Help! Toddy Has Started To Bite When Frightened

[eve]

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Lately Toddy has snapped and nipped when disturbed if he is comfortable or half asleep. i.e if he has pinched a space on the sofa and humans want it back or if he is taking up too much space in the dog bed and the others cannot get in. He grumbles at me but has never had a go at me. He has nipped my husband a couple of times and broken the skin even tho' I have instructed my husband to wake him up gently before picking him up for a cuddle.

At a family party last night, my son (27) spooked him, Toddy raced into the lounge where a guest made a grab at his collar to comfort him. He got a fright and nipped her. Fortunately it was not a bad bite and my friend is used to dogs and took it very well. It is totally the fault of my son and my guest who should not have grabbed at him and of course myself for not having him shut away. At the same time, his behaviour is not acceptable either.

Toddy does have an attitude problem and he has certainly been the most difficult of all the rescues I have taken on over the years. He was not at all socialised when he arrived at 7 months. He has however now been with us for 7 months. I am not very experienced with young rescue whippets. All my others have been aged 2 -8 when they have come to me and most bitches. My last dog Peat was moody but much more loving. This behaviour started about a month after he was neutered.

I am presevering with picking him up / disturbing him while he is dosy and telling him off if he grumbles and training my husband to stroke him and talk to him before disturbing him.

Does anyone have any ideas?

He needs to be cured of this.

 

[Hula]

I wouldn't disturb any dog when it is sleeping . In the case of one of my dogs who is deaf I have to touch her to waken her but normally I would just call a dog to get it's attention .

If Toddy has issues at the moment I would crate him when visitors are about .

 

[meddling]

if it was me, I would start back at basics with keeping him off the sofa, not allow him upstairs and make sure he never goes through a door or gateway before everyone else, always put him to the bottom of the pack at every opportunity, he sounds as if he is feeling himself more important than people.

 

[Dezmand]

one if my dogs does the same thing when she is woken from a deep sleep.but she has only done this since we got our second dog and got o nasty nip on her back legs when they were playing (puppy teeth) sharp as needles. now i use my voice to wake her if i need to rather than touch her ,what would you do if you were fast asleep in your bed and some one startled you, my youngest dog is quiet a sensative little dog and although she likes company she gets overwhelmed if there are a lot of people round at once especially at partys when people are drinking she cant cope with all the attention and stands at the front room door to go upstairs. i have tried to make her stay down stairs but she just gets more panicky so for the ocassonal time we have a house full i allow her to go upstairs ahd get on the bed she is quiet happy up there out of the way.the oldest dog is happy being the centre of attention as she is a show off. all dogs are diffrent and might need the way we treat them ajusting slightly to acomodate their needs because appart from these 2 little traits both of them are very well behaved

 

[~Annie~]

I think you have put your finger on the cause of the problem when you say it started a month after he was neutered. A more fearful dog can actually benefit from retaining male hormones that give him confidence to cope in the world. I agree with what everyone has said re. waking him gently and going back to basics re. training but I think you also need to focus on helping him grow in confidence and part of that is for him to be sure of where his boundaries are, just as with a small child. For example don't allow him on the sofa but make staying off it rewarding ... give him a comfy bed of his own next to the sofa where he can chew a chew as a reward for staying there. Good luck :luck:

 

[shamrock lady]

Good old saying is LET A SLEEPING DOG LIE.

 

[TillynPip]

Gracie started doing this last summer. Whenever she was woken suddenly from sleep by either one of the other dogs or by a human, she would really have a go and, although I don't think she would bite, the noise from her and the show of teeth, were very off putting. So that the behaviour didn't escalate, I started saying NO in a very low, hard voice and I put her out of the room we were in but only for about two minutes. I then let her back in and made sure either someone was sitting were she had been or one of the dogs was on the beanbag and stayed there, making her find another spot. To an extent it has worked although she will still do it if she is woken suddenly, hence a vocal call before moving her or whatever.

 

[TTT]

if it was me, I would start back at basics with keeping him off the sofa, not allow him upstairs and make sure he never goes through a door or gateway before everyone else, always put him to the bottom of the pack at every opportunity, he sounds as if he is feeling himself more important than people.

Good advice.

1 Never allow it on the sofa.

2 Keep it in a crate when you have visitors - for his safety and theirs.

Have firm rules, then he will know his place.

 

[eve]

Thank you for all the advice.

Toddy does also snap when picked up while awake sometimes.

I have in the last few days already implemented most of the advice given. I am also picking him up a bit more often when awake so that he recognises that as the boss, I have the control. On the whole he is fine with me, the odd grumble soon sorted with a firm 'No'

The sofa is out of bounds for the time being untill he 'learns his palce'

The main problem is geting my OH to respect my wishes regarding Toddy when he has had a couple of drinks (my OH, not Todddy!)

Toddy has definately become a more nervous dog since being neutered.

I do not use a crate, but he will be isolated in the dogs 'Bedroom' away from guests untill I can trust him. Hopefully he will grow out of this stage.

Thanks again

Eve

 

[TTT]

Consider a crate, it is a very, very useful piece of kit. Don't look upon it as a prison or punishment, but a cosy place where your dog can feel secure, especially when you cover the top and sides with a blanket. The crate can be kept where you chose, even in the living room where your dog can see the visitors and safely feel part of things, rather than shutting it away, perhaps making it feel isolated and anxious, therefore escalating problems when you have visitors.