Bacca bit me!!!!!

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OntarioSheltie said:
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My trainer is really into the impulse control games, which you might want to try. She'll put a bunch of treats in her hand, palm up. The hand never moves around, but stays in the same stationary spot. The hand stays closed until the dog stops nosing it. When the nosing stops, the hand opens. If the dog goes after the hand or the treats, the hand closes. The dog only gets a treat if he/she is not nosing the hand or going after the treat and is giving you eye contact. There needs to be no talking, except to praise. Don't say anything if the dog isn't getting it.

This is one of Toby's favorite games. It teaches him his place and really builds his confidence. I use this and different leave it activities to distract him when he's having anxiety.
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YES!
That is exactly what I would recommend when I mentioned handfeeding.. impulse control games! Much better name! I like it
 
Toffee's Mom said:
You know what?
Toffee comes to me so that I hold his bone while he chews on it!
Actually he brings his nasty rawhide, throws it in my lap and proceeds to climb on me (if you are on the couch) and nudges it until you to hold it for him, LOL
He also does that with my friends if he likes them, lol and if they are foolish enough to hold the bone for him for easier chewing access.

So maybe handeeding might be a good try, too?
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Yech! You know what a half-chewed, slimy rawhide feels like!? I'm not touching it unless I have to!
 
Toffee's Mom said:
YES!
That is exactly what I would recommend when I mentioned handfeeding.. impulse control games! Much better name! I like it
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I do this all the time. It's one of the first things they taught us in puppy school.

Going back to some of the previous posts, the feeding issues went away when Bacca regained his appetite. Now he scarfs his food almost as fast as Indy. It was a problem when he was off his food, and would walk away and Indy would move in for the "finish". That issue has been gone for months.

As for Bacca being "innocent" in this and just trying to make a grab before the food disappeared into the garbage...I don't think so. This was not a scratch. It was a full puncture - thankfully it did not get infected. That being said, it all happened so fast, I can barely remember what he did and what I did immediately after.

That being said, after working with the bones yesterday, I did a "garbage test" as well. Bacca stood close by and tried to sniff while I emptied the bin but did not lunge at it and backed off when I said so.

This is most likely a one-off event, but just a reminder to everyone on the forum that as much as we think of these fur-kids as kids, they are still animals, and capable of just about anything. Never let your guard down entirely.
 
MMM here....

If the monkeys have taken over the zoo and Jan says I am a monkey~butt, I don't think I like where that leaves me in the grand social order!

Miss Barb, I am sure Bacca was chomping at a bit of food falling and not at your hand. We, shelties, get a bit over zealous about our food, you know? I am sure he is very sorry. Did he try and lick the sore spot for you?

McKinley.
 
Actually, he did! He did seem to have a moment of "WTF did I do!?"

I really don't think he meant to, but some reflex made him do it. So my point remains....you can never trust your dogs 100% because you never know what reflex will set them off.

Bacca is just not an aggressive dog. I might have expected this from Indy more who is more resource guarded. But not my gentle giant.
 
Hey everyone!! Obviously by the number of my posts, I am new here. Just wanted to chime in on this topic and a few others.

I agree with the posts about playing with their food (so to speak). I have 3 dogs, Emma...my Sheltie (about 42 pounds, will be 2 in April), and 2 Chihuahua's (one that is 2.4 pounds (Lucy, 9 yrs old) and one that is 5.5 pounds (Phoebe 7 yrs old). Emma is actually wonderful with the 2 small girls. They all eat from the same bowl of food and water bowl. Emma will actually back away from the food bowl when the 2.4 pounder weighs in to eat LOL Emma allows her to eat what she wants and will gently approach the bowl when she wants a bite.

I also will hand feed them, take it away then give it back so they are use to my hand being there. When I give her a treat, I hold it underhanded where she KNOWS my hand is there and she gently takes it from me. BUT if I just hold it out, she (and Phoebe) will try to snatch it from me.

I love Emma so much, but there are a few issues, some no big deal and some I could use some advice on:

...Emma is a heffer! I can't feed them separately, just not possible. I can barely lift her.
...Of course both my small dogs sleep in the bed with me but Emma will not jump on the furniture OR get in the bed. Most would think this is a great thing, but I am OK with the girls lounging on the couch and sleeping with me. If I put Emma in the bed with us, she is fine for a few minutes then wants down. Breaks my heart; would love to snuggle with her. If I get down on the floor, she can not be still, relax and enjoy the company.
...She is hyper!! Can not sit still when I love on her or pet her. Seems to be a nervous Nelly. The other 2 girls just lay back and look at her like "whatz up with her"???
...OK, the chewing is a problem! I can NOT keep a rug on my floor because she loves to chew off ALL of the edging of the rugs. She has chewed up over 600.00 worth of rugs! And there is only ONE curtain at my front door that she chews on and the wood at the window next to the front door.
...I know Shelties are like herders, she stays very close to me, herding me all over the house and just about causes me to fall and nose bumps me all the time.
...Emma seems to be VERY nervous and shys away from ANYONE that comes in my house. Does these mean she would not be a protective dog?

My daughter and her hubby got Emma's sister (BB) when I got Emma. The girls love to see each other and use to all the time, but less now due to schedules.

When do they calm down? How to stop her from chewing (of course I never see her in action) and is it normal for a Sheltie to be 42 pounds?? Oh, would love to have her sleep with us; I actually have ramps to one couch and my bed for the 2 smaller dogs to be able to get up on them; but Emma will not go up and down the ramps.

Sorry for the long post, but trying to cover all basis up front LOL
 
Emma said:
Hey everyone!! Obviously by the number of my posts, I am new here. Just wanted to chime in on this topic and a few others.

I agree with the posts about playing with their food (so to speak). I have 3 dogs, Emma...my Sheltie (about 42 pounds, will be 2 in April), and 2 Chihuahua's (one that is 2.4 pounds (Lucy, 9 yrs old) and one that is 5.5 pounds (Phoebe 7 yrs old). Emma is actually wonderful with the 2 small girls. They all eat from the same bowl of food and water bowl. Emma will actually back away from the food bowl when the 2.4 pounder weighs in to eat LOL Emma allows her to eat what she wants and will gently approach the bowl when she wants a bite.

I also will hand feed them, take it away then give it back so they are use to my hand being there. When I give her a treat, I hold it underhanded where she KNOWS my hand is there and she gently takes it from me. BUT if I just hold it out, she (and Phoebe) will try to snatch it from me.

I love Emma so much, but there are a few issues, some no big deal and some I could use some advice on:

...Emma is a heffer! I can't feed them separately, just not possible. I can barely lift her.
...Of course both my small dogs sleep in the bed with me but Emma will not jump on the furniture OR get in the bed. Most would think this is a great thing, but I am OK with the girls lounging on the couch and sleeping with me. If I put Emma in the bed with us, she is fine for a few minutes then wants down. Breaks my heart; would love to snuggle with her. If I get down on the floor, she can not be still, relax and enjoy the company.
...She is hyper!! Can not sit still when I love on her or pet her. Seems to be a nervous Nelly. The other 2 girls just lay back and look at her like "whatz up with her"???
...OK, the chewing is a problem! I can NOT keep a rug on my floor because she loves to chew off ALL of the edging of the rugs. She has chewed up over 600.00 worth of rugs! And there is only ONE curtain at my front door that she chews on and the wood at the window next to the front door.
...I know Shelties are like herders, she stays very close to me, herding me all over the house and just about causes me to fall and nose bumps me all the time.
...Emma seems to be VERY nervous and shys away from ANYONE that comes in my house. Does these mean she would not be a protective dog?

My daughter and her hubby got Emma's sister (BB) when I got Emma. The girls love to see each other and use to all the time, but less now due to schedules.

When do they calm down? How to stop her from chewing (of course I never see her in action) and is it normal for a Sheltie to be 42 pounds?? Oh, would love to have her sleep with us; I actually have ramps to one couch and my bed for the 2 smaller dogs to be able to get up on them; but Emma will not go up and down the ramps.

Sorry for the long post, but trying to cover all basis up front LOL
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Hi Emma!

Welcome to the forum. Why don't you copy your questions above and start a new thread under behavior with your questions? This way we can stay on topic with Barb's issue with Bacca on this thread, and you are bound to get much more advice on your issues in your own thread.

Also, please feel free to start a thread in "say hello" to introduce yourself.
 
When Sca got a bit to aggressive getting treats I made sure he knew I had it and then closed my hand and rolled it over. That way he did not figure he could pry my fingers open. Once he settled I would roll my hand over and open it, he improved quick (if he has to learn to get food his IQ is 240, otherwise....)
 
A little puppy training 101 and I think I've resolved this problem. The boys are back to sitting and waiting for their food.

Bacca is still interested in the garbage but at least steps back (I must have really whacked him when he bit me). The dishwasher is always interesting (he always thought it was his job to pre-rinse the plates), but he is even stepping back from that now when I give him Caesar's "touch". An "aah-aah" and a little push.

And my thumb pad is still store, but healing. Of course, at my advanced age, healing is always so slow.

All good for now! Thanks everyone!
 
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