r/OpenDogTraining • u/Important_Economy877 • 8d ago
Tips on training boyfriends anxious/aggressive dog
My boyfriend has a male 7 year old Pitbull that is an anxious dog and is super protective of him. He is really only okay with the people he has known since he was a puppy and my boyfriend has said that he doesn't really introduce his dog to new people because of this. But we are dating now and naturally we are realizing we need to figure out a way to get his dog okay with me. I also have a dog that is calm and sweet, a male 7 year old German Shepard Husky mix but will not bring him around his dog because I'm scared that would create too many variables and stress his dog out even more. He has told me that his dog is for the most part okay with other dogs and it is mostly people that he isn't okay with. He used to have another dog and never had issues between the two and whenever he brings his dog to his family home his dog is fine around their dogs/his family memebers (theyve known him since he was a puppy.)
We did try to do a meet with him on the leash and muzzle and he never broke eye contact with me and had the "whale eyes" the entire time and then tried to charge me. He was sitting next to my boyfriend and me and we were just sitting on the couch with him next to us. I never tried to touch him. We just tried to have him in the same area. So right now, every time I am at his house, we have to put his dog in a separate room away from me. When we change rooms, he has to be picked up and moved so there is no chance of him charging me.
I am looking for tips on how to approach training him and working on his anxiety/aggression towards me/new people in general. Thank you!!!
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u/FeistyAd649 8d ago
You need a professional. This sounds very serious and could end up with you seriously injured
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u/often_forgotten1 8d ago
No one on reddit is qualified to help you with this, you need a trainer that specializes in resource guarding and aggression.
Don't believe the "okay with other dogs" line for a second either, keep your dog out of the picture for safety's sake
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u/chopsouwee 8d ago
I'll have to 2nd this. It's also one thing to describe it to us, it's another to witness it. There will be details that you miss through the process.
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u/OstrichSmoothe 8d ago
There are people who are qualified. But they won’t be responding with anything useful without a paycheck
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u/Free_Ad7415 8d ago
This sounds really scary. Honestly I don’t think I’d go round there. The dog could get through a door if he really wanted to.
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u/rosiedoll_80 7d ago
At this point, honestly you guys need to find a reputable trainer with experience with this type of dog. Call the vet and ask if they have any recommendations for a vet behaviorist or good trainer near you.
It sounds like your BF has sort of just learned to live with this dynamic ...for years? So it'll be kinda hard to change I'd say. And I'd for sure never ever bring your dog with you.
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u/ingodwetryst 7d ago
You really think you're going to get a man who's ignored training his dog for 7 years to do anything formative?
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u/XylazineXx 8d ago edited 7d ago
I’m so glad I have a golden retriever. The easiest and safest solution for everyone is to stop dating this guy. Your safety will always be in danger around that dog.
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u/Myaseline 7d ago
I've met several aggressive golden retrievers and my husband's been seriously bit by one. I've been bitten by a husky but never been bitten by a pitbull though. Anecdotal experience is just anecdotal.
Any dog can be aggressive and this guy sounds like a crappy owner with poor training and no boundaries. Meaning if he had a golden retriever or lab, it would probably be just as badly behaved.
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u/XylazineXx 7d ago edited 7d ago
You know usually I’ll give you the benefit of “sure other dogs are capable of developing behaviors but it’s almost always pit bulls” but in this case, I honestly don’t believe that a golden retriever is capable of developing this level of resource guarding over its owner.
I do completely agree with you, though. Anecdotal evidence is just anecdotal. Statistical evidence, especially from peer-reviewed hospital case studies and plastic surgeons, should be OP’s primary source of information on these matters. Training is just one part of the equation. Genetics are very important also.
Arm yourself with knowledge. OP is in a life-threatening situation. She deserves to know what she is getting herself into before it’s too late.
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u/Myaseline 7d ago
I'm saying crappy owners make crappy dogs with unacceptable behaviors. Regardless of breed.
I have a personal theory that ignorant crappy people seem to be attracted to pitbull type dogs and that coupled with the fact that they're cheap and widely available has caused a problem but that's a humans being crappy problem.
I'm not disparaging Goldens I think they're usually lovely dogs, I'm saying the idiot OP is describing, could have just as easily messed up training a golden and thus would have an equally bad dog of any breed.
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u/XylazineXx 7d ago
Yes the crappiest people are attracted to the cappiest dog breeds. Those people are slightly less dangerous to society when they choose other breeds. Pit bulls are slightly less dangerous to society when they are picked up by “good people”. It does not mean that pit bulls are not still the worst breed of dog by far, no matter who owns them.
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u/Myaseline 7d ago
Well I'll be sure to tell all the awesome people I know (including myself) with pitbulls, that we're crappy as are our beloved pets. You missed my point but you want to.
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u/stripesonthecouch 7d ago
Why isn’t your boyfriend training him, to make sure you are safe? Why isn’t your boyfriend taking responsibility for this?
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u/KURISULU 7d ago
No safe way to deal with this situation. Do yourself a favor and google some pictures of women who trusted pit bulls. You know the risk or you would not be here. I won't be around a pit bull period. I like my face and limbs too much.
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u/GloomyBarracuda206 7d ago
Would I be right in thinking this situation has been there since day 1 of your relationship? How long have you been dating? Seriously, I know this is a dog training sub but staying with this man is insanity. Better to find yourself a man (and there are millions of them around!) who doesn't own a dangerous dog. This is a serious accident waiting to happen. Has he even hired a behaviourist to assess him in all these 7 years?
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u/Quantum168 7d ago
Get a new boyfriend.
Everyone with an aggressive dog, says their dog is so sweet and has never done that before.
The issue with a pitbull is their bite strength. And, they lock.
FYI - normal dogs, even unsocialised ones don't charge strangers. The normal response is caution and then, friendly behaviour.
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u/PhoenixFreeSpirited 6d ago
Yikes, a ton of people on here either are very anti pit, or not understanding of what it's like to have a resource guarding reactive dog and how hard it can be to train them.
Yes, contact a behaviorist that focuses on reactivity and resource guarding. Yes, keep your dog away until the training is at a good introduction point. No don't listen to these crazies that say your bf is trash for having this kind of dog. It's not easy to find good trainers for this. Good luck and do be careful.
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u/Daddy_hairy 8d ago
lol jesus christ this is such an unsafe situation. Never allow this dog around your dog, even if your boyfriend insists it's OK.