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We've been the behaviorist. I must say, I was quite impressed. We are moving his crate to the basement, moving his food to the living room (not frequented while he eats) and getting his attention before we move while he's sleeping around us. She did an exercise to see how he reacted and found he gets nervous, or cautious, when she approached him. She'd been treating him with Charley Bears the whole time and when she approached him he was hesitant to take them from him until I said "OK" (release word). So she tried it where she moved and he came to her and he took them fine. Nearly ALL of the advice we have been given has contributed to him thinking we are going to take his food or bad things will happen to him because we corrected him when he growled at us. She said this was his way of asking nicely to please be left alone and once he realized it only brought him more trouble, he skipped the growling and when straight to snarling. Now, when he growls while eating, we ignore him and do not approach him at all. When he's laying we get his attention first to distract him but if he growls still, we distract him by asking if he wants to go outside or some other way to get his mind off of growling without any negative reaction/results. She said eventually he'll learn we are not a threat and the growling should stop. Then we will be able to start moving closer. She gave us all kinds of techniques and blah blah blah.

It should be good. She did say he may have dominance issues under all of the current issues but the only way to tell is remove the current issues and wait till he gets older.

Kinda strapped for time so I'm going to bed.

C-YA!
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

I'm glad you found something that seems to be working I was skeptical about the behaviourist at first too but it was definitely worth it. I'm so happy that you all seem to have taken a turn for the better. Just don't get discouraged if he (or someone else) has a bad day.. Just hop back on the bandwagon and pretend it never happened - everyone has a bad day sometimes, and it doesn't reflect his overall progress. Good luck to you all

Thats great! I am so happy for you guys. This guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about. I wish you guys the best of luck with your new program, and I know with lots of love and patience you'll get along just fine. What the behaviorist said makes sense, and as long as you stick with the program (I know it must be hard since you've been pretty much doing the opposite) everyone should be happy, including Bruno. The behaviorist was right, it was just a matter of finding out what he was trying to say. Good luck and keep us posted!

Since we moved his dish to the living room we do not go in there while he's eating. He has started growling sooner and more often. I make him wait at the entrance to the living room, set his bowl down at the other end, then come back out and release him. He now growls on his way to the bowl as he walks past me. I must have given HUGE non-verbals because Susan was there and reminded me we are not allowed to do anything when he growls. What a HOLE! This better work in the long run or he may be snake food! Just kidding. By the way, here's my mother-in-law with Moses!

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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell