What do I do with a aggressive or Alpha dog?

Question

Rocky is 8 months old rat terrier min pin, and we have had him since he was six weeks old. Up until this past week he has been very loving dog. We could pick him up and pet him whenever we wanted. But now he nips when we try to pick him up or pet him unless he wants to be petted. What is the best way to break him of this?

Answer 1

Obedience, obedience, obedience... you need to teach him that nipping is not acceptable behavior and that you, not him are in control.  He needs to be scolded with a firm NO and then ignored.  If he keeps it up, consider isolating him / time out for a couple of minutes.  Dogs crave inclusion and when you take it away, you are setting yourself a its "master"/alpha.  

Also, consider doing other things that sets your dominance, ie. making the dog sit or lay down on command before being fed; feed your own family food before the dog gets its own; make it sit and wait to be invited in or out the door with the humans always crossing the threshold first.

You can also lay the dog on its side and make it stay there in a subservant position until released.  With a dog this size, this can probably be done with ease of one hand.  Another technique to display dominance over the dog is to stand behind it and lift the dog up so that its back is to your chest and its front paws are still on the ground and the front paws are up.  You wait until the body sort of goes limp (submission).  This position is for larger dogs, so you may have to adapt for this smaller breed, but same idea.

Answer 2

Exercise and a dog obedience class. Also check out Cesar Millans website. This is more about you than the dog....

Answer 3

First thing is he neutered? If not, get him neutered. Also you need to extablish that you are the Alpha and not him. Take him to an Obedience Class.  

Answer 4

Why are you assuming this is in any way associated with 'alpha' dog status?

If this is a sudden behavioral change, it's probably more likely medical or possibly age related (adolescence - are we having fun yet?).

And instead of asking 'how can we break him of this?' the better question might be why is he doing it (what's driving the behavior) and what can we do to teach him an alternative/acceptable behavior instead.

Teaching dogs what is acceptable is much easier than teaching him what isn't.

Basic obedience classes are a good solution for all of you to learn how to work with a dog and for the dog to learn what is expected of him.

Answer 5

the thing i did is (when my pup started all alpha on me, and biting pants and leg) , i take het mouth and hold them closed untill puppy cryed.i know it sounds ruthless but it didnt hurt her, she just learned that biting really hurts and she made that noise when she had enough.now when shes playful, she jumps around my leg and slightly hitting my leg with her nose, but NEVER bites, she is tempted, but doesant do it. also that maneuver of mine helped with the alpha question

anyway, my cousin is a vet, and i picked that from her. she did that 3-4 times and abba never bites her

Answer 6

Sounds to me like he has established himself as the dominant dog in the family.  In his world it is okay to tell you to bugger off... he makes the rules... and he decides when he wants to pay attention to you.  This can definitely become a very frustrating problem.  You have to regain your dominance from him.  Try holding him down on his back (not hurting him) and see his reaction.  If he gets upset and tries desperately to get up this is definitely his issue... you should hold him there until he gives in.

When he nips at you give a firm NO BAD DOG! You should still pick him up.  Don't let him get away with nipping at you and you listening by leaving him alone.  He needs to learn that you make the rules and it is unexceptable to bite you.  It's okay if he walks away, or goes to his crate (because they need alone time just like us) but he cannot nip!

I would definitely consider discussing this with a good obedience trainer or dog behavioust.  

Answer 7

Being a dog owner is one thing, being a responsible dog owner is another, you have to remember that a dog no matter how it is brought up has a pack mentality, you have to be the alpha dog, show it that you are in control, there are so may ways that you can do that such as eating before you feed him, not letting him walk in front of you when you take it for a walk and not letting it show agression, but all this is something you have to learn, after all we aren't from a pack. I found the dog whisperer to be an excellent example of how to learn about being an alpha dog.