Mad Poodle

[js864]

My girlfriends dog is a poodle mix she bought from the humane society a little over a year ago.

He was abused by his previous owner and snaps at everybody who tries to take him out of his crate, but this is not the problem.

Just recently he started biting me very violently, when I try to play with him or put him up to leave. He only does this when she is not around, when she is home he is extremely nice and playful. Even with her home the dog refuses to listen to me, but hasnt been violent.

We have tried numerous things to let him understand I am not a threat to him or her. Ive talked to him tonal, nice, stern, mean and still no response from the dog. Ive tried petting him, playing with him, etc...

Also when my girlfiend is home with the dog he follows her every step, if she moves two feet, he moves two feet.

What is the problem and how can we fix this?

[ginger899]

Bump!

[Ghilly]

This is not all that unusual a behavior from a dog that was abused.  It could be any number of things that are making him this way, perhaps you remind him in some way (visually or maybe a familiar smell) of the person who abused him.  It could have been a man who abused him and he feels safe with your girlfriend around and that's why he's OK when she's there.  You just don't know.

The best way around this is positive reinforcement training.  Have your girlfriend boil up some chicken or make some treat that the dog REALLY adores.  Then YOU take the treat and feed it to him.  He doesn't get this treat from ANYONE but you.  

Don't make the crate be someplace that he goes only when he's going to be left alone for long periods.  It could be that he spent a lot of time in a crate at the hands of the abuser and connects you, when you try to put him away, with that.  Leave the crate door open and put comfy blankets in there.  When you're ready to feed him his dinner, put the bowl in the crate and let him eat in there.  Let him get used to the idea that when he goes into the crate, something good is going to happen and it's not just a case of him going into the crate and his owner disappearing.

I know this is going to be tough, but you MUST maintain a calm demeanor at all times.  Don't raise your voice to him, as much as you might want to at times.  He has to learn to see you as someone who is on his side.  There are several people here who are GREAT with behavior problems, hopefully they will be along soon to offer you some more suggestions.

Ghilly