Not sure if he will bite

[Cat]

Hi all, I have a 18month old neutered male boerboel. He is an amazing fit in our family. With our family which includes 2 little girls and other animals, I have complet trust in him. With other dogs he is very well behaved. There isn't a dominance issue at all, but I'm not sure about him with other people. It takes repeated visit everyday for a week until I trust him with people. And even then I'm not sure what will happen if they act weird or scare him. He has surprisingly snapped at 3 people; twice when people grabed his paws and the other time was at a male friend of mine who raised his hands. Outside the house he will alert to odd people but not go crazy. In crowds he actually is very good, But i am weary of anyone approaching him. At my parents house  he rushed a family friend (but stranger to him) but didn't try to bite him. He literally rushed with all of his body at this man and stoped within a hair of him giving a deep warning growl. as an after thought I realised that the man was making a move towards our 2 little girls at whom feet he was laying untill the guy moved. There have been a few other time where he has been in full rush mode but stopped at my command. I want to beable to trust him fully when people approach him, because I don't want him to be un-socialized by keeping him away from people. Side note: If the owner of an other dog who he is focused on reaches down to touch him he ducks and moves. Any ideas of what I can do.

[jim l.]

I'll tell you post this to the pet consultant group on here, Lee may is a experienced Boerboel trainer, he will be able to help you, sorry i tried to get you on the chat,

[Gijsbert Niels Terlaak Poot]

Hello Catlin James,

To me it seems your boy has started to do what a Boerboel should do but is not yet completely confident about it. That might be because of some misunderstanding between you and him that you yourself maybe are not yet aware of. You write that you have complete trust in him but you also write you want to be able to trust him fully. Maybe I don't understand this completely because english is not my own language but to me this seems to be some sort of a contradiction. Please make sure he is not touched by others unless he knows that is allright with you. Look at this like he is your wife or one of your children: most likely you will not just any stranger allow to touch them. Your dog is part of your family and should be treated with respect, not like he is some object. My dog is almost 10 months older than yours and most likely would attack if I would allow others "not belonging to our pack" to reach down to him and have my dog take his own decision about how to react on such a provocative action. Now he will allow that when I tell him to allow it and when I don't guide him he probably will act like an almost adult Boerboel male that is provoced. 10 months ago he acted just like your dog does now. Besides I think it is stupid for another dogowner to reach down to a strange dog as he then is in fact challenging that dog and you should protect your dog from such ignorant people and protect ignorant people from trying to mutilate themselves by provoking a Boerboel. Just my humble opinion, most likely you will also receive comments from people with more experience than I have. Yours kindly, Gijs

[Cat]

Gljs, Thank you for your response. I agree i made it kind of confusing. I trust him with the family but not with strangers. I guess what i need is to be  able to tell him when its ok to react and know he understands and will comply.  He is very smart boy I'm sure the issue is me but i don't want it to get to the point that he distrust everyone and can't be introduced to people.

[Cat]

ok i tried to post this in the training group aswell

[Marcella Burgess]

Caitlin,

We have been breeding boerboels for about 9 years or so now.. and to be honest with you.. the problem that YOU are having with him not being friendly towards " strangers " is what I would personally consider a lack of communication and expectations on your part. 

Boerboels are not meant to be a lap dog, they are a formidable guard dog and as such they have " their " own people whom can do just about whatever they want to them... however... people outside of the  " their " pack.. they have no business in trying to do something similar to him.

If I lived closer to you, what I would suggest is to find a qualified trainer who has worked with mastiff's and guardian breed dogs previously in order for the two of you to learn to read each other more efficiently and for him to look towards you only on all occasions.

Have you contacted your breeder as of yet to ask them for help?

 

Just some thoughts

Marcella Burgess

Proudfoot Kennels

[Lee May]

Hi Catlin, your boy is showing protective issues, and disrespect to your leadership role. Your going to need a good trainer to eveulate him and set a course of training for you. A group class would be even better for he wll learn more socialization. Do not wait, find a trainer yesterday.lol for he will soon bite. Firstly keep him on a 6 ft. lead with a choke collar that fits, he is going to need corrections to get focus back to you. establish a ok word, and always take him on lead to new people wh are standing still, you must control the situation and read your dog. If person is scared your dog will tell you, then walk him off, that person is not going to be able to pet him. If you have never learned how to properly give corrections, don't. Find a trainer who uses praise, corrections, not food/ treat training for he's beyond that already. Good Luck and please find a good trainer ASAP. Keep me posted if you like or need help picking a good trainer in your area. it's a 300-500 for a class or in home training but sounds like you need both so do group first. I use Fur saver choke collars, but some people use other types of collars, I would not use prong collar. Peace Lee

[Savas Pilarinos]

Hello! A good trainer is the best thing. He has to see what really happens. From what u said, to me, it doesn't seem yr dog has a big problem. For example: My dog before two months tried to bite someone in a way "leave me be" when the other guy was pulling his lips like in playing with him.. But he was a stranger. From 1 point of view I might want full control over his actions and reactions. But from the other point, as Marcella said. It's not a lap dog. It's a different dog.. I'd prefer to control it a little the way Lee said. But not overdo it and supress it. What I think u didn's tell us is, when someone is sitting with u for a coffee for example what will yr dog do? I suppose u let him free. Will he bother yr guest or just sit around? sit fully alerted..??
Anyway, i don't find his reactions wrong (maybe a little). But the other ppl tried to do something to yr dog that they shouldn't.. In time only he will trust these ppl. And slowly they have to aproach him. pet a little, give him a treat, throw him a toy. and u always have to be ready for anything. maybe keeping the leash on him but without pulling him, only for safety, so u can step on it if something goes wrong.. If yr friends/visitors are scared and can't act naturaly and full aware of their movement and expressions etc u shouldn't do that..
Again i say that to me, the way u described it, his reactions were normal..
If it's more than that. Like, if he is ready to bite at any time that's a problem..

Best find a good trainer to tell u what u are dealing with.. And if there is any problem. which i don't think there is..
Anyway, keep us posted!!!

[Aescleah]

i agree with getting a good trainer

Ashley

[Heather Dawn]

Catlin, I understand your concerns... I had the same with Cane, she is a handful and has been since we got her.  She is now 7 months old and is becoming more behaved each day.  What has helped us was we enrolled her in Sit Means Sit, we had 6 private sessions, and unlimited lifetime group class.  I noticed that there is one in the Cleveland-Akron area.  For our area it's a little more expensive that other places, but well worth the money.  You can take him there for a demo using your dog. These youtube videos helped me make the decision to take her there for the demo. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcixIOS_dro&feature=iv&annot...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqda0bmH--Y&feature=related