The past couple of days I've seen some good animal advice on here, so I hope someone can help me!

Friday I came home from work to find a cute little dog (looks like Cocker Spaniel mix) hanging out at my front door, panting like he was about to die. I let him in, gave him water and food, and decided that instead of taking him to the shelter, I would keep him.

Well, he's been pretty nice so far but he gets in moods where he will just growl for no reason, especially at my fiancee. He's done it to me only once or twice.

I just took him to the vet today to have his nails clipped, and he got neutered while he was there. Does anyone have any ideas as to why he is so moody, and what can I do about it?

Thanks!

6/26/2006 7:39:12 PM

cocker spaniels are crazy. I have only had bad experiences with them.

6/26/2006 8:15:34 PM

Well, removing his nuts would've been a positive step for reducing his moodiness.

I hear it helps keep male dogs from being quite as aggressive (besides the obvious prevention of breeding). But then they always wonder what happened to the damn things.

Really, get him some obedience training, and socialize the crap out of him, and he should be fine. Teach him that your fiancee is like his second owner. Time and patience and training should fix the problem.

As far as the reason for him being moody now, it probably has something to do with his previous owner. If he doesn't like guys, and he gets in moods, maybe his old owner would come home and kick him at a certain time of day (and was male). *shrug* There's always the possibility of abuse.

6/26/2006 8:18:26 PM

Yeah if you took him to the vet just today for the neutering, he won't show the results for a couple days possibly b/c he has to recover and he may be a little frustrated at having to go the vet. Definitely follow ^ advice.

My dog has always been pretty nervous and would slink away and bark at guys, especially if they're tall, and all she needed was for them to consistently pet her and pay her attention when they came over, and now she's pretty comfortable with even strangers that come over.

6/26/2006 9:15:33 PM

you didnt adopt it. you stole it

6/26/2006 9:42:22 PM

^ sounds about right...

6/26/2006 10:00:45 PM

From my experience, cocker spaniels get very protective over their owners and perhaps he growls at your fiance because he sees you as his property. Does he hump you as well? Lots of cockers will hump things to show dominance...


lol, what a pun.

6/27/2006 1:34:23 AM

i hope it isnt some rare bread, and you got his nutz cut off, then the owner comes looking...

$texas

6/27/2006 2:07:33 AM

So, you found this random adult dog, didn't look for an owner, then chopped its balls off. Right? I sure hope it's a stray, otherwise I'd be pissed if that was my dog.

Also, if it's growling at you and your fiancee, it is establishing dominance over the two of you. This is not good and will lead to years of trouble. You must show it that the two of you are dominant. Take it on walks and lead him, do not let him lead you, snap the collar to get his attention if needed. Don't let him run infront of you out of the door and such. You tell him when to eat, don't let him tell you. Make him sit and wait for you to put down his food. Don't give him table scraps. Teach him to respond to a name by first using a long lead to get him to come. All these should help.

6/27/2006 5:28:33 AM

i hope it's not rare bread either.

6/27/2006 6:59:15 AM

^Yeah, watch it be some AKC champion she's not familiar with.

6/27/2006 7:32:23 AM

Did you even look for an owner...sometimes dogs get hungry and thirsty when they are LOST..you've basically stolen some poor kids best friend.

6/27/2006 10:52:23 AM

^^

6/27/2006 11:09:22 AM

YOU NEED CEASAR MILAN

6/27/2006 11:11:26 AM

6/27/2006 1:28:29 PM

just call your local animal control and humanesociety and report a found dog. that way in case someone calls to see if their dog was found they could match a description you leave.
i'd be heartbroken if someone found my dog and decided to keep it rather than even attempt to try and find a possible owner.
you did the right thing by taking care of him and taking him to the vet but do ^ just in case he has an owner out there.

6/27/2006 3:42:57 PM

First of all, of course I called the shelter and asked if there was anyone looking for a dog that fit his description before I decided to keep him. They told me that before they would take him, I would have to have proof that he had been given a rabies shot, and that it was at least 3 weeks old. They also said that if the dog was not claimed or adopted within a couple of weeks they would put him down because of overcrowding. I decided that it would be a lot better for me to keep him than to take him to the shelter with the chance of them killing him.

Secondly, this dog had obviously not had an owner for a very long time...his nails were so long he could barely walk and he was so dirty that he was brown, instead of his natural blonde color. I did not steal him. He was in very bad shape, and the vet said he was in desperate need of neutering (his balls were almost to the floor). She said he was at least 7 years old, and had probably been outside for a long time. I would be happy if someone found my dog and took care of it the way I have for him.

He's been a lot better today about his growling...I've learned that whenever he has possession of what he thinks is a toy or the blanket I've let him been using as a bed, he freaks out, so I don't let him have them while we're around until its time for bed.

He has been trying to hump me...I just push him away, make him sit, and tell him no in a stern voice, and he stops.

Thanks to those of you who gave uncriticizing advice. Fuck the haters.

[Edited on June 28, 2006 at 9:35 PM. Reason : .]

6/28/2006 9:34:17 PM

I am a hater

Would you fuck me?

6/28/2006 10:06:28 PM

She doesn't have to look for an owner. If the dog is on her property, it belongs to her. Cracka shoulda kept his prize winning stud dog on a leash if he wanted to keep it.

6/28/2006 11:20:52 PM

^^^ well you cant blame people for making the comments they did.
you didnt provide any of that information about how you called the shelter and the condition of the dog.

so

6/29/2006 7:32:07 AM

she was attracted to cocker spaniel because she's a cunt and a bitch

6/29/2006 7:50:00 AM

^^I didn't give that information because it had nothing to do with my original question.

^^^that made me lol

6/29/2006 8:10:03 AM

Have your fiancee hand feed him bacon and shit, but make him come get it from him.

My parents old dog used to growl and snip at my grandpa cuz an old man beat her as a puppy. He showed up one day with a big thing of bacon an country ham and started handing it to her before he got out of his truck. From that day forward she would only bark until she realized it was him, then she was like his best bud.

6/29/2006 10:22:49 AM

That sounds like a good idea. He's definitely starting to warm up to him, but there are still occasions when he growls for seemingly no reason. I think it will just take time for us to realize what upsets him so that we can avoid those things.

6/29/2006 1:18:04 PM

whenever any of my dogs ever growled at me I smacked them clear across the room.

they stopped growling.

6/29/2006 1:24:25 PM

^^As I stated previously, it sounds like he is dominating the two of you and considers you his property. You must get him out of this mindset asap. Cockers WILL NOT hesitate to bite once they consider themselves dominant. Our dog did this with my family and basically walked all over us for 14 years. I tried to train him but my mother wouldn't let me, and he died a crotchety old dog who tried to bite all my mother's friends. Anywho, your fiancee especially needs to become dominant over him. My dog used to randomly growl at my dad when he thought he was trying to get near my mom.

6/29/2006 6:01:15 PM

it doesn't hurt dogs to get popped on the nose. some ppl don't seem to understand this. as said before you need to be the "alpha male" and be dominant over your dog. this is not a bad thing.

then they will love you AND respect you. that's how i am with my dogs and they do what i say, but are social and love playing with each other/other people. you really do need to become dominant with cocker spaniels, because as previously stated they will bite.

i had a friend who had to put his dog down because it bit his mailman. again, training is the most important thing you can do for your dog.

6/29/2006 6:48:15 PM

basic info, if you can scruff him flip him over and pin him with you hand to his neck without getting bitten, you only need to do this a couple of times and you will establish dominance quick. you just hold him(do not choke) until he stops fighting.

eat first in front of him, then him. make him wait for food. you leave areas first and enter new areas first. you do everything first or ahead. walk, eat, make him look away first if you catch eyes, etc.

6/29/2006 7:03:00 PM

You guys don't think that if I pop him he'll get scared/angry and start growling at me like he does my fiancee? I really think that someone basically beat the shit out of him on a regular basis. My dad suggested hitting a newspaper rolled up against my hand, but that didn't work.

I'm worried that if I hit him, he'll hate me.

6/29/2006 9:25:38 PM

^If you're that afraid of disciplining a mutt you found on the street, I hope you never have kids.

6/29/2006 9:35:04 PM

pop him on the nose, not mean enough to do damage but to let him know you mean business. you HAVE to be dominant. if you do that he won't growl bc he knows you will retaliate in essence.

6/29/2006 9:54:02 PM

6/29/2006 9:56:19 PM

Quote :

"I'm worried that if I hit him, he'll hate me. "

We're not telling you to beat the crap out of him, and that exact "poor pitiful little stray" mentality is exactly how dogs get spoiled and dangerous. Let's just put it this way, if you want him to run the show and be a threat to anyone who comes in your house, then do nothing. Get your fiancee to do the dominance roll if he feels more comfortable.

6/29/2006 11:40:26 PM

With the foster I'm taking care of right now, he was pretty stubborn at first with the leash, where he'd want to go someplace, and wouldn't budge in the direction I wanted to go in. I just kept coaxing him, and then would praise the crap out of him when he finally gave in. He also refused the first three trips out to go up the stairs back into the apt. I coaxed him up them with treats, especially once we were inside the apt. I also praised him to no end whenever he made a progressive step. Now that he realizes there are people that love him in this apt, he readily follows my lead on walks, and willingly goes up the stairs. He's such a good dog!

So you don't necessarily have to discipline with a bop on the nose but with praise, love and treats (but ONLY once he's done something YOUR way). However, when Colby is bad I have smacked him on the rump. He cowered b/c apparently something has gone wrong with a previous owner, but he learned his lesson and didn't growl. However, when my husband tries to hold him back, such as when I have to take just my other dog out (and Colby always wants to go outside), or the first time he wouldn't go upstairs when my husband tried to help me push/pull him up Colby snapped at him. Colby was fixed today and my husband had to pretty much pick him up out of the car and carry him upstairs b/c he was still unstable on his legs. Colby bit him probably 5 times in the process. But my husband is continuously nice to Colby to try to break that predisposition.

6/29/2006 11:50:16 PM

^That does not sound like dominant dog behavior though. Whereas cockers are notorious for having these problems and needing a dominant owner.

6/29/2006 11:59:42 PM

^^ i also agree with the praise, but only after the dog has done something correctly. if the dog's showing aggressive behavior which was the main part of the discussion i say discipline. if they sit/stay/do something good, by all means praise/love on them to let them know you care. it's a fine balance.

6/30/2006 1:35:55 AM

^Agreed. But if you just praise and give them treats all the time and spoil them...then you'd got problems.

6/30/2006 4:04:51 AM

he knows ur fiancee is cheating on u!

6/30/2006 11:29:50 AM

Please please do not do the dominant roll with your dog. Any dog professional will tell you NOT to do that. When you are not familiar with dog behavior then you shouldn't try something like that. It is more likely that you will get bitten than you will establish dominance. Any dog trainer or behavioralist will tell you to be the pack leader by mental control not physical. First, do not let the dog on ANY furniture. If he even acts like he is going to, then tell him NO. Make him sleep in a crate at night and also crate him when you are not home. When you let a dog, do whatever he/she wants they will think of you as weak and try to take over the dominant position in the "pack" (this includes humans). Another thing, is to stand tall with your shoulders up and have a confident attitude. Dogs can tell when you are scared or nervous, so try to think confident thoughts when you are dealing with this dog. Make him sit and wait until you release him before he can go outside or inside. Do this when you feed him too. He isn't allowed to eat until you release him. This might take a long time, depending on how smart the dog is. My fosters pick it up in about 3-4 minutes. It might sound harsh but it isn't. Dogs need boundaries and control or they will run all over you. They will learn to respect you if you become the dominant leader. Also, you have to remember to not feel sorry for them (they sense this as weakness) and even more importantly remember they are not humans. If you need more help let me know. I have a dominant bitch who has turned around tremendously. If you do what I listed and do it all of the time, then it should work. If it doesn't then contact a dog trainer that has experience with dominant dogs and let them teach you how to physically over power the dog. It can be VERY dangerous if it isn't done correctly. And honestly it doesn't need to be done if you are consistent with training. good luck!

6/30/2006 12:02:15 PM

^Hmm that's a good point. If your adult dog has gotten to the point where it needs that level of dominance to over come it, it will probably oblige you by trying to take a chunk out of you. It's not really something a typical owner should do untrained with a very dominant dog. And I don't think this dog has reached that level.

7/4/2006 4:32:00 AM

I trained my cocker spaniel, and showed her. She recieved her third leg in obedience.
I was dominate. I popped her. I used treats. I used praise, and manipulated her w/ my voice.
she was a member of my family for 9 years.
Be dominate...you will know when you ahve won, as the dog will(female at least) lay on her back and hold her leg up, so her stomach is vulnerable. male dogs may tuck tale, and stay low, im not sure anymore.

BUT FUCK WHOEVER SAYS TO NOT* MASTER THE BEAST. YOU ARE AN IDIOT, AND I HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO SAY SO.

[Edited on July 4, 2006 at 1:01 PM. Reason : just dont beat the shit out of, or otherwise ABUSE the animal.]

7/4/2006 12:59:49 PM