From: ALI00JEV@UNCCVM.UNCC.EDU (Judith Van Noate)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Please send advice about Dacshund!
Date: 14 Dec 92 21:45:47 GMT
Organization: UNC Charlotte

In article <18365@mindlink.bc.ca>
Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca (Valaria Vorlop) writes:
 
>
>I posted a mesasage asking for advice about my friend's neurotic Dacshund,
>Max, but I haven't had any replies yet :(
>
>In case you missed the message, the dog was cured of his overly submissive
>attitude and submissive urination problem. Then, suddenly, the dog began
>exhibiting very odd agressive behavior in the form of snapping and growling.
>He also began pooping on and under the beds and would no longer 'go' outside.
>When crated, he put his butt to the door and pooped through the bars.
>He does not respond submissively to an alpha roll.
>
>I have more info now on the bite incident. The dog was lying on the floor
>with one off Lee's little boys and the boy rolled over, AWAY from the dog.
>The dog jumped up and bit him under the eye, not breaking the skin. After
>this, the dog became VERY submissve, even before anybody could make a move to
>discipline him.
>
>Since this dog had an abused puppyhood, found by Lee nearly dead in a shed, I
>am worried that he's just a couple beers short of a six-pack and may never be
>a very safe dog to have around the kids. I have suggested a trip to the vet
>to check for possible physical problems, but that the family might have to
>face having him euthanised. Can anybody suggest possible causes for this
>behaviour and any way we could go about changing it? Or do you think this dog
>is just too unsafe to take more chances with? I would normally think it was a
>dominance problem, but he seems to jump so much between dominance and
>submissiveness that I can't help thinking there is more to it than that.
>--
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   ********************************************
>Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca   *For YEARS I wondered what ceiling wax was.*
>or:      a4080@mindlink.bc.ca   ********************************************
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                        *******
 
Valaria,
This sounds like a fear biting problem to me.  A dog behaviorist may be
able to help.  The dog was probably scared of the child's sudden
movement--thought the child was going to hurt him.  The dominance
behavior on the part of the **owner** probably made it worse.  This
dog probably thinks (based on his past experience) that everyone is
going to hurt him.  He needs very gentle handling.  Right now he is
probably not safe with children.  Is there any possibility that they
could find him a home with just adults, and not just adults, but
people with experience with dogs??  A very hard task indeed.  I live
with several fear biters and know how to deal with them, but I would
not place one of my dogs in a home with children, or in a home that
did not have experience with dogs.  If they could find a councilor
for problem dogs, this might be a solution.  This dog needs to have
his confidence built up.  He needs no sudden movements.  he needs to
be reassured with "sweet talk."  If he has a stable temperament
underneath an environmentally induced fear he may be able to come
around.  If his fear is genetic he will need careful and gentle
handling for the rest of his life.
Judith