Recent Behavior Problems

[Kenny E.]

I am having some recent behavioral/socialization issues with my BB pup. He is going to hit 11 months shortly, and recently he has been acting unacceptable towards both unknown people and dogs. He growls at people upon meeting them, and they are understandably uncomfortable with it. Usually, after he's been introduced he will be fine with them. Initially, though, he scares me with how he is acting. Also he wants nothing to do with strange dogs, and growls at them as well.

This is a recent thing. I took him to lessons as a puppy, and have been socializing him as I have read to do since I've gotten him. He has always been around new people and dogs.

Anyone else experiencing something like this? He is not fixed yet, and I am wondering if maybe it will change his behavior?

This is a true behavior dichotomy, as I have never had a sweeter dog in my life. He is a velcro dog to both me and my friends/family that he knows. I am wondering if maybe it's a protection thing, as he is very protective of me and my house.

[Lisa Tiro]

Hi Kenny. My Bella did the same thing. She went to puppy school, was socialized daily, loved all people and dogs UNTIL she reached 11 months old! Then it was random dogs, she would give that low deep growl and then lunge. Then it was every dog even ones that were really far away. She would go ballistic. And then it was people on the street and in my home. She was a sweetie pie with all the people she already knew and all the animals she already knew but if she didn't know you watch out! It was very disconcerting to say the least. I had to tether her when I had company over my house or just lock her away downstairs because I couldn't trust her. I took her to a K9 trainer when she started this business and he trained her with an e-collar but this did not solve the problem. It only gave us more control of her in the house and off leash around my home. It did help on walks however we would just say hello quickly to some dogs and then move on before they could assert any dominance towards each other. I have to be honest though, I stopped taking her for walks. I bought a muzzle for her and used it when I took her to the vet or walked her down the street. She actually bit my 29 yr. old son trying to get at a dog (transferred aggression) and that scared me so I was very careful about getting in between that. My Bella unfortunately passed a few months ago at 2 1/2 from AIHA. We were and still are devastated. She was so lovable with us and funny. I still cry over her loss but we did get another one and this time I did my homework and I bought my pup from a very reputable breeder who breeds for temperment first and foremost. I wish you luck!

 

Lisa

[Lee May]

Hi Kenny, Do need more information to really get things right. But I think you may want to change things a bit. As for introducing your boy to new people you have them stand still and walk your boy up to them in a heel by your side not in front of you. Also talk to him assure him all is ok and give it a word, same word every time. you rub his body while approaching person. Allow him to smell them no reaching out for head touch. Read his body language if he is unsure, and more important if your are unsure, nervous he knows and will react to situation. BB read you every emotion very well. If he is fine with person have them put their hand out slowly smell again and pet under neck not on top of head. Of course your going to need to work on this at home and out in the world. If he acts up put in sit again in perfect heel position so he knows he is not leading he is following you. Want to get this under control while he is still young. There is tons more but start there, and let me know how you make out. Peace Lee

[Carrie Kruczek]

Hi Kenny:

Run, don't walk to the best trainer you can find!  But not a "crank and yank" trainer, find someone who uses positive reinforcement and has experience with large aggressive dogs.  Even with that, be prepared that what you are seeing now in your pup is something that you will be dealing with for the rest of his life.  My boy is just over 3 years now, and we have struggled with behavior issues since his puppyhood.  No amount of socialization or training or even medication could overcome what his genetics dictated.  The behavior dichotomy is amazing, I often look at him and wonder how such a loving and sweet dog to our family, can be so explosively aggressive and dangerous to everyone else.  Definitely neuter your boy, I think it helped us a little with Gage, but don't count on it to fix his temperament.  However, every little bit helps.  You should also get your vet to draw blood and send it out to Dr. Jean Dodds at Hemopet, as sometimes marginally low thyroid can exacerbate aggression.  We also did that with Gage, and the meds may have helped a little.  I would also advise that when you find a good trainer, also get a good wire muzzle and condition him to wear it happily, it will make your life easier and others safer.  I agree with all Lisa said, she and I have been through similar situations with our dogs.  I would also recommend ordering from Amazon the booklet:  "The Cautious Canine."  It's an easy read and helps you to deal with fear issues in dogs.  Unfortunately, fear is at the root of aggression problems, although it isn't obvious at first glance.  It took me awhile to come to terms with that idea, but it's true.  A stable, brave dog has no reason to growl at and threaten strangers who are not acting aggressively.  Fearful dogs do.  Their fears cause them to lash out inappropriately and they don't just grow out of it.  I hate to be so negative, but I've been through this, and it's better to be forewarned so that you can take it seriously and do everything possible to manage the problem.  Good luck with your pup.

 

[Kenny E.]

Thank you so much everyone for all the advice!! Carrie, I immediately added that book to my shopping cart, and will be ordering it shortly. I bought and read the Monks of New Skete book and followed that for him as a puppy. It worked, for a while...

It is truly frustrating and slightly embarrassing, but I have found when walking him and people want to come up and pet him, the easiest way to keep people at bay is to just come out and say, "He bites." Then people immediately back off.

I am going to be neutering him shortly, just have read a lot about muscle and bone development in large breed dogs, and how it's best to wait. Also, I have been looking into more training, but I work afternoons, and everything I have found in my area is in the evening while I am at work. I have contemplated one of those 2 week boot camp type deals, but I am not sure about those. Anyone have any experience with them?  

[Lisa Tiro]

Carrie, you hit the nail on the head when you said that the root is fear. My Bella was fearful or strange things as well, everyday items in the home. Every single time she came across a strange dog or person after she had her first heat the hackles went up. That is a signal of their insecurity. I am hopeful that my new pup has a stable temperment. The other day 2 huge street sweeper trucks came up my street at the same time. They are very loud and in my mind would be scary to a 7 month old pup. They drove right up to my house while we were outside and he wasn't fazed at all. He hardly even looked at them. I can just see the difference. It is really sad how this breed is bombarded with dogs with these unstable temperments. It really astounds me how someone falls in love with the breed at first glance and somehow feels that they are qualified to be a breeder of this breed. That's part of the problem and the other is those breeders that want to breed first for type or look in order to sell these big boned muscled dogs to unsuspecting owners. Please people do your homework! This can be a very dangerous dog with the wrong temperment!

[Lee May]

Boot Camps would be a big mistake, you want to be involved with all training and discovery for your dog. So you can learn how to read and deal with him. Good luck.

[Carrie Kruczek]

Kenny, please stay far away from the boarding/training dog facilities.  Nothing good is going to come of that with a BB.  Ultimately, the best outcome will be you learning to read your dog and work with him.  Consider private training sessions where the trainer works one on one with you at your convenience.  We began with group classes when Gage was just a little pup, and continued non-stop with them until he was about your guy's age.  Obedience was never a problem, he even earned his Canine Good Citizen!  The first behaviorist who worked with him said that he was a wonderful and obedient dog 98% of the time....but it was the 2% that gave him grave reservations.  The problem was the over-reactivity to any out of the ordinary stimulus.  Rather than retreating from things that scared him, he tried to attack them.  Ultimately, it was too dangerous to take him into group training settings, and we moved to a private trainer.  She begain working with him at home, then in the neighborhood, then we progressed to public settings.  That made the most progress in managing the aggression, although in the end, we couldn't change what he is.  It may make a long-term difference in your boy though, and at the very least will give you the tools to learn to read him and manage what you can.  The right trainer makes a lot of difference....we went through 1 trainer and 2 PhD behaviorists before we landed with the one who did the most good.  I think she was a member of the IAAPDT?    And Lisa, you are so right about the sad state of so many BB temperaments!  It is terrifying too that the average dog owner is not equipped to deal with the kind of problems that a dog of this size and power can present.  I've owned large, aggressive, dominant dogs for decades, and nothing prepared me the kind of explosive and dangerous aggression that happens with Gage.  You know all too well what it's like to live with the stress of managing a dog like this!  Your new pup sounds like he is going to be fine though, I know we saw the problems with Gage early on.  You were brave to try again. 

[Lisa Tiro]

I love this breed Carrie and it wouldn't be fair to judge them all based on what an ignornant and irresponsible breeder created. You are so right, it is very stressful living under the circumstances that require you to keep your company and your dog safe day in and day out. There is no room for a mistake or a miscommunication as this could end in tragedy. I refuse to remember only her faults as she was such a sweet and loving dog to all of her family. She also was a clown and I think that is what still attracts me to this breed. I know there are responsible breeders out there and we just have to do our due diligence in order to weed them out. And, we as owners need to train them properly and know the right way to handle such a powerful animal.

[Marco]

Great advice, thanks everyone for your input.  I love that we have amazing members here that are willing to help.  I know I have learned so much from everyone, and continue to.  I would like to add something as well.  This could also be a leadership issue.  Dominant breeds at certain times will try to take charge as they mature if proper rank is not set.  With some dogs this can be a ongoing challenge.  They feel its their job to step up and take charge, protect, and make the rules.  Some require a strong leader for them to step down from this role.  Some are willing to give up the role right away once the owner steps up.  Every dog is different when it comes to this.  I would encourage you to also check out the New boerboel owner group.  There you will find some help ful info that may be of use to you.  Below is one of the post from the group.

 

Articles Boerboel Owners Should Read.

[Fuller Boerboels]

I love the Lee gave you the step by step; it's perfect.

May I just add that a couple hours with a private trainer specializing in protective breeds should be incredibly helpful. We have a very dominant/protective male and what I didn't realize was that when we went out and about I would tense up worrying about him which made him tense and so on.......the private trainer showed us a few simple things that we just weren't thinking about. It made a huge difference. He will never be a 'casual' walker but he can go out and about, attend dog shows, meet and greet and whatnot,  we just know he is always 'on guard' and we carefully watch his body language.

[Kenny E.]

I watch his body language as well. He is a joy to walk, and has never had any issues with walking. Its only when he is with me, and strange people or dogs approach us. I have had dominant/large breed dogs before, and I have done my part to show him the pecking order. I've just never seen such a stubborn breed.

I am wondering how much of this behavior is genetics?

[Fuller Boerboels]

I would not describe any of mine as stubborn; they are for the most part quick to please. I did have one female that was extremely dog aggressive even within our own pack. I discovered later that her lines were know to be so. If it's only when strange people or dogs are approaching you then it sounds like misguided protection instinct. When you're approaching people are you telling him , "it's ok, relax...etc" or are you giving him a quick correction on the collar with a firm reminder of you being the leader? Our boy will take a it's ok as a go ahead to go into protection mode. A quick tightening of the chain with a firm, deep "out" reminds him that he has not been released to do so.

There are people on here that have years more experience than myself with the BB and it's difficult to say what the real problem is without seeing the dog, which is why I suggested going to a private trainer (with protective breed experience). I think also that people tend to confuse dominant and protective and therefore don't allow for the differences required for training.