Flyingfree777
Member
Hi all! Long Post here.
I have a 3.5 year old EM ( 150 lbs) She is spayed and has no medical issues. I have had her since she was 10 weeks old. I moved to Florida and got her while I was in an apartment. I bought a house about 9 months after I got her. At the apartment she was exposed to a lot of people and a lot of dogs. She was always uncomfortable with loud noises ( fireworks, thunder, and booms) or other dogs barking at her.
I decided to have a baby. I now have a 2 year old. She ignores the baby and I do not allow them to be together at all. Big dog, little baby. No need for them to be together.
Here are the issues:
1. Since moving in the house the fear of fireworks and thunder is out of control. She is terrified. Scratching doors, pacing, whining, and painting. Always looking for a place to escape or hide.
Loud noises in the neighborhood make her nervous in the backyard. Trash trucks, neighbors working, and sudden noise and she is scared. I would like her to be outside more with me to play and exercise. As soon as a noise happens, she wants back in.
I can't walk her in the neighborhood because a loud noise happens and she bolts. She can pull me down and I have actually had that happen. So, I have been doing walking in the backyard but the fear of every noise can be a problem when walking or playing.
She also has started lunging at other dogs or people if they startle her. She has been always super friendly with people and other dogs.
So basically she is scared of everything.
2. Now the next issue is food aggression. She will growl if there is food down and you walk into the room. She will bite if you get near the food. I am working with her by standing about 7 feet away, throwing treats, and keeping the feeding in a controlled environment. But there cannot be any mistakes. Food bowl on the counter and the cat walks by and she will go after the cat, I move to close before she has double checked that she is done and she will bite and lunge at me. She has snapped at me when giving her a treat. Simply put, she is a nasty girl when food comes out.
3. Biting or snapping if she is afraid of something. She was crate trained but has decided that her crate is evil and will not go into it. I though it would help with the thunder and fireworks. I tried a thunder shirt and she bit it when I tried to put it on her a second time. A trainer tried to put a backpack on her she allowed it the first time but then snapped at him when he tried a second time. She will fight to the death if you try to muzzle her.
I have had our vet check her out, nothing wrong. I have hired 2 trainers and behaviorist ~ Bark Busters ( that system did nothing...throwing something at a low confidence dog, not a great idea.). A positive reinforcement that wanted to use a lot of treats....food aggressive so not a good idea. The behaviorist wanted her leashed to me for 2 hours a day. Single working mom here. I don't have two hours to be totally away from my kiddo. I work from home while my kiddo plays in the living room. The dog can see us all day. I interact with her all day. She is fed 3 times a day Wellness Simple ( skin and ear allergies, only food that helps with that)
She has been trained and knows verbal and hand commands for come, down, sit, stay, shake, paw, speak, and heal. she doesn't pull on a leash while walking. Some days she is the most obedient dog but other days she will completely ignore me.
I am so willing to work with her and take plenty of time. She is my first mastiff but not my first giant. I have had Rotties, Dobermans, Chessies, Newfoundlands, all over 120 ponds. I would love if any of you would be willing to weigh in and recommend anything. Books, training routines, desensitization methods, Anything?
Thanks so much!
I have a 3.5 year old EM ( 150 lbs) She is spayed and has no medical issues. I have had her since she was 10 weeks old. I moved to Florida and got her while I was in an apartment. I bought a house about 9 months after I got her. At the apartment she was exposed to a lot of people and a lot of dogs. She was always uncomfortable with loud noises ( fireworks, thunder, and booms) or other dogs barking at her.
I decided to have a baby. I now have a 2 year old. She ignores the baby and I do not allow them to be together at all. Big dog, little baby. No need for them to be together.
Here are the issues:
1. Since moving in the house the fear of fireworks and thunder is out of control. She is terrified. Scratching doors, pacing, whining, and painting. Always looking for a place to escape or hide.
Loud noises in the neighborhood make her nervous in the backyard. Trash trucks, neighbors working, and sudden noise and she is scared. I would like her to be outside more with me to play and exercise. As soon as a noise happens, she wants back in.
I can't walk her in the neighborhood because a loud noise happens and she bolts. She can pull me down and I have actually had that happen. So, I have been doing walking in the backyard but the fear of every noise can be a problem when walking or playing.
She also has started lunging at other dogs or people if they startle her. She has been always super friendly with people and other dogs.
So basically she is scared of everything.
2. Now the next issue is food aggression. She will growl if there is food down and you walk into the room. She will bite if you get near the food. I am working with her by standing about 7 feet away, throwing treats, and keeping the feeding in a controlled environment. But there cannot be any mistakes. Food bowl on the counter and the cat walks by and she will go after the cat, I move to close before she has double checked that she is done and she will bite and lunge at me. She has snapped at me when giving her a treat. Simply put, she is a nasty girl when food comes out.
3. Biting or snapping if she is afraid of something. She was crate trained but has decided that her crate is evil and will not go into it. I though it would help with the thunder and fireworks. I tried a thunder shirt and she bit it when I tried to put it on her a second time. A trainer tried to put a backpack on her she allowed it the first time but then snapped at him when he tried a second time. She will fight to the death if you try to muzzle her.
I have had our vet check her out, nothing wrong. I have hired 2 trainers and behaviorist ~ Bark Busters ( that system did nothing...throwing something at a low confidence dog, not a great idea.). A positive reinforcement that wanted to use a lot of treats....food aggressive so not a good idea. The behaviorist wanted her leashed to me for 2 hours a day. Single working mom here. I don't have two hours to be totally away from my kiddo. I work from home while my kiddo plays in the living room. The dog can see us all day. I interact with her all day. She is fed 3 times a day Wellness Simple ( skin and ear allergies, only food that helps with that)
She has been trained and knows verbal and hand commands for come, down, sit, stay, shake, paw, speak, and heal. she doesn't pull on a leash while walking. Some days she is the most obedient dog but other days she will completely ignore me.
I am so willing to work with her and take plenty of time. She is my first mastiff but not my first giant. I have had Rotties, Dobermans, Chessies, Newfoundlands, all over 120 ponds. I would love if any of you would be willing to weigh in and recommend anything. Books, training routines, desensitization methods, Anything?
Thanks so much!