The most important step in correcting this behaviour is to understand WHY your dog is behaving this way. Very often this is to do with them thinking they are more important than they actually are – hence (in the dog way) “telling off” the human who tries to correct them. When you are able to communicate to them that they can switch off and relax because the humans are in charge, everything changes and becomes a lot easier.

Here is a link to a blog post that explains more about dog aggression:
http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-dealing-with-dangerous-dog-aggression-issues/

… and here’s one about dogs biting their owners : http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/when-dogs-bite-their-owners/
You would also benefit from one of my programs. I’d recommend The Complete Pack http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com
All the best, Dan

I have a 2 and a half year old Maltipoo called Angel who is very playful and loving most of the time, we rescued her at 10 months old.

We soon noticed she started to resource guard around a year ago. Unlike most dogs, she resource guards ANYTHING! Mugs, sofas, bedding, people, clothing, laptops, underwear, pens, anything she can get her mouth on that she thinks she’s not allowed, she even chooses to guard treats that we give her to eat in a ‘’trade out’’

We remove ourselves from the room when she does this but she will follow us with the item to sit with us, then if we move or even look in her direction she will growl and show teeth.

This is hard for us to manage as we don’t realise when she is guarding. She has bite me and my partner twice now (cut the skin) and that was because he tried to move her into the kitchen to separate her, or if we try to move her anywhere she will try to bite us.

We are at a loss as we want to start a family soon and understand that is not possible with her as she is.

All the best
Wallis

Apologies for the novel

Hi Heidi….I would definitely recommend tightening up on the space invading, it can have a BIG impact on a dog’s behaviour when interacted with. If grooming is an issue then I also recommend you doing some desensitisation work around this scenario. Have some high value treats handy, call your dog to you & give him a couple of treats as you brush him once or twice….give him another treat and then allow him to move away. Try to be proactive with this practice rather than try to do it when you actually need to groom him, that way he will have had plenty of time to learn new behaviours around grooming. If he starts to protest then allow him to move away, the aim is to keep these practice sessions as positive as you can. Hope that helps! All the Best, Doggy Dan

Hi James,
Was this the first time your dog has been bathed? This can be an unsettling time for dogs and some hide their stress better than others….until it all becomes a bit much. The most important thing is to take things slowly and keep a close eye on the dog’s body language as some can be really subtle about communicating their discomfort. Stiff body language, avoiding eye contact, lip licking/yawning and ‘freezing’ can all be signs of a dog coping but not really feeling all that comfortable. If you then add thunder to the scenario then it may just have been all too much for your dog. If future baths are given try to keep things really calm, short and end things if your dog seems uncomfortable. Doggy Dan

Our 16 year old son gave him a wash down and was petting him. He seemed very happy , and out of no where he but my son in 2-3 rapid bites in the face. He got him near his eye and ear.

We are afraid of not being able to keep him… this was completely out of nowhere and unprovoked
It was raining and thundering… but we were all sitting with him and he seemed happy.

Hi Debra! Dogs can become a little freaked out by things going on around them on a walk…..and it may even by normal, everyday things! It’s important to remember that dogs don’t really understand our world and so anything can unsettle them. The best piece of advice I can give you is to allow your dog some space if he is becoming unsettled or reacting….in other words move him away if you can. Try and remain calm yourself as too much added fuss or excitement can be really counterproductive. Once he is calm you can then continue on with your walk. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com does deal with behavioural issues on the walk…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Our 8 month old Schnoodle, Molly, loves to lick my nose, ears, arms, fingers, etc. We call these kisses . She even licks the Vet’s nose. He loves it and calls himself “uncle Pat” to her. Is this “mouthing” and should we discourage her from doing this? She has never bitten or nipped but sometimes she adds teeth to her mouthing and I immediately put her in time out. This seems to stop that behavior. Should we discourage all of the mouthing too?

Hi Duffy,
Believe it or not this is actually a really common reaction from dogs, in varying degrees of intensity, when they encounter something they don’t understand or they are encountering for the first time. Man-made objects are completely alien to our dogs and it can lead them to feel fearful and anxious about those items potentially being a danger to their family.
I like to think ahead and be proactive whenever I’m exposing a dog to something new, so that I can ease their mind and create a more positive association. In your scenario I might have brought the lawnmower out and just left it in the middle of the lawn (not switched on) for my dog to sniff and investigate. Next step would be for me to push the mower around but not switch it on until I felt my dogs was more comfortable with me doing so. When it came time for the mower to be started then I would have had my dog on-leash, being held by myself or another person, or safely out of the way so that they could observe the mower from a safe distance. If they reacted I would have either moved them further away or tried a Calm Freeze but if they totally freaked out then I would have stopped the mower or taken them indoors out of the way.
Obviously if you actually need to mow the lawns then going through this process can be time-consuming & frustrating, which is why I advocate for owners to practice these scenarios in advance and regularly.
Just to answer your question about what you should have done after his reaction. I would have switched the mower off, left it sitting there and waited patiently for your dog to calm down. Trying to placate a dog who is really anxious and reacting quite aggressively is not the best approach if you have other options open to you…..such as going back inside or putting the mower away until he is calm again. You would then set about establishing a plan for re-introducing him to the mower in a more positive way (see above). We do actually cover this topic on my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days, unless you are already a member…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Rachel,
Some dogs just need a little time to realise that the strangers or visitors n their home are not a threat. Of course you know with that your intentions are good but dog’s really don’t know this with any certainty and it can lead to them feeling the need to defend their family. A couple of things I always do when meeting a new dog…in fact I do these things anytime I meet a dog, including ones I do know. First, I delay greeting the dog (no eye contact, touching or speaking to) until I feel they are calm and are not trying to initiate an interaction with me. Even if they come up to sniff me I don’t respond, as they are likely just investigating me and still may not be comfortable with my presence. Second, when the dog is calm and has left me alone for 5 or so minutes then I will call the dog to me to say ‘hi’. This gives the dog a choice as to whether or not they want to or feel comfortable interacting with me. If they refuse to come when I call them then I leave them be, but if they come then I give them a big old fuss. I also avoid approaching a dog to give affection or attention because they may not like me invading their personal space…..I don’t like stranger doing that to me either!
All of the above advice is a great way to help put a dog at ease with your presence! Best, Doggy Dan

Glad you found my Blog helpful Kristie! Doggy Dan

Hi Lawanda….I’ve actually seen this type of behaviour quite a lot and it’s motivated by your dog not wanting his family to leave the house so he can keep them safe from the outside world! Of course, you and I know that you and your family will be safe but your dog doesn’t necessarily know that, and if he feels responsible for them then he will do what he feels he needs to do to keep them safe. The quickest solution would be to place your dog on-leash before guests or family members leave the house so that you have greater control over his behaviour. You can even ask your family to practice leaving the house so that you can respond to your dog’s behaviour calmly to show him there is no need for him to behave that way. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com will help with some strategies as well as address the real cause of this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Heather, there is actually a really fascinating reason why your dog may be getting a little upset when your fiance shows you signs of affection. Essentially your dog is trying to prevent you from breeding….strange I know….but in canine packs generally only the Alpha male and female are permitted to breed to ensure that only the best genetics continue. When lower ranking members of the pack look like they are getting a bit too amorous then the Alphas will intervene to prevent any unwanted litters! So you and your fiance have your very own chaperone looking out for you….whether you need it or not! Best, Doggy Dan

Hi Max,
Some dogs can become quite protective and possessive, even a little demanding, around food. If your dog knows that he usually gets a treat from this lady then he will be more likely to think he also needs to protect that treat from any approaching dogs or even people. If the treat is taking a little longer to be dispensed by the lady then he may also then become frustrated. I would actually advise you to break the cycle a little here and ask the lady to no longer give your dog a treat. It will be hard for you both, and her as well, but if it is causing an adverse reaction then it is for the greater good.
There are a few other factors that could be contributing to your dog’s behaviour and so you may like to have a look at my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Mary,
Dogs who bite their owners, or other people, is certainly a behaviour that we see often and it is something you can overcome with the right information and approach. It’s really important to be aware of the factors involved when your dogs reacts this way because it enables you to understand why she has reacted this way. Dogs have a language and way of communicating that is can be a little confusing and so our membership website aims to inform owners about what is actually going on and how to overcome behavioural issues. One thing to be aware of is if you want to give your dog a pat/fuss then you should call her to you rather than approaching her to give affection. Also, if she has an item in her possession then avoid trying to remove it from her as it can lead to confrontation. If you do need to remove that item then offer her a trade-off with a treat or toy. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to overcome this kind of behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Thanks for the quick reply to my transcript question. Did you have any suggestions (i.e. a holistic veterinarian) for getting my “alpha” dog’s “primarily” fear-based aggression to cease? Sorry, but my anguish has not been alleviated by reading or watching your work, and as my 1st post says, I’m trying for 2 yrs not to dwell on wishing I had the nerve to give up on my fur-baby. I’m (heart)sick of the stress of crying over it [No, he does not come to me to make ME feel better, as that is not how his mind works for ANY human he meets or knows. It’s him 1st, the world 2nd].