Help Pom and Papillon Experts

[MasonMom]

I am in need of advice. I have a Papillon/Pomeranian mix. I adopted a precious little dog from a rescue about a year ago. He has become my constant companion, which is a good thing, but he also has a great deal of fear aggression. He will snap at anyone who tries to pet him, unless it is myself, my husband or my one daughter (he even snaps at my other daughter). I had believed that I could just keep a close watch on things and keep him away from kids, but Friday I had a friend's children spending the night. The one child attempted to pick Darby up, and he bit her in the face. She needed 2 stitches on her cheek. I tell kids not to pick him up or pet him, but I think he's too irresistable because he's so cute. That opened my eyes and I realized no matter how close of a watch I keep on things, something will always slip thought the cracks. The problem is that I have children (of all ages) at my house all the time.

I called the original rescue and they said he should be put down. I am meeting with a rescue friend next week and she is going to evaluate him, she is a GSD rescuer. I am looking for an experienced Pom or Pap person. Is there a way to train Poms that is different from other dogs? Do you think this dog can be saved? I have bought a muzzle until we see what we can manage. My husband doesn't want to keep the dog because of liability. Is this normal behavior for this breed and can I train him not to do this and try to adopt him out.

This is hard for our family because our other dog just go run over by a car and didn't survive. I really need advice!

[ginagt]

Hi,
You might try some clicker training with you dog. Here is a link for a good clicker training book that deals specially for aggresive dogs to both human and other dogs. Hope this helps.


http://www.clickertraining.com//tra...ocalm/index.htm

[wolflady]

First, welcome to Pet Talk! :) I'm sorry to hear about Darby's fear aggression. It's really hard to tell if this can be trained out of him, but I think it's worth a shot. Since he is a rescue, this behavior probably stems from previous abuse. Do you know anything about his background?
Consult with a canine behaviorist/trainer. They should be able to give you some advice.

**hugs**

P.S. He really is a cutie, no wonder people want to pick him up! :o He sort of resembles my little Priya! :)

[Pit Chick]

Originally posted by MasonMom
My husband doesn't want to keep the dog because of liability. Is this normal behavior for this breed and can I train him not to do this and try to adopt him out.

Until you can have him evaluated by a behaviorist, I would keep him crated or locked in a bedroom when you have visitors because your husband is right, this is a liability. Just imagine if Darby was a big dog, there would be no question about having him put to sleep and while he may not be much of a danger to bigger kids and adults, he is very dangerous to a toddler. I don't know a lot about either breeds, but from what I've seen with a lot of Poms I've met, they aren't very cuddly dogs and can have a tude. I have a rescued Pom/Pekingese mix at home and he has a Nepoleon Complex. Whoever previously owned him obviously let him have his own way all the time and never set boundaries or training and he growls and snaps if you try to make him do something he doesn't want to. He's getting better now that he knows he can't get away with anything at my house.

If you are able to remedy the problem then there shouldn't be any reason to get rid of him and if you do get rid of him you are only giving the problem to someone else who may not handle it as well as you.

[MasonMom]

Just wanted to thank everyone who replied. I am going to contact my rescue friend and have her evaluate him. I really don't know anything about him before he was rescued. They found him wondering. I can tell he was a pet though, he was housebroken and walked well on a leash.

He does look like Priya, what breed is she?