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The living-room bully

2872 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Stormy
2
I have a problem with my 6 month old AB. I wonder if some of you have had a similar problems, I really could use some insight.

Haitis becomes very protective of certain areas or peope in the house at night, more so than any other time in the day and we have 2 other furry pets that share this house, a 9-year old Maltese mix named Dooie and a 2-year old Persian cat we call Mr. Whiskers.

Haitis' bully posture mainly resides in the living room area, where our family gathers after dinner but before Haitis came to live here, this was the time when Dooie and Mr Whiskers would enjoy laying on our laps, getting lots of attention.

Things are very different here now. If the bully has his way...Dooie and Mr Whiskers are not allowed in the living room, at night anymore and if they try to come in Haitis will lunge at them, growling and sometimes attacking them. This sends our other loveable pets running for cover.

Each and everytime he does this, I get on to the "Badboy" but I don't think he cares about getting the negative feedback, he is hellbent on keeping those other pets out.

On the other hand, in the mornings for instance, Haitis will roll around on the living room floor begging for Dooie to come give him kisses, or they'll tug on a toy together, wrestle around and have a good time but this kind of play is unheard of once the sun goes down.

Come evening time, Dooie is lucky if he can sit somewhere in the house that has a view of the living room. If the cat even thinks about showing his face around here, he is chased out PDQ.

Both have to walk like Ninja's to their foodbowls in the kitchen because if Haitis hears this commotion from the confines of the living room...he will swagger into the kitchen and take some names, if you know what I mean.

No animals have been injured since the making of this thread. What to do?

Kitty enjoying some outside time.

Dooie/Haitis baby pic
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You guys are right on, I believe. I just don't know the right way of correcting it.

I've tried forcing him to let the other pets in the living room but after they see his actions, they don't feel like hanging around, I can't blame them.

OrsonDogge, I just gotta tell you, I have watched the videos you have posted on Youtube, my kids and I were laughing our heads off at his dancing antics and KillBall is a hoot. Great Great entertainment. He is a super dog and you are good with a camera. :D
I am going to try the water bottle tonight. Thanks for the advice guys.
Re: Set it up.

PeterC said:
The question always is this. ARE YOU READY TO BE THE ALPHA? ARE YOU READY TO TRAIN? If not, get another dog. Sounds bad, but it is the absolute truth.

The bottom line is this. The dog likes you. However, it does not know what you want done when the other animals are in the living room (his space). AHHHHHHHHHH but remember. IT IS NOT HIS SPACE! IT IS YOUR SPACE. Do not forget this. You are the boss. Confident and assertive. AND you will take immediate action when he does ANYTHING you dont' want.

Now what do you want. Show him. Very simple.

Get a pinch ready. set it up. set up the scenario. Bring in the calm animal first. not the cat. don't overload him.

Make him sit and LOOK AT YOU. Attention on YOU, the boss! If he even looks at the other dog, correct him. Not nagging correction. A REAL serious one. One good correction is much more humane than tons of nagging ones.

TEACH him that there are reprocussions from YOU the ALPHA of his bad behavior. He thinks the place is his. NO. The place is YOURS.

It is a mindset. Calm, assertive, deliberate, and STERN. Love comes as a reward afterwards when his behavior is to YOUR liking.

Good luck.

How did I miss this post? :shock: :shock:

Terrific advice Peter C!

I have been trying to correct his behavior, but I probably did more nagging than anything really effective. :oops: I was also trying to redirect his attention with toys. He is better and usually only bullies the other two indoor animals while I am not looking, or he steps behind our loveseat sofa, again out of sight, though I know what is going on.

I will definately own the living room from now on, or I'll crate him for his misbehavior. I'm determined to get this under control before he gets any older. These other animals were here before him and he needs to get over it.

Thanks for your advice
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