Screamer

[agilityk9trainer]

How long has he been screaming? Describe two examples of what triggers the screaming? Also describe your dog's non-verbal communication during the screaming episodes? What have you tried to stop the screaming? If the behavior is new, what started the behavior? In order to help, you must be very detailed and willing to type in a long post.

[Karen]

If this is a new problem, what prompted it, do you know? What triggers it? Have you tried reinforcing that you are the "alpha dog," so after he alerts you, his job is done? How do you react when he "screams" now? If you just scream back, that's gonna reinforce it as desirable behavior.

And if this has been going on for 12 years, it's gonna talk some serious work to curb it now!

[mr.chiwawa]

I had a similar issues with my chihuahua. He would cry and scream everytime i left the room. So I bought a cd thats made for sleep you can get them at wallmart or anywhere that sells cds. Anyway I would put him in his playpen before i left and turned the sleep cd on right before i left. he would cry for about 5 minutes then stop and settle right down. Maybe turning on a tv or radio so there is some nosie in the room. And lastly if you have someone else that is there have them hold her/him while you leave and talk in a soothing voice letting the dog know its ok and that you will be back soon.
Thats all I got hope it helps. If all of that fails i know that they sell plug in diffusers that can clam a pets nerves. Heres a link of what i'm talking about hope it all helps thats all i got
chi hugs---
http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...&N=2026138&Ne=2

[Canis-Lupess]

Maybe he is trying to drive other people and dogs away because he thinks they are to blame for any punishment he recieves as a result of his screaming.

The problem arises where a dog is being walked on a lead and another person or dog passes by and maybe your dog pulls towards them out of curiosity or other reason. Pups often go through a fear stage where they run up and bark at other people and dogs but don't actually go right up and attack. They usually turn and run away again with tails between their legs and they eventually grow out of it...provided the owner doesn't start reacting and teach the dog to get worse.

If you did anything unpleasant to the dog, no matter how slight, such as tightening the lead and maybe tugging on it a little or telling the dog off for pulling towards them, becoming anxious yourself etc...he will come to believe that he gets punished whenever other people or dogs pass by and this will make him want to drive them away quick when he sees them to try and avoid being punished again.
He doesn't realise he is being punished for his behaviour towards them, he thinks their presence alone is the reason.
If you start getting anxious when you see another person or dog approach, he will feel it and think you are being anxious about them and not about his behaviour and this will just reinforce his belief that they really are bad news.
If you tell him off, again, this does the same thing, he thinks you are joining in trying to drive the other person or dog away. In this case, you would actually be teaching him to become more aggressive rather than teaching him to stop being aggressive.

At his age, it might be very hard to change his view on these things but you need to start making the act of passing others a more pleasant experience for him. He needs to view the appearance of other dogs and people as a prelude to something good such as a treat or game with his fave toy. If he has a toy he loves, try to destract him from other dogs and people with that. If he does still have a go, keep calm and quiet but just hold firmly onto his lead but don't yank it or pull him about and keep walking at your usual pace.

[dixie100]

Thanks for you reply.
We have tried everything for years, from the ole pennies in a can, to spray bttles, to shock collars. {I am ashamed to confess}

Not sure of his demeanor while screaming. Seems like just excitment from seeing someone, wanting attention perhaps. However, if it is a larger dog, he has been known to bust loose and begin fighting, even though he is only about 12-14lbs. Does not show any signs of fear.

Any situation where there is new people, other dogs, is when this always happens.

[Canis-Lupess]

Ahaaa, I can bet the shock collar did the exact opposite to what you were hoping for. Thats what makes them so dangerous. The dog blamed the pain he experienced on the other people and dogs. No wonder he hates them so much.

No doubt he is trying to drive the other people and dogs away for the reasons I described above. If it was sheer excitement, he wouldn't attack other dogs when he managed to get loose. A dogs size has no bearing on whether they are afraid or not. I've had a tiny yorkshire terrier try attacking our Jess, a border collie...it regretted it. She didn't hurt it but she pinned it to the ground. It thought twice after that.