogs don't understand what we are saying. We had a Schnauzer who understood language more than I thought possible. We actually had to spell if we were discussing going out, or taking him for a walk!!!:ssmile:

[sandy_n]

I hope the author of this thread doesn't mind my bit of a hijack here to tell you my story of the dog given to me.

This was many years ago but a guy asked me if I wanted his Alaska Malamute. Man, the dog was beautiful (weighed over 100 pounds) and was HUGE. He drives in my yard to deliver the dog, the dog jumps from the back of his pickup and breaks his leg! Off I go to the vet for my first major bill for this dog. (Many more bills to come.)

As the doc is checking him out, I am rubbing his neck and head (the dog, not the vet) to quiet him down and feel something on his neck. He had an embedded #@^%*&(%$
choker chain into his skin. More surgery for that.

This was the worse dog in all time history. Dumber than a bloody doornail and had never been taught one thing or was too bullheaded to do anything but run, run, run.

1. He attacked a neighbors throughbred horse. Vet bills for me
2. He attacked another neighbors collie. More vet bills for me
3. He killed another neighbors piglets. Big fine for me.
4. He killed all my chickens, geeze and ducks.
5. Dead cat total......unknown.

I replaced screens and windows in my home because he would dive thru them. I bought 50 feet of chain, attached him to my barn door, come home from work and the dog, the barn door and the chain was gone. He ran across a frozen lake dragging all this crap behind him, fell thru the ice, was rescued by animal control and another fine for me.

This was one dog that needed to be shot. He was too large to handle, was totally out of control and a nuisance to everything around him living.

I gave him to a poor unsuspecting fool just as I had been.

I then rescued a cat from the pond. Had the cat for 1 year and it that time had shelled out $700 on this cat only to have to have him put to sleep because he had twisted intestions.

So goes for rescue animals for me.

LOL...Hobbs, don't you know that 'free' animals end up costing the most!!!

[Wild Turkey]

You'll never convince me that dogs don't understand what we are saying. We had a Schnauzer who understood language more than I thought possible. We actually had to spell if we were discussing going out, or taking him for a walk!!!:ssmile:

I agree, i have had some dogs that were smart enough to obviously display some understand of words i hadnt tought it. Others not so much, but they sure do understand. I think they might just be trying to maintain that they cant. Its a big conspiracy :D

[Sharon]

Could be! The Schnauzer was smarter than a lot of people that I know. :hmm3grin2orange:

[Mvjnz]

Obviously your puppy needs bite inhibition training. This is usually accomplished by playing with him and when he bites hard enough to hurt you, you scream 'ouch' and turn your back on him for 30 seconds, then turn back to him and make him sit or do a couple other tricks to redeem himself, then continue playing.

You don't want him to stop biting you altogether, because when he does bite (say some kid stumbles and falls on him or an adult accidentaly steps on him) you want him to have learnt bite inhibiton.

Once he knows he needs to be gentle when biting you, you take it one step further and teach him not to bite at all.

Bite inhibition is also learnt when he plays with other puppies, but depends on his age, older puppies don't bite as much as younger puppies.

[Lady Hobbs]

My daughters deaf pit bull knows sign language. only problem is you have to be looking at him when waving your arms around.

[lobsternoob]

I have been working with him a lot the past few days. I can now play with him without fear of being chomped and i can calm him down fast from his playing mood too. I can turn my head and ignore him now, with a treat in my hand and he will not take it until i say ok. He sits without even being asked when i even open the door to the room where we keep treats and food. The dog is very eager to learn and please, if a few days work can accomplish that... Now, I just need to keep up with a few hours a day of training, but not so easy when i have to go to work. He still has to unlearn his terrible habit of jumping up on people. He will be a really good dog after some more time n effort.

[karbomb]

Obviously your puppy needs bite inhibition training. This is usually accomplished by playing with him and when he bites hard enough to hurt you, you scream 'ouch' and turn your back on him for 30 seconds, then turn back to him and make him sit or do a couple other tricks to redeem himself, then continue playing.

You don't want him to stop biting you altogether, because when he does bite (say some kid stumbles and falls on him or an adult accidentaly steps on him) you want him to have learnt bite inhibiton.

Once he knows he needs to be gentle when biting you, you take it one step further and teach him not to bite at all.

Bite inhibition is also learnt when he plays with other puppies, but depends on his age, older puppies don't bite as much as younger puppies.
this is great advice. the worst thing you can say to a dog is a turning you back to him. that lets them know you are very disappointed in them.

[Poofaye C.]

Obviously your puppy needs bite inhibition training.

You don't want him to stop biting you altogether, because when he does bite (say some kid stumbles and falls on him or an adult accidentaly steps on him)

Great advise. Quick story....As a pup I made sure to introduce my Doberman to small children and other dogs often. This helped with the bite inhibition. Here's the proof....When I leave out of town my doberman ups the protection level when daddy isn't around. As my girlfriend swears lol... a repairman (wink) stopped by to work on the ac. Dog was ok untill repairman went to our bedroom to check the vent.(wink, wink) My girlfriend's standing near the vent with my dog when the guy reaches for the vent........attack dog!!!! She
(my dog) has his whole wrist in her mouth and doesn't let go. My girlfriend got over her shock and grabbed the girl by her collar. My little girl didn't even break the guys skin!!!...This guy won't become shancho any time soon!!!:hmm3grin2orange:

[bushwhacker]

Thats actually a really good sign. it shows an eagerness to please and that makes things so much easier :D Sometimes even when i put food on the floor maggie wont take it for the same reason, shes unsure whether im offering it or not...as if i was going to come back for a piece of chicken i left on the carpet :hmm3grin2orange:
But if you tell her, "go on, its okay." or "thats for you" Shes not shy about gobbling it up.

thats exactly how i train my dogs, i put something down but wont let them have it till i tell em its ok.. they will sit there and stare at it but wont touch it.... except the pup he aint quite got the idea yet but hes only 4 months

[bushwhacker]

You'll never convince me that dogs don't understand what we are saying. We had a Schnauzer who understood language more than I thought possible. We actually had to spell if we were discussing going out, or taking him for a walk!!!:ssmile:

i think my dogs talk better english than my wife LOL ok understand.... they definatly know outside go pee things like that

[Gemini]

You'll never convince me that dogs don't understand what we are saying. We had a Schnauzer who understood language more than I thought possible. We actually had to spell if we were discussing going out, or taking him for a walk!!!:ssmile:
I sooo agree!!! Dogs understand.
Good work lobsternoob training your dog. Keep up the training now and it will pay off big time in the long term!

[Mvjnz]

Great advise. Quick story....As a pup I made sure to introduce my Doberman to small children and other dogs often. This helped with the bite inhibition. Here's the proof....When I leave out of town my doberman ups the protection level when daddy isn't around. As my girlfriend swears lol... a repairman (wink) stopped by to work on the ac. Dog was ok untill repairman went to our bedroom to check the vent.(wink, wink) My girlfriend's standing near the vent with my dog when the guy reaches for the vent........attack dog!!!! She
(my dog) has his whole wrist in her mouth and doesn't let go. My girlfriend got over her shock and grabbed the girl by her collar. My little girl didn't even break the guys skin!!!...This guy won't become shancho any time soon!!!:hmm3grin2orange:


Yes, good story. That's exactly what you want, when the dog feels the need to bite for whatever reason (being stepped on, fallen on, annoyed by kids etc) he will just grab you, but won't leave marks on the skin, and certainly not break the skin. No damage caused, but the message is clear - "don't step on me".

[lobsternoob]

I sooo agree!!! Dogs understand.
Good work lobsternoob training your dog. Keep up the training now and it will pay off big time in the long term!

Thanks, I just gotta keep up reinforcing it and being consistent every day, He will be a good dog, but he doesn't even have a chance to if he isn't trained. He's not actually my dog, but I've taken on the responsibility for training him. He's getting a lot better and I'll just keep working with him. It also helps a lot that my Min Pin is pretty well trained, and will refuse to even play with him when he doesn't listen, so he not only gets ignored by me when misbehaving, but by another dog too!

He's been behaving better since I've been working with him and giving a lot of attention, I really like the dog a lot, and he will learn sooner or later. I'm not letting him go back to a shelter.

[Owlbehere]

Wow lady hobbs... I have some like that. I was given a toy poodle. cryptorchid, got pneumonia after being neutered, has developed an allergy to dust mites has to have expensive shots every 21 days (100.00 a vial).

Had a puppy show up on our porch (pit/dach/lab mix), now 1 yr old. My mom left one day and he ran in front of the jeep (didn't realize he was out when she closed the gate) and hit him. 2500.00 in hospital stay, I.V.s and physical therapy (brain swelling). Although he is my best dog, super smart. Practically born house broken, and learns tricks in minutes. Better than my 300.00 Japanese chin who is dumb as who nows what major ADD in this dog and can't be house trained and eats everything in sight!! Major hospital stay with this one because of her vacuum cleaning tendencies. Ate a bag of baking chocolate, 1500.00 vet bill. UGH.... okay I vented. She is kenneled when we are away from now on.