I have two 9 month old female Lab/Pointer mix puppies. Shelby is sweet (but loud) and the other, Ruby, is very alpha and aggressive. I also have an 11 yr. old female terrier. I have had the puppies since they were 8 weeks old. Ruby has always bossed Shelby and will take her toys, food, block her from getting near me and frequently Ruby will actually fight with Shelby if Shelby doesn't give in. Ruby has jumped on the old terrier twice. The old terrier has always been a bit growly so she probably growled first. I have worked hard to establish myself as the alpha dog but it is a constant battle. Ruby wants to be the boss all the time. Since Ruby jumped on her, I have had to keep the old dog separated from the two bigger dogs for her own protection. The two big dogs stay outside and play all day while I am at work. Now, Ruby is driving me nuts. She barks at me while I am eating, watching TV or on the computer. I have tried distracting her and keeping a rolled up newspaper nearby, although I hate using it. She won't let me sleep at night...she walks the floor, getting into stuff and being disruptive in general. I am ready to get rid of this dog because she causes such turmoil in my house. I don't walk them when I get home because they run and play all day in the yard. When they were younger, I used to take them to Petco, etc, but Ruby has gotten so aggressive with other dogs that I can't do that anymore. This dog has a serious attitude problem! How do you calm a dog like this down? I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of her. She would fail a temperment test so I can't take her to a rescue agency so I have been asking around with my friends to see if someone can take her. Help us!
I remember you were thinking of rehoming one of the pups back in Nov but you ended up not doing that. At that time, I clearly told you that what Ruby needs was not entertainment but DISCIPLINE
Your pups are probably getting enough excercise since they are left outside but have you been giving discipline, and more importantly socialization with other dogs and people? Unfortunately this is a very typical mistake that owners of multiple dogs make; they tend to think that their dogs entertain each other so they don't need to be walked or to be met with other dogs and people
Ruby needes a stronger owner who could show her clear boundaries and rules to become a well behaving family dog. Now you are saying:
>When they were younger, I used to take them to Petco, etc, but Ruby has gotten so aggressive with other dogs that I can't do that anymore. This dog has a serious attitude problem! I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of her. She would fail a temperment test so I can't take her to a rescue agency...
Do you know who caused Ruby to act like that? It's YOU. Dog owners are same as kid's parent. You are responsible not only to provide their physical needs but also to train them. Puppies don't come as a finished product with a operation manual. Please consult a professional dog behaviorist. Ruby is only 9 months and I am sure with a proper approach she will still have a chance to be corrected and to live happily for the rest of her life.
By the way, please listen to your pups' barking. They are telling you to give them more attention. Take them for walk one at the time. Use the daily walk session as training opportunity. Look them into their eyes. Try to communicate. Take one at the time to training classes at Petco or Petsmart. They use positive reinforement method, instead of a rolled newspaper.
I appreciate your input but I resent your attitude. I am not a novice dog owner. I have owned and raised several Dobermans and do understand dogs and discipline. I have never had a dog that has given me as much trouble as Ruby. Granted, she needs someone more strong willed than I am. And, yes, I did try to rehome her when she was younger, without success. I thought I could work through her problems with a little more time but she is so hyper and aggressive that I have not had much success. I'm still trying to find the right home for her. She does indeed need a behaviorist but the one I contacted was on a power trip and I didn't like him at all. I must admit that I get the same feeling about you. Please don't assume things about me...you don't know me or how I act with my dog. I certainly won't be asking any more questions on this forum.
What a handful! Strange how littermates can be so totally different, huh?
A few questions - Have you tried alpha dog training with Ruby particularly, but all 3 dogs now that you have such a group? Does Ruby listen normally, other than when she's challenging the other dogs?
Have you crate trained any of them? It might be a good idea for overnight with Ruby and Shelby, that way Ruby cant keep you up like she has been, and you know she wont be demolishing anything
I think a person knows when theyve absolutely had enough trying with a particular animal, and it may be that Ruby would function better as an only dog, with a person who can be home more to keep her in line. However, if youre still keen to try, I think more one on one time with her and Shelby individually might help. Take them for quick walks around the block when you get home, and stop along the way to give commands. On weekends try walking them together, giving them commands at the same time. If Ruby every goes for Shelby on a walk, give her lead a sharp tug, tell her no, have them both sit for a minute, and continue. It might be that Ruby needs a muzzle to start with, just to keep her in some sort of control around the other two.
At home, make sure to alpha train Ruby pretty hard. As soon as she starts bullying another dog, take Ruby to a time out. Have you tried time outs before? Leave her alone and quiet for 10 minutes or so, then let her out again. You could try a citronella collar on her, usually they are for barking but you could use it for training as well, giving her a spray in the face each time she steps out of line. I think hard discipline is something to stay away from, you might just make matters worse, but constant same-result "punishments" can fix things really well - theyre the sort of methods I used on my dog to fix his behaviour issues. 9 months old is not near the end of a dogs "socialization" period, so I think youve got plenty of time to correct things with Ruby as long as you stay on her hard and give her the same treatment each time.
Its also important that Ruby sees you interact with the other dogs. When you come home, try ignoring her and going to Shelby first, giving her a few pats and only going to Ruby if she lets you interact with Shelby. A bit of ignoring her might help things?
I know I'm throwing a few different options at you, I'm kind of bouncing ideas off as they come, Ruby sounds like a handful! I wonder if any of these will help, give them a shot. Hopefully see you back on the forum, keep us updated! And like I said before, sometimes a dog just doesnt fit in one certain household, but I think you'll know for sure when you reach your breaking point. Good luck!
I am sorry I resented you. To be honest with you, your posting resented me as much. In this posting and the other posting, you never mentioned you loved Ruby or have been trying to work on her behavioral problems. I only heard that you wanted to get rid of her since she gets on your nerves.
My fostering organizations are pulling dogs that to be euthanized from shelters and we have been fostering and finding home for them. This is endless effort.
There are no dogs who are bad from their birth. All of their behaviors are results of how we treated them.
You don't have to say "I certainly won't be asking any more questions on this forum" because "I will stay away and be quiet to your posting" so please feel free to come back and ask more questions. Other people will probably give you some suggestions and advice.
Thank you for your constructive remarks. Yes, the difference in the two littermates is astounding. Shelby is bigger and is just a big sweet oaf who just wants to be near me. Ruby is smaller but bossy and aggressive. Even at 6 wks old, Ruby would growl and snarl at my old terrier when the older dog corrected her. She never would back down, even then. Although I have been told Ruby's problem is my fault, I don't believe that. She was like this when she came into this world. Her mother was a rescue dog and I adopted Ruby, and later, Shelby, from the foster family. They tell me the puppies are Pointer/Lab mixes, but I am surprised to see this much aggression in that gene pool. Anyway, I have tried to treat Ruby as the alpha dog, following the advice on this forum, but she still feels the need to assert herself on a daily basis. She is a good dog otherwise and listens to other commands, except "Quiet" when she is having one of her crazy times. When I can get her to settle down, I can love on her and we have a good relationship. She loves me and we have been thru a lot...I got her shortly after I lost a dog to congestive heart failure and she helped with my grieving. Then, she has a bacterial infection that required several trips to the emergency animal hospital in the middle of the night last Thanksgiving. I thought I was going to lose her then. She "guards" me from the other dogs and I have to correct her so I can pet them. You are correct in that sometimes it isn't a good fit...I love her but she would be better off with who has a stronger personality than I do and who does not have other animals. As for socialization, as soon as she was completely inoculated, I started taking her out to meet other dogs in the park, to Petco, etc. Now, however, she has gotten so aggressive, I can't safely restrain her when she is determined to bite another dog. I just bought a Gentle Leader and I hope that will help...I haven't used it yet. The last time she tried to get to another dog, I wound up with a fractured finger from trying to hold her back. She weighs about 60 lbs. and when she is in full tilt attack mode, she is strong. So, I don't think I am going to be able to socialize her any more than she is. She just doesn't like other dogs. By the way, I did buy a scent collar (lemon not citronella) and have had some limited success with that. But, she will just ignore it after a few sprays. Fun story: The first time I put it on her, I was trying to adjust the spray level. I gave her a little spritz. She was standing just behind Shelby. Ruby jumped, then carefully leaned over and smelled Shelby's butt. She thought Shelby had farted on her! I laughed until I cried!
I am biting terrier's Mom, I had to put him down two weeks ago, my heart is breaking and will continue to break, I miss him so much, he as you all know bit me several times and had many issues regarding being abused by the pit bull and my son's x-wife, so he did have moments of being totally afraid of things, he loved me dearly but still had this fear going on. I am so upset by my loss I feel I cannot cope, I cry everyday for him. I do not want any other dog or animal as no one can replace the things we shared each day, loving and playing and taking rides to the beach to let him enjoy running free. I gave him 2 1/2 years of freedom and love, I hope he is safe in Rainbow heaven until I see him again, I am sure my husband and son came and took him with them. I miss him so much.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss, that is the hardest part of having pets. The grief will ease enough for you to remember the good times more than the pain. Over time you may feel able to share your life with another dog, no one will ever replace him, but you may want to share that love with another.
Sorry I've been MIA - I was away from home for studies for a while but am back now!
Howre things going with Ruby and co? Is the gentle leader helping on walks?
Have you tried putting Ruby in time out when she gets going with barking and challenging behaviour? Its a useful correction tool, but also provides an opportunity to get a misbehaving dog away from you/other people so you can recollect your thoughts.
