Aggression Issues

[BTmom]

My Chi who is turning 7 soon apparently needs to be worked with.
She's never ever aggressive towards me and I can do anything to her that I want and she won't care.

But she can be mean to other people other than me. When my MIL is holding onto her and she wants to be released, she will snap. Not bite, but growl and act like she's going to bite but she hasn't bitten. My MIL is scared of being bit and pulls back everytime. I've went over the alpha and who's boss thing with her but evidently, she doesn't really listen. She just spoils Chichi like no tomorrow.

Meanwhile, my dog has learned thru everyone in the family that she can get things done HER way if she snaps. Everyone is scared so they give in or obey or let her go each time she loses it. She hasn't bitten before but I wouldn't say she WOULDNT do it either.

She's almost 7 y/o now and i feel like an AWFUL dog owner, like I haven't trained her properly. I yell NO!!! each time she does it but it doesn't seem to be working at all. I think the trick here is the person whom she's snapping at has to change their way in general towards her but...easier said than done, esp when they don't seem or want to understand how a dog pack works.

Is this something I can train her out of myself? I dont know how because she's a complete angel to me. She did the same thing to me when she was younger but I learned how to be more 'dominant' and we havent had a problem since.

opinions? Training tips?

 

[lizzybeth727]

Is this something I can train her out of myself?

Not really, I think you need to be more proactive in training OTHERS how to handle your dog.

But she can be mean to other people other than me. When my MIL is holding onto her and she wants to be released, she will snap.

If there is a chance that your dog could bite another person (and growling and snapping means that there is a chance), that person does not need to be handling your dog. The problem is that first, you will have a lawsuit on your hands (not to mention a ruined friendship). But more importantly, every time your dog gets rewarded for this bad behavior (by getting what she wants), it only makes the behavior stronger. If your MIL wants to hold your dog, only let her hold her for VERY short periods of time - like 15-30 seconds. And then BE THE BOSS and MAKE HER put YOUR dog down on the floor. You want to make sure she goes back down BEFORE she really wants to, that way she'll enjoy getting held more.

Meanwhile, my dog has learned thru everyone in the family that she can get things done HER way if she snaps. Everyone is scared so they give in or obey or let her go each time she loses it. She hasn't bitten before but I wouldn't say she WOULDNT do it either.

Same thing here, don't let ANYONE interract with your dog unless they know and will follow the rules. It's just like training a dog - if your family wants to see the dog, they have to follow your rules. If they don't follow the rules, something they like (playing with the dog) gets taken away until they can learn how to listen to you.

I yell NO!!! each time she does it but it doesn't seem to be working at all. I think the trick here is the person whom she's snapping at has to change their way in general towards her but...easier said than done, esp when they don't seem or want to understand how a dog pack works.

You're absolutely right. The "NO!" that you're yelling has absolutely no meaning to her when she's getting what she wants anyway. This is why it's so important to teach people that this is YOUR dog, not theirs, and they need to respect you and your rules. Yeah, they'll probably be a little upset that they can't get their way, but THEY are not your responsibility, your dog is.