Dog Getting Into Tight Places And Barking

[su888]

Folks, our 6 month y/o staffy has recently developed some kind of behavioral problem. He normally sits on his chair when we watch tv during the evening and would quite comfortably do this. However, on 2 - 3 occasions now he runs behind the sofa or into the spare room and under the bed (tight spaces) and would bark aggressively at us. We have told him off "bad boy" and tried to pull him out but he would attack us and bitten us on two occasions. Instantly we have taken him to the back part of the house were he stays (unattended) and either lock him up in the crate or just leave him alone.

What should we do? Is locking him in the crate (20 minutes) or so the right thing to do?

Or anything we are missing that he is signaling to us?

[persephone]

I would strongly suggest you contact a recommended trainer to come to your house and work with you & your pup- so you can understand what is happening,and learn ways of managing it.

Aggression is urgent and needs personal and professional help- not internet advice.

if you tell us where you're located , we can try & suggest someone for you .

[Cosmolo]

What persephone said. In the meantime, DON'T try and grab him out from these tight spaces- either wait until he comes out on his own or lure him out with something he likes. Don't get close enough to him for him to so much as growl.

[persephone]

Oh.. and shut the spare room door :D.

Until you get help... as Cosmolo advises.. do not try & get him out... or lock him into time out ...

I would suggest just ignore..and make sure there is a treat available when he DOES come out by himself.

NO growling at him or anything.

you really do need to work with a professional.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I think your staffy has just hit the age of doggy adolescence.

At this time they can become more fearful of stuff that didn't bother them before, or just push boundaries.

I agree with the others, block his access to the tight spaces - I take it he's not stuck. If you have a crate - put it where he can easily get to it and cover the sides of it so he can go there when he's feeling insecure instead of behind the couch.

Also if you tell him off for doing this - you act big and scary and threatening and just re-inforce his need for a safe place. Much better to act really exciting, friendly and attractive (roast chicken and games here), to encourage him to come out. Play without him like you're having the best fun ever. Don't talk to him or tell him off unless he comes out, and then loads of praise. Don't coddle him or talk to him if he acts scared of something that is not scary (to you).

Is there anything on the telly - eg an advert - that is triggering the behaviour? Consider having him on lead while relaxing so you can control where he can go. Though I think it's better to let him go and let him figure out for himself there was nothing to be worried about.

If you just want him to be quiet when he's behind the couch or whatever, teach him to speak then quiet between barking - and do this while he's happy and relaxed.

Also if you must get him out from where he's at, consider hooking a lead on and using that to drag him out not your hand. Or use a water pistol. But you risk bad "fall out" from doing this ie he will start some new undesirable behaviour.

[corvus]

I remember seeing almost the exact same thing with a 12 week old puppy that eventually became too aggressive towards people and other dogs to manage. Don't let him practise behaviour like this! Do whatever you can to manage his environment so that he can't hide under things. Consider letting him trail a leash attached to his collar for moments things go wrong. Or teach him what a fun game it is to come when you call him.

I don't engage in 'battles' I might not win with my dogs. If they want to play silly buggers I will walk away and leave them to it. They generally find it's not so fun without me. If I really need them to do what they're told right now I shamelessly bribe them and then train them to do what I want them to do on command using lots of treats so I don't have to bribe them the next time.