Tiny terror

[bitingterrier76]

I wrote before about my terrier, very loving most of the time but get anywhere near his back end he growls and keeps growling then will come up to me and want loving, tried ignoring him, tried the alpha dog thing, before I got him he was attacked several times by his masters other two dogs, the reason I took him in to avoid more problems for him, he also barks at anyone nearing or around my car when I go anywhere and also anyone who comes into the house he will bark and nip at their heels if they go before him. He is older like around 8 now I believe. He is part taco bell dog, can't spell that part, and terrier.

[KOPcaroline]

Hi there,

I read back over your earlier post, did any of our suggestions help at all? Is giving medication any easier, has the cowering lessened?

If the medical issue is still going as far as your dogs rear end is concerned, it could still be a pain response to the problem itself, or your trying to clean him up. I really wonder if this is the case since it seems youre describing your dog as stopping snapping once you move away from his back end. It might be worthwhile talking to your vet about his medical problems and looking into home pain medications that might help him.

As far as barking and nipping at strangers and guests, it sounds like territorial/protective aggression. If your dog sees you interact with your guests, does he calm down? When you bring people over, tell them to ignore him until he approaches them to say hello. If he won't calm down enough to say hello, and just keeps barking and causing havoc, try putting him in time out. Put him in a dark, quiet room by himself, until he calms down. Then bring him out again. If he works up again and starts misbehaving, put him straight back into time out. You can give a command like "enough" or "quiet" as you put him away.

When in the truck/car, if your dog starts barking, you should try taking him out of the car. If he's protecting the car, or you in the car, and thinks it is "his territory" - you should aim to break that train of thought. So take him out of the car, give an "enough" command, and dont get back in the car until he calms down.

I hope these suggestions make sense, some other members might have more ideas. Please keep us updated!

[bitingterrier76]

Originally Posted by KOPcaroline

Hi there,

I read back over your earlier post, did any of our suggestions help at all? Is giving medication any easier, has the cowering lessened?

If the medical issue is still going as far as your dogs rear end is concerned, it could still be a pain response to the problem itself, or your trying to clean him up. I really wonder if this is the case since it seems youre describing your dog as stopping snapping once you move away from his back end. It might be worthwhile talking to your vet about his medical problems and looking into home pain medications that might help him.

As far as barking and nipping at strangers and guests, it sounds like territorial/protective aggression. If your dog sees you interact with your guests, does he calm down? When you bring people over, tell them to ignore him until he approaches them to say hello. If he won't calm down enough to say hello, and just keeps barking and causing havoc, try putting him in time out. Put him in a dark, quiet room by himself, until he calms down. Then bring him out again. If he works up again and starts misbehaving, put him straight back into time out. You can give a command like "enough" or "quiet" as you put him away.

When in the truck/car, if your dog starts barking, you should try taking him out of the car. If he's protecting the car, or you in the car, and thinks it is "his territory" - you should aim to break that train of thought. So take him out of the car, give an "enough" command, and dont get back in the car until he calms down.

I hope these suggestions make sense, some other members might have more ideas. Please keep us updated!

I talked to my vet about this problem and he agree's that scar tissue is probably what causes his pains, he said to try liquid baby aspirin which of course comes back to the giving meds problem. I am alone as I said so trying a variety of things with his easy to rile problem is harder as I cannot hold him and do things at the same time, like opening his mouth and giving the meds. If I put this in water or food, he totally ignores it. The car thing, he does that I am sure like you said to protect his territory, and usually if I take him to the grocery store, not doing that in warm weather now. So taking him out of the car to calm down is not an option as he barks at whoever and whatever he see's coming near him.