Brandy and her ISSUES

jaimie · #1 16th November 2005, 08:01 PM

I am just going to start off by saying I DID do a search and just need some more advice from my BW family!

Ok, we have had some issues with Brandy lately that have me worried. I love her to death don't get me wrong and she has always been a complete ANGEL. I think this all started when we got Zeus. I could never get rid of my dogs for something like this, I know I can work with her on the issues but I just need some HOPE I guess.

Ok, she started attacking other dogs, our neighbor came over and he didn't have his dog on a leash. Well $200 later she made the other dog need stitches on her ear. That was just the start of things, even though that was the idiots fault for not leashing his dog and letting her come in MY yard. That still doesn't tell me why Brandy, my laid back (or so I thought) girl that loves everyone is doing this. Then she started attacking Baylee & Zeus when there was food around. Not in the dog bowls but treats, anything that fell on the kitchen floor, or if the kids had a cookie or were eating something, she follows them and will attack the other dogs until it is gone. We are working with the kids on this, since it is mostly my 2 year old that she waits for crumbs with. But, I just don't understand, Zeus used to guard the food bowls, we have since seperated all of them during dinner time so no fights break out (mostly Zeus being the typical arrogant boxer boy)

But, I think this may have been the start of it and that is why Brandy wants to guard whoever has other food. Like Keely was sitting with me on my bed one morning with a granola bar. Brandy growled & chased Baylee and Zeus from the bed. Getting rid of my dogs is absolutely NOT an option. I could never do that to them. I am willing to do what I can to make this work, but giving up any of them won't work. If anyone has ANY suggestions please have at it. I would really appreciate it!

Oh, and I do have MINE by Jean Donaldson already and actually I am reading it AGAIN to see what I may have missed the first time.

hanley · #2 16th November 2005, 10:40 PM

Sounds to me like Brandy is giving orders in your house, what is the response of your other dogs, do they allow this behavior from her or is it a fight every time they don't mind Brandy? Hanley

jaimie · #3 17th November 2005, 05:01 PM

The other dogs do allow this behavior-in a way I guess. She is only like this with her treats and if the kids have something she wants. BUT, is perfectly fine when I am standing there with treats in my hand. Baylee and Zeus will try to go around Brandy when she is trying to be a little b*tch. Baylee backs off after Brandy's first warning but Zeus is like, Uh No there chicky I am not putting up with it that is when Zeus starts barking at Brandy and then it escalates from there into a fight because neither one of them will back down.

They are all spayed and neutered yes, when this other dog came into the yard Brandy was actually in the house and my friend was over with her kid at the time (she doesn't have any dogs so doesn't understand the whole situation) she opened the door to see why there was someone at the door, and the dogs all barrelled around her and got out. We have since remedied that situation now all of the dogs can't go out the front door since we have a hidden fence the goes directly infront of the front porch so they can't go farther than the front step. But this guy had his 2 kids with him and his dog was tagging along after him came into the yard right up to the front porch. All 3 of the dogs barrelled out the door & Brandy just LUNGED for the dog. Bit her ear and when I pulled Brandy off by the back legs she still had ahold of the dogs ear. So, this guys 2 kids were screaming cuz they were scared of the dogs and he picks them up and I had to control all the dogs. Although Baylee and Zeus were just kind of there at the time not doing anything.

I will try to find that Fiesty Fido booklet Thanks for the info

We are starting the NILIF right now so hopefully that will help things too.

jaimie · #4 17th November 2005, 05:10 PM

I have been talking to a trainer about this that is who told me to start the NILIF. Brandy went through obedience training a year or so ago, but I have actually been thinking about enrolling her in a private class with my current trainer. I do NOT want to enroll her in a class with other dogs though I have no idea where that would take us and would NOT want to chance it. I currently have Zeus in an obedience class and have been working with Brandy on the same things I am with Zeus.

All of my dogs are good with my kids, we watch them like hawks and have taught all the kids to respect the dogs space and food bowls (although the food bowls are not the problem Brandy is a resource guarder). My kids are old enough to understand the respect of the dogs (at least the 3 older ones) since I had previously fostered for my local rescue. The baby (2 1/2) follows the other kids and is learning/knows how to behave around the dogs especially with our watchful eyes.

jaimie · #5 19th November 2005, 05:15 PM

Brandy will be 3 in January.

Thanks for your input! We are going to do what we have to do to make things work. So far, since I have been changing things around here it has been peaceful. That doesn't say much considering it only has been a few days. But, at least it is a start.

Thanks,