Why does my rescue dachshund bite my husband when it gets dark?

Good question, and I commend you for seeking the input from a behaviorist to help Barney! The main thing for you to do in the meantime is to protect him from those situations that are fearful to him. From the brief description, it sounds like you should avoid having him meet new people for now, especially men, which might mean not taking him out in as many different environments, and if new people come to the house he should be put somewhere quiet and comfortable where he can relax (probably in a familiar bedroom). The more he is in those situations that he perceives as fearful and allowed to go through his fear response, the more of a habit it becomes for him - and it will make it more challenging for you to correct the problem once the behaviorist is on board. I know it's frustrating because it sounds like you are dedicated to working on this with him - but I think it's worth protecting him in this way until you have input from the expert to help guide you. Hope this helps - good luck!

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Alfie! Owner-directed aggression is a complex behavior issue that really needs in-person guidance. In general, I can tell you that treatment for this problem typically involves identifying situations that tend to trigger the aggression - then either finding ways to avoid them, or working with Alfie to teach him to be more comfortable with these situations so that he doesn't feel the need to bite. All training should be positive and reward-based, as punishment often makes things worse over time and greatly increases the risk of being bitten. I would recommend asking your vet for referral to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Alfie in person, and help you put together a detailed plan to work on his aggression issues.

It may go either way but I would doubt she has an aggressive nature or the start of your companionship would have not been so well. It may have been too many changes too quickly without letting her adapt. A new environment, people and another pet was overwhelming. It is best to keep her quiet and away until she starts to trust you again and not act aggressive. Once that happens, slowly introduce her to new people and let her explore the environment then let her be around the other pet. She will be scared and stress to start so go slow and be patient.

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Buffy. It's not unusual for behavioral issues to take a few weeks to show up in a newly adopted dog - there is often a "honeymoon period" while they're still getting comfortable and adjusting to their new home, before these issues start to emerge. Aggression towards other dogs and humans is a complex behavioral issue that's difficult to address properly in a forum like this, but I can try to give you some general information that may be helpful. Treatment for aggression issues is generally based on identifying what situations tend to trigger the aggressive behavior - then either finding ways to avoid them, or working with the dog to teach her to respond differently using reward-based training techniques. If this is something you want to work on, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Buffy in person and help you put together a detailed treatment plan to address her aggressive behavior. For now, if the aggression only happens with dogs and people she doesn't know, I would recommend keeping her separated from visitors for now until you are able to get a more detailed plan in place to work on the problem. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

What a beautiful thing to do to adopt Joey Jax and give him a forever home, despite his issue. You are his hero. I can offer you some tactics to attempt, however, my best advice is that because we don't know what poor Joey Jax has been through to make him become aggressive, it would be a great idea to have an appointment with an animal behaviourist. They can monitor his reactions and analyse his overall demeanour and give you advice tailored specifically to Joey Jax. I also recommend a once over form a veterinarian to ensure there aren't any underlying medical conditions causing pain for example. Try the following; Exercise twice daily Reward positive interactions Stop interacting if any unpleasant interactions occur No harsh tones or striking as contributes to the problem No negative punishment Interactive games like fetch and hide and go seek Thunder coat Keep away from other dogs and people while you are helping him adjust Remember kindness begets kindness. So over time if Joey Jax is treated well he will expect kindness and therefore return it with kindness not fear aggression. The key is making him feel secure and loved. Best of luck with Joey Jax

Aggression and fear are complicated. Some dogs can make some progress with appropriate guidance and consistency. For such guidance you will need to work with a trainer or a behaviorist. They must show you how to read his body language and how to respond in a fashion to modify their behavior. Certainly you can read many books about training and canine behavior as it is all helpful but likely you will still need professional assistance. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Unfortunately aggression is a very complex topic and one not likely to be fixed without a trainer. Because it is multifactoral- Dobby’s temperament, your temperament, Dobby’s experiences, your experiences, the environment- your surest, fastest and safest bet is to work with a trainer or behaviorist. Basically, the trainer will watch you and Dobby’s, paying attention to how you react to each other and the environmental stimulus. The trainer will then work with both of you to modify both of your behaviors to meet a common goal. The humane society can often recommend a trainer/behaviorist. Otherwise go online and read ratings and reviews. There are several different training methods so you will need to find the one that works best for you and your pup. You should also pick up a book about canine behavior and training so that you can learn to read his body language. I hope this at least points you in the right direction. Please post again with any further questions.