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 Biting Shih Tzu
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| Author | Topic: Biting Shih Tzu |
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Twinman New Member  Posts: 5 |
posted 03-13-2004 09:11 PM
 
We have 2 had Shih Tzu's in the past. One just past away so we adopted one from a rescue program. He is a very nice little guy. No problems petting or handle him at all....EXCEPT... if you try to pick him up.He really gets angry , bare his teeth, growls and tries to bite!!!! He has a clean bill of health, no medical problems. I really like him, but if we cannot get this part of behavior correct we will have to send him back...I have never encountered this problem and I am not sure how to over come this.. Please help I don't want to gives this little guy up IP: Logged |
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Twinman New Member Posts: 5 |
posted 03-13-2004 09:13 PM
forgot to mention he is a little older...10 years old IP: Logged |
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sally New Member Posts: 6 |
posted 03-13-2004 09:35 PM
hey there, it's sounds like your dog may have had a bad past, do u know if he's been abused? dogs react in this way sometimes if they have bad things associated with humans. i think you should seek professional help from a vet, and just give him more time. he is older so it will take him longer to adjust to you, and your lifestyle. Try to make him trust you first, don't rush him!Good Luck! IP: Logged |
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Twinman New Member Posts: 5 |
posted 03-14-2004 06:30 AM
Thanks Sally for your prompt reply! The people we got him from have had him for nearly a year and have had him to the vet for this very reason. They thought maybe he was in pain from something (back problems, disc) and the tests came back with nothing. They did warn us that he was a biter, but I think our hopes for another shih tzu caused us to not head their warning the way it was intended. If he still bit with them after 10 months, do we not have any hope? I know I was hoping that if he were in a home with less activity, I thought he'd come around. We'd like to see the little guy turn into a travel companion but we fear that will not happen...may be too old to overcome any damage that occured in the past??? Are we bad people :-( Thanks again for your help. IP: Logged |
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peteroxy Member  Posts: 23 |
posted 03-14-2004 08:33 AM
it sounds as if your doggie has a trust issue. he must've been handled roughly as a pup whenever he was picked up...or, maybe he was dropped after being picked up as a puppy? either way, he's afraid of what will happen if you pick him up. how are you picking him up? do you try to pick him up in different ways? for example, do you typically try picking him up under his front arms? or from the side? another alternative is to try picking him up from the rump while lifting him from the front. ithe key is somehow to get him to trust you when you pick him up. maybe this will help: before picking him up, pet him and offer him treats. tell him he's a good boy. talk to him in a gentle soothing way. get down low so that you are not standing over him (it could be intimidating) and pick him up slooowly, all the while telling him he's a good boy and offering him treats. have you tried contacting a dog trainer/behaviorist? [This message has been edited by peteroxy (edited 03-14-2004).] IP: Logged |
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Twinman New Member Posts: 5 |
posted 03-14-2004 09:23 AM
This is kind of what we thought as well. He had to have been dropped or something of that sort. We have only had him a few days...so we are following the lead of the previous foster parents when we try to pick him up...they gave us this clear bucket type of container and they showed us how to put it over his head. It sounds so cruel but it's the only thing that seems to work...we just wish there were a better way. The way we actually hoist him is we are down on the ground and put the cap (bucket container) on then put one arm under his belly (aproach from between the rear legs so your arm is supporting his back but the palm of your hand is supporting his chest/neck). He fights you tooth and nail until he's placed where-ever then he's licking your face with joy!??? Weird...like last night, he was wining really badly because he wanted on the bed with us, so I went to pick him up(on floor with calm voice-no treats though, so I will try that tonight-and he was just going to town with the snarls, growls, and snapping). Then once he was up there, he was a little snuggle bug and licking us. Someone really screwed this poor little fella up! It's so bad, they said that we will have to have him knocked out to be groomed! I can't even find someone around here that will do that, ugh! I will try the treat suggestion and I tihnk you are right about the behaviorist...so the search begins:-) Let me know your thoughts please! IP: Logged |
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MonsterBailey Member Posts: 146 |
posted 03-14-2004 10:07 AM
oh twinman..... I don't have any advice for you since I haven't had to deal with that myself. Therefore, I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK and HANG IN THERE! Sounds like your dog finally found a home with love.... so you guys have just GOTTA stick together  IP: Logged |
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peteroxy Member Posts: 23 |
posted 03-15-2004 11:41 AM
did the treats help? i was also thinking that you may want to try the following: kneel on the floor and have him climb into your lap, you can entice him with treats. when he's fully on your lap, you hold him with one hand and continue to feed him treats. see how he likes it. don't pick him up yet! keep doing this for a few days and then when he gets used to being in your lap and being held, then slowly rise up? your vet should be able to suggest a behaviorist. GOOD LUCK!! IP: Logged |
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puttin510 Member Posts: 1179 |
posted 03-16-2004 06:43 PM
I'm thinking its a dominance issue. Maybe he feels he is an alpha male and having someone pick him up not on his terms really ticks him off. I mean alpha dogs usually want things their way. My poodle will not allow just anyone to touch her. She does the scare bite thing. I came across a chihuahua once that my neighobr found roaming with another. He brought it here and I tried watching them but they squeezed out of my fence. Long story short when I finally caught up to this dog he scared me because I thought he might bite me because he did snarl and snap. After a few more tries I found out it was all a front. He was probably just scared. So I got them back in the yard and found out that every time I tried to pick up this dog he did the snarly thing, but did not bite me. I think your dog had some alpha dominance issue. Especially since pain has been ruled out. Make him come to you for attention, like the above said when he does something good reward him. This kind of behavior takes many months to conquor but it can be done. Don't baby him too much and let him get away with things. And whatever you do don't sneak up to him with your face near his. They go straight for the lip. Been there done that. 5 stitches later. My sweet little poo below did that to me. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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