Scruffy's being psycho with Maria

[Ethel Mertz]

Having a wee problem with my boy and not sure how to deal with it or what's causing it. Any dawg psychologists on board?

I finally get an angel of a care giver and Scruffy is being all weird with her. He's snarled and snapped at her three times. This has NEVER EVER EVER happened. When Maria arrives, he squeals and wags and is happy to see her (he's does that when most anyone comes to visit.) When she's leaving, he snarls and lunges at her. Hasn't bitten her but I'm worried. What would make a sweet loving doggy do this to someone? He's never been alone with her. She speaks sweetly to him and pets him a little but I can tell she's not been around dogs. WTF?

In the three years he's been with me, he hasn't ever been anything but loving with all strangers and/or friends, either at home or on the street.

If I'd wanted a Chihuahua, I'd have gotten one, dammit.

[missalaska]

Scruffy is a rescue dog right? Is there anything she wears specifically when this happens?

I ask this as my friend's rescue dog had a freakout when husband put his belt on in front of the dog as dog used to get beaten with a belt. We've also had a dog be aggressive to husband wearing a beanie whilst we were out at the wetlands... again because dog had negative association of abuse by a man in beanie - the owner stopped and explained. And true enough, we saw them on the way back in the distance, he removed the beanie and no problems at all when they came close.

[welle]

Hm. He feels dominant and wants to herd her back to his pack? Either way I'd try to nip that in the behind asap. Which is what I'm sure you're trying to do, hence your post.

[shrjeff]

if i understand correctly he is friendly when she arrives and while she is there and only turns nasty when she's leaving...

not into doggy psychology but as google is our friend, check this out... may be some good hints here

[Ethel Mertz]

On the spot, Jeff. That's a wonderful link and I think I know the problem now. Scruff does not get enough exercise. We go to the park for an hour or more in the afternoon but the rest of the day he's inside with me or outside in his small area in front of the cottage. He's bored is part of the problem. Fearful is another. I do go with him in my rolling chair across the street to a paved alley in the mornings and I roll, he runs, back and forth through the alley. It's not enough.

I forgot to say that at the park, he's become a mama's boy and sticks close to me now if there are more than 3 or 4 dogs there. He only likes to play with Harry. He used to play with all dogs but something must have frightened him to make him stay so close. I can't figure out what that could have been because he's always within my sight and I've never seen anything which could have frightened him.

We've got our work cut out for us but I don't know how I can give him more exercise. He needs to run. I wish I could. No kids around to ask for help in taking him out for running/playing. Oy vey!

It's just strange that it's soft spoken, calm Maria who he's chosen to be aggressive with. Of all the people who've come through here, she's the last one I'd expect him to do this to. She doesn't wear anything which could trigger his anxiety.

[Baz Faz]

Maybe you could arrange it (I don't know how) that Maria could take him for a run.

[Ethel Mertz]

I don't know if she wants to "run" but I asked her if she'd take him for walks and she said, "Of course, Marthita, I would like that." We'll begin slowly. She hugged me as she was leaving today and he wagged his tail. She then petted him and all was well. Quien sabe. I'll stay on top of the situation and work with him and Maria. I think if she gives him a bit of time and attention, it will help.

She really is a gem.

[slowcoach]

I don't do dog psychology either, (I wonder if it is a variant of cod psychology). Beware of magical thinking!

All that matters is that you find a solution. Better to know what the solution is, than grasp, perhaps erroneously, the nature of the fundamental problem.

If you change stuff, the dog will modify its behaviour, if you don't it may intensify said behaviour, if the dog jumps the right way stick with that (and perhaps add other changes), if not try something else.

If getting out more is improving things then one might conclude that Scruff was bored, but whether any real meaning can be giving to dog boredom I don't know, other then it is the name we give to a state that is said to be removed by changes in activity.

Whenever aggression is involved that could spill over into violence, disrupt it immediately.

Good luck, happy hunting.

P.S:

Woof, Hi Scuff.

[happytraveller]

I think my precious god dog is worried that maria leaves for good... Like he has experienced so many times. I agree with welle. I guess he thinks he is the boss and needs to keep the pack together, maria being part of it.
I would try to turn the moment maria leaves into something positive. Play with him the moment she leaves, feed him, or do whatever makes him happy. When he behaves, huuuuge reward.
Well thats what i would do anyway hope you find a solution.
Oh and quite important:how does maria react when he snarles at her? She should tell him very firmly to stop.

[welle]

Aug 1, 2015 8:58:58 GMT 2 Ethel Mertz said:

Scruffy is being all weird with her. He's snarled and snapped at her three times.

That's not 'weird' behavior, that's aggressive behavior. Up to you as a pack leader to teach Scruffy that it's not ok. Don't take it too lightly. Maria sounds like she hasn't been around dogs and isn't very assertive in her personality so Scruffy is walking all over her so to speak.
How well does Scruffy listen to you? Does he follow his 'sit' 'stay' commands? I'd practice that with him. Then when Maria has to leave, you tell him to sit and stay, then she leaves. Then you reward him.

And I love that you're looking at how much exercise he gets. Not realistic to expect him to be calm and easily trainable when he has too much energy from lack of exercise.

How is it going with Scruffy?

[welle]

Aug 1, 2015 19:35:58 GMT 2 Ethel Mertz said:

It's just strange that it's soft spoken, calm Maria who he's chosen to be aggressive with. Of all the people who've come through here, she's the last one I'd expect him to do this to. She doesn't wear anything which could trigger his anxiety.

Not strange at all. He's the boss of her in his mind-precicely because of her demure non-assertive demeanor. I wouldn't assume he's anxious, I'd go with aggressive/dominant in this case. Which really brings me back to the question of whether you're the alpha in Scruffy's mind. Not sure how old Scruffy is now, but if he's around 2 or so years he's hitting puberty.

As an aside question, is he neutered?

[Ethel Mertz]

Scruffy is a neutered four year old and he knows, without doubt, that I am the alpha dog in this family. He minds. I only have to give a hand signal or utter a single word and he obeys. I also have a clicker which I use at the park so I don't have to yell if he's wandered too far away, which he rarely does. I do a three click and he's right by my side. Much more obedient than ANY of the others.

He has developed a fear of the larger dogs or if there are more than 3 or 4 smaller dogs. If a larger dog is around us, Scruffy jumps onto my lap and if that dog comes up to us to sniff, he gives a warning snarl, hoping it will move away. He's never been an aggressor, he backs away from it.

I really don't know what to do about the lack of exercise as I really am unable to get out there with him more than the one or two times we go out each day. Some days, I don't function well enough for even once a day but can call on another dog park mother occasionally to take him with her. I can't ask her too often, tho. Dog walkers are too expensive and there are no teens in the area who would consider doing it.

When I got him from the Humane Society, they told me he was a lap dog and wouldn't require more than a short walk each day. Now, I wonder why I didn't ask what they based that on as he IS a terrier. All they told me was that he had been an abused dog. It took months for him to trust me but now his trust is unequivocal. He knows he's safe with me. He has a problem with his back knees and also a tracheal problem which is common in small dogs.

I/we are working on it steadily and there was no problem last time Maria was here. She will be here again today and we'll continue the vigilance.

I'm certain we can get this under control quickly. It was a surprise because he's never shown this behavior before. I most definitely took it quite seriously and began work on it as soon as it happened.

[shrjeff]

just an afterthought: do you think that scruffy picked up your apprehension that when maria leaves she won't come back?...

[Ethel Mertz]

Anything's possible but I felt rather positive about her staying right from the beginning. Was afraid to show that to others, though.
I think that if he picked up anything from me, it was the joy of finding someone who knew how to work, was grateful for the job, and who had a personality which was comfortable with mine.

He's been right here with me as a whole slew of incompetent women have passed through in the last almost two years. They came and they left and they depressed the hell out of me and left the place a mess. I'm sure he picked that stuff up.

The two of them went for a walk today and both came back smiling. The day also ended well with him sitting next to me.

[Baz Faz]

Sounds good.

[happytraveller]

Sounds very promising! I am sure you get the problem under control!

[missalaska]

Pleased to hear this.

[lumi]

I've just read through the whole thread and pleased to see this great progress at the end of it. I hope it continues!

I was wondering if you might be able o give scruffy some kind of toy to help with his possible boredom and built up energy. I know you can get small plastic things that you hide treat in and the dog has to work to get it out. If you sat outside, could you throw a small ball or toy for him to fetch and bring back to you?

[auntieannie]

excellent news. long may it continue.

[welle]

Nice!!

[pizzawheel]

I think he's worried about her leaving too. There's a lot more empathy going on than you might give credit for.

Scuffs + Maria doing that walk is a major step forward and hopefully the end of those fears.

[Ethel Mertz]

Aug 6, 2015 12:37:11 GMT 2 lumi said:

I've just read through the whole thread and pleased to see this great progress at the end of it. I hope it continues!

I was wondering if you might be able o give scruffy some kind of toy to help with his possible boredom and built up energy. I know you can get small plastic things that you hide treat in and the dog has to work to get it out. If you sat outside, could you throw a small ball or toy for him to fetch and bring back to you?

It's a misconception that all dogs like to play with toys or balls. SOME dogs do. Little dogs who began life being abused for a year and a half can develop fear of all things thrown or unfamiliar. All I was told about Scruffy's first year and a half was that he had been terribly abused. He is fearful of so many things, sounds. He barks at the wind, sometimes is frightened of his water bowl, anything falling (including a piece of paper fluttering from my desk), balls or frisbees or any hard toy, and the list goes on. Those Kong toys in which one hides treats go completely ignored by him, and I know this because I've bought two and often try to introduce them to him. The only toys he like are very soft, stuffed animals which can be chewed on until there's a hole through which the stuffing can be pulled out. Please believe me when I say I've tried most everything I can think of to challenge his mind and body.  

We do have a couple simple games that can be played with me moving a toy through the air and him trying to grab it, and foot attack. He seems to pretend that my foot is a rodent when I move it around him on the floor and he tries to attack it. He only does it with one certain old pair of Crocs which I allow him to play with. He doesn't play with other shoes.

He's never tried to be the dominant one here ... has always accepted that I'm the only dominatrix in this family.

I accept that he has limitations because of his fears and I've tried to work with him in eliminating them but some are deeply ingrained. It is what it is. He is also the sweetest, most loving, loyal, well behaved little dog I've ever known in my life. When my family met him yesterday and spent the day with him, they each said how amazed they were by what a wonderful, well behaved, and loving little guy he is. Everyone who knows him says that. I'm not being impartial to the problem because I'm blinded by my love of him.

The thing that happened those three times with Maria WERE very strange because he is NOT an aggressive dog and I truly think it had to do with FEAR of some sort. Another abandonment? I don't know. I just know that it's a behavior which had to be stopped immediately. I hope it has been. It was the same thing he's done only when a large dog gets down in his face and he does that out of sheer terror.

[happytraveller]

(((((Scruffy)))))

[shrjeff]

overcoming abuse takes time and consistency... we once had a mare which had been abused (obviously by having her ears twisted) and she would rear every time we tried to put on her bridle... we had to leave her halter on and use a tie down to the saddle cinch... after a while she'd graze on the lawn while the neighborhood kids would use her to frog jump (been away from an english speaking environment too long meant 'leapfrog') ...

[slowcoach]

Aug 7, 2015 21:02:02 GMT 2 Ethel Mertz said:

[It's a misconception that all dogs like to play with toys or balls.

It may be a learnt behaviour, or perhaps it is unlearnt at some stage but I have not had a rescued/abandoned dog that played with toys or would chase a ball unless food is involved.

It may also be cultural, in that here you won't find much in the way of dog toys in a pet shop, nor will you see people playing with pets.

Not all dogs get bored, some seem busy doing nothing but may in fact be actively engaged with the world laying around with their eyes shut waiting to spring into action.

[Ethel Mertz]

This boy isn't very food motivated. Praise, though, is another issue. He just loves doing things that please his Mom and garner praise, massage, or an outing.

[OnlyMark]

Aug 8, 2015 9:49:31 GMT 2 slowcoach said:

......some seem busy doing nothing but may in fact be actively engaged with the world laying around with their eyes shut waiting to spring into action.

I think I must be a dog.

[Ethel Mertz]

I think I must be a dog, too. I'm sometimes referred to as "bitch."

[tiltedflipcurves]

It is a little-known fact that "Scruffy's being psycho with Maria" was the working title of what became the opening number of "West Side Story."

(good luck with the critter)

[tzarine]

more good wishes for scruffy

tilted, that is brilliant