Gun Dog Forum

My girlfriend got a job at one until she can find something in her field and as a result our dogs go during the work days for free. Apparently my un-altered male Britt gives them a lot of grief humping all the other males, etc. He isn't the only un-altered gun dog there but "acts up" the most. Going to give her the collar today and use it for hump avoidance work. Not sure how this will go but I'm going about it the same way you would chasing deer. No, there are no dogs in heat allowed, but even so it is still scarry to think about my dog making mutts!

You do know his humping is not sexual but dominance over other dogs. I am sure the females dogs that attend are spayed as most pet dogs are. The E-collar should work well to correct him.

If he get's it with the e-collar while he's in the act, you could start a real dog fight if you dog thinks it's being attacked. Why not just leave him home durning the week. Cost you the same as doggie day care.

This is a dominance behavior and he should not be allowed to play with dogs he wants to dominate. Any and ALL corrective measures need to be taken to curb this behavior, from time out, crate time, one on one training time and avoidance. If not put in check now it will carry forward into the field if you ever hunt with friends and their dogs. Curious....how old is your boy?

I think the collar is a bad idea, I think a grab by the scruff of the neck and a good scolding, consistently is a better idea, certainly better than trying to trash break him like for deer. Just need to be consistent and watch him like a hawk until the behaviour extinguishes. If he tries to hump the wrong dog you will have a dog fight, like was mentioned before if you juice him for humping you could also have a dog fight. I disagree with leaving the dog at home, it is good socialization and will wear him out, and it is fun for him. Just needs to learn some manners, the only reason I would leave him home is if he just doesn't like or is indifferent with other dogs.

I wish I could quote everyone in line but its too much trouble

Q1 A: My dog is 14 months, and has always had dominance issues (started humping me at 8 weeks), he has the people side of that worked out very well. The doggy side is tough, he got a lot of socialization when younger (TONS) and I think he would naturally get put in his place, apparently not so.

Q2 A: He has dominance issues, but only with dogs that don't show him they mean business (he will coward instead of fight, even if he thought a shock was an attack, I think his fight or flight would say FLIGHT against a jolt that intense)

ALSO, I should say that this is important to nip in the butt like noted above in case I go hunting with other guys and their dogs. The collar jerk and scold my GF says aren't working (they won't let me back there? not sure why....) Maybe a collar spin would work, I'll have her do that before the collar and see what happens.

FINAL NOTE the dog my 35lb britt loves to hump most? a 125lb+ leonberger Can you say - One Bite

My dog is not aggressive, just has this dominance issue (blamed on his balls of course, which I do understand if they were gone it would help tremendously, just not willing)

GF says he has gone to timeout a lot and it doesn't seem to work

I would not use an E collar either...

I know you don't like The dog whisperer but like him or not his methods work.

There are so many signs that a dog does before they ever get to the point of being close enough to display dominance and such...Your dog needs to have his attention redirected at the time he is eying the other dog

by the time they are but sniffing and putting heads over the shoulders you have allowed the process to go to far

kninebirddog wrote:I would not use an E collar either...

I know you don't like The dog whisperer but like him or not his methods work.

There are so many signs that a dog does before they ever get to the point of being close enough to display dominance and such...Your dog needs to have his attention redirected at the time he is eying the other dog

by the time they are but sniffing and putting heads over the shoulders you have allowed the process to go to far

It seems like redirecting his attention wouldn't address the actual problem. Only end up in an endless loop of redirecting.

+1 K9

I have serious doubts snipping him will help. I also don't think you have much to worry about in the field. If the dog is worth his salt and knows there are birds to be found when you put him down he isn't going to give the other dog the time of day.

Winchey wrote:+1 K9

I have serious doubts snipping him will help. I also don't think you have much to worry about in the field. If the dog is worth his salt and knows there are birds to be found when you put him down he isn't going to give the other dog the time of day.

He doesn't give our other dog notice at all when we go on hikes together. I agree on this one. General consensus is to not use collar so I won't, there is another brittany at the daycare that has to be collared for this same problem (all the intact dogs hump apparently, my dog just so happens to be the worst) but I doubt they use avoidance level stim and I simple lvl3 just wouldn't get much done in the long run I don't think. What does everyone think about the spin and drop?

isonychia wrote:My girlfriend got a job at one until she can find something in her field and as a result our dogs go during the work days for free. Apparently my un-altered male Britt gives them a lot of grief humping all the other males, etc. He isn't the only un-altered gun dog there but "acts up" the most. Going to give her the collar today and use it for hump avoidance work. Not sure how this will go but I'm going about it the same way you would chasing deer. No, there are no dogs in heat allowed, but even so it is still scarry to think about my dog making mutts!

Dangeroususe of the collar. Her dog could think the correction is coming from the dog he is humping and all heck could break loose.

The behaviour has already become habit so that is why I don't think altering will help. I haven't witnessed much evidence to suggest that unaltered dogs are much less prone to hump anyways. He will continue to do what he is able to get away with. Just stay on top of it, be consistent and he will get it, eventually...

I run a doggie day care and cageless boarding facility. We get these dogs in with this behavior from time to time and they are a pain to deal with. Neutered or not, male or female... doesn't seem to matter.

With some dogs it's a dominance thing, with other dogs it appears to just be misdirected play behavior. But no matter what the reason, the other dogs don't like it and it can lead to an injury to someone. When I see that behavior starting, I stop it quick and let the dog no that it will not be tolerated by ME! Some dogs get it, some just never will.

I would not use an e-collar for this. As others have said, using an e-collar could start a fight real quick. Instead, your GF needs to follow him around and stop it before it even starts! She should be able to see him getting ready... he will approach another dog with his head up, body tense, might appear playful. He might dance around, whine.... it's at that time that he needs correction, not after he has climbed aboard!

Give him a good poke in the ribs at the moment he gets that look in his eye! Carry a pooper scooper around and use that to extend her reach. Once she has his attention, then redirect him to chase a ball, or chew a bone.

If it's a play behavior gone astray, he will grow out of it and learn how to play appropriately with other dogs. If it's a dominance bahavior he will start a fight and with luck get his butt kicked! But either way..... it's not good in a daycare or group situation. If it's allowed to continue he could become an obnoxious dog when other dogs are around. Not something you want with a hunting dog that is going to run with other dogs.

If he is going to continue to attend, it's up to GF to change it,
Good luck
Fuzz

fuzznut wrote:I run a doggie day care and cageless boarding facility. We get these dogs in with this behavior from time to time and they are a pain to deal with. Neutered or not, male or female... doesn't seem to matter.

With some dogs it's a dominance thing, with other dogs it appears to just be misdirected play behavior. But no matter what the reason, the other dogs don't like it and it can lead to an injury to someone. When I see that behavior starting, I stop it quick and let the dog no that it will not be tolerated by ME! Some dogs get it, some just never will.

I would not use an e-collar for this. As others have said, using an e-collar could start a fight real quick. Instead, your GF needs to follow him around and stop it before it even starts! She should be able to see him getting ready... he will approach another dog with his head up, body tense, might appear playful. He might dance around, whine.... it's at that time that he needs correction, not after he has climbed aboard!

Give him a good poke in the ribs at the moment he gets that look in his eye! Carry a pooper scooper around and use that to extend her reach. Once she has his attention, then redirect him to chase a ball, or chew a bone.

If it's a play behavior gone astray, he will grow out of it and learn how to play appropriately with other dogs. If it's a dominance bahavior he will start a fight and with luck get his butt kicked! But either way..... it's not good in a daycare or group situation. If it's allowed to continue he could become an obnoxious dog when other dogs are around. Not something you want with a hunting dog that is going to run with other dogs.

If he is going to continue to attend, it's up to GF to change it,
Good luck
Fuzz

Already advice from the source! Yeah I'm not sure if it is misdirected play behavior or a combination of the two actually. Eitherway it sounds like from what your saying she is already doing all of the right things. Apparently he is a big pain in the "bleep" for them (so much so that before she worked there and I had to board my dog they almost told me not to bring him back) I think after a week or two he might start to get it.

Pee on him..... Nuff said!