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Post by darrenwhitley on Nov 12, 2003 1:48:05 GMT -5
My wife and I adopted a greyhound more than a month ago. Annie, our dog is a very good dog, but she bites me sometimes. She doesn't like being face to face with me and apparently that provokes the bite.
Does anyone have any ideas or experience with this?
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Post by Skye Pilot on Nov 12, 2003 7:20:29 GMT -5
With any dog, eye contact is a challenge of dominance. If you stare your dog in the eye, you are challenging your animal and she feels threatened thus causing the bite. She is a new animal and probably is not comfortable yet in the household. Until she is comfortable, don't go face to face with her.
You would be amazed at how much damage can happen from a dog bite. You wouldn't want to be bit in the face.
We raised a lot of wolf/husky crosses for our dog team and that was one of the first things my father taught me. Do not look the dominant dogs in the eye and watch their body for signals if they are uncomfortable with you. I can happily say that we never had a family member accident with 10-40 dogs at one time with the household.
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Post by SC on Nov 12, 2003 15:16:09 GMT -5
I would say she's uncomfortable and probably frightened. There is a great webboard just for grey owners at www.greytalk.com . I've read of a few instances similar to yours and they always seem to happen when the person is getting in the greyhounds face (esp. when sleepy or sleeping) or leaning over the greyhound (dominant position). From what I've gathered it can taken them a few months or more to be comfortable with the kind of closeness you're looking for with your new grey... another suggestion was using the Nothing In Life is Free (NILF) training methods... there was a link on greytalk recently to the site. More or less you teach the dog to sit calmly for treats or when you first get home (instead of jumping around) and they are rewarded with treats/affection, etc. They must obey ("work") to get meals, treats, etc. Supposedly it helps a lot with dominance/aggression issues as it asserts you as Alpha. |
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Post by SC on Nov 12, 2003 15:17:06 GMT -5
BTW - congrats on the new grey... I'm considering adopting one soon that's why I've been lurking on greytalk.  |
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Post by darrenwhitley on Nov 12, 2003 19:44:58 GMT -5
Everything sounds like those could be the causes. Last night I was over the top of her when she looked right up at me and bit my nose. She promptly ran to the bedroom where her pillow is after that. Previously she's bitten me when I kissed her belly while she was on the couch. Again, I was sorta over her. The other instances have occured when she was tired.
She often keeps her head down when she approaches me. She doesn't do that with my wife nearly as much.
I'm not used to her behavior because I grew up with Cocker Spaniels and my Great Uncle had Dashounds. The only times a cocker bit me was when it was protecting food or when they were a puppy playing. Both types of dogs are very affectionate and in your face. Not being in the face of a dog is new to me.
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Post by SC on Nov 13, 2003 10:12:14 GMT -5
From what I've read/been told, eventually she'll be seeking you out for kisses! However, it's all very new to her right now... I think she'll adjust if you give her time to decide on her own that you're not going to hurt her.... |
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Post by littleme2007 on Jun 28, 2004 19:36:37 GMT -5
I think maybe like they said shes scared of you. Shes probably not used to people being down beside/over her and with you being new to her and her new to your home she is probably confused. I had a puppy who would stay around my older male dog and when he would stand over the pup it would snap its teeth and run. The pup is over that now but maybe if you just tried rubbing/petting her and giving her treats for a while before trying to get really close to her it might her.
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Post by littleme2007 on Jun 28, 2004 19:38:10 GMT -5
Oops, I just read the date on the post.  Hope shes over it by now, like to hear an update! |
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