Guarding issues while asleep

[Loopy2347]

Hello fellow Doberman Moms and Dads!!

I am new for this forum, and I have a situation that I am wondering if anyone else has encountered, and If yes, Help me...

My husband and I adopted a Doberman this past June - Austin, from the local SPCA. Austin has now been with us for 6 months. He is not out first Doberman. Our last Doberman passed away Nov, 2011 after being with us for 15 1/2 years.

Recently, within the last month, he has gotten aggressive in his sleep. What am I talking about? Well, my husband goes to bed before I do. Austin follows, and heads to his bed as well. He sleeps at the foot of the bed on a large comfy dog bed. I usually head to bed an hour or so after my husband. When I reach the doorway of the bedroom, Austin growls at my approach. The growl sounds very menacing. You would think I was a burglar. Then tonight, he actually sprung up and lunged at the doorway. This was a first, and it scared me.

My husband suggested that I call out to him as I approach the bedroom. I have and it seems to make it worse. Austin generally wakes himself up from his own growling and looks quite disoriented, like he's no aware of what's happened.

This is quite scary. I have to admit that I am afraid to go to bed, especially after he got up and lunged at the doorway. HELP!!!! Does anyone know what's going on? And how can we break him from this?

Aside from this, Austin is a wonderful dog. He is about a year old or so. He gets two walks a day, and some days three walks. He likes to think he's a lap dog.

Any advise from anyone would be welcomed.
Thanks - Patty

 

[Luvmydoberman]

When I was younger we had a female named, Rusti that guarded our beds. If she slept with my sister no one could touch her or the bed, if she slept in my bed same thing. Our guard against each other with slight growls, but we quickly correct. Perhaps you will have to have him sleep elsewhere. Is this a respect issue? Can you make him get out of the bed then you get in and you allow him to then get in your bed? Sorry I'm not much help.

 

[Panama]

Have you tried to reverse the order? You go to bed first then you husband short after you? Not saying change your entire routine every night, just as an experiment.

If he were doing it "in his sleep", I don't think it would be so directional (lundging toward you or the door as you enter it). Are his eyes clear? If you get the same response when you reverse the order, I'd definately get his eyes checked.

 

[Ingrid H]

Sounds like this could be a territorial issue or one of resource guarding (the resource either being your husband or the comfy sleeping spot. Does Austin ever get between you and your husband when you hug or sit infront of your husband with his back facing him and looking at you?

 

[MyBuddy]

Sounds like this could be a territorial issue

That's the first thing I thought of and you really need to get a handle on that now. He needs to be respecting both of you. He is protecting one and dissing the other. Your husband needs to step up too by correcting it. Maybe starting from square one again with NILIF will give you the upper hand. Nothing in Life is Free

There are many episodes showing dominance and protectiveness of an owner on The Dog Whisperer. The most 'famous' is the one with the (very cute!) Chihuahua named, Bandit.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTsyzT0oi4

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1CmOpYLQbw


The one with Bandit I thought was so good as it showed how just a simple reprimand from the owner told the dog that his action was not going to be tolerated. That both humans are to be respected. You have to be a team. So not only should your husband correct him, you have to be more of a pack leader to the dog and not give in to him and show weakness.

 

[Dobs4ever]

Could he possible be RED??? I ask because red Doberman can have that little red rage syndrone that displays as you say some times.

I would ask your husband to be alert and when you call out that you are approaching have him boot the boy out of the bed to break the drama. Then get into bed and made him stay off the bed. I would have his eyes checked and have a full blood panel run to make sure nothing else is going on.

DO NOT get into bed with him still on the bed. Boot his booty OUT then get into bed. Hubby should be able to do that quite effectively before you get through the door.

 

[MyBuddy]

DO NOT get into bed with him still on the bed. Boot his booty OUT then get into bed. Hubby should be able to do that quite effectively before you get through the door.

He sleeps at the foot of the bed on a large comfy dog bed.

I took this to mean that he's on the floor at the foot of the bed. If not, then, by all means, he goes! lol

 

[Marko1962]

In the meanwhile whilst you are working towards a better behaviour if you are seriously concerned he may bite, why not invest in a crate?

 

[Gelcoater]

Have you tried letting hubby go to bed and you keep the dog with you till you're ready to go to bed?

Another thing I noticed from reading,you're scared,that's just going to make things worse.If you choose to keep things as they are with the dog going up with hubby first,you need to shake the fear.If or when he growls or jumps up,step forward,give a snap of the finger and a firm "NO".Part of that is mindset,you have to take the roll of the one in command.Your house,your rule,you're the boss.

 

[Dobs4ever]

AHHHH sorry if he is at the foot of the bed then throw a ball or something at him to tap him and startle him or I like Gel's idea of keeping him downstaris with you.

Unfortunately if you crate him he does not learn anything and the problem could then escalate to a bigger issue.

 

[Tasha & Boris' Mom]

AHHHH sorry if he is at the foot of the bed then throw a ball or something at him to tap him and startle him or I like Gel's idea of keeping him downstaris with you.

Unfortunately if you crate him he does not learn anything and the problem could then escalate to a bigger issue.

both great ideas, you might also call him out of his bed to you and then make him sit and wait for you to get into bed then release him to go lay down, gives you the dominance as well as a little aggression discipline.

 

[Dobs4ever]

She said when she called him he got worse so that is not going to help at this point.

 

[Ataro]

I would put a muzzle on him before he goes to bed if you intend to start trying different strategies to force him out. Approaching him without taking precautions is putting yourself at risk of getting bitten.

 

[Tasha & Boris' Mom]

She said when she called him he got worse so that is not going to help at this point.

I missed that, she is going to have to nip that in the butt. He can't be being aggressive with her. Probably keeping him with her, even on a leash, and putting him to bed when she goes is what I would do.

 

[Ingrid H]

That's the first thing I thought of and you really need to get a handle on that now. He needs to be respecting both of you. He is protecting one and dissing the other.

That would be a resource guarding issue rather than a territorial issue. In the case of Bandit, he was resource guarding the mom. The following quote and the fact that Austin is a shelter dog (presumably with an unknown background) makes me think this could be territorial:

Austin generally wakes himself up from his own growling and looks quite disoriented, like he's no aware of what's happened.

Who knows what conditions Austin grew up under... The approach of someone while he was sleeping may have made him afraid and protective of his personal space. You're familiar with territorial chain aggression, right MB? It stems from fear but becomes territoriality.

 

[Archer]

Could he possible be RED??? I ask because red Doberman can have that little red rage syndrone that displays as you say some times.

Ha! Funny, but a good point. Makes sense, as we all know how redheads are. I can say that with full respect since I'm naturally ginger

Lots of good suggestions so far. Hope you get to the bottom of this. My "little" redhead was being a possessive of me with our other dog, but it was easily nipped in the butt and is no longer an issue.

 

[Judith]

I would just try to be more assertive, when you first hear him assert yourself and tell him "shush get to bed" never be frightened of him, also like Gel said keep him with you to you go to bed, not forever but change is good so keep changing his nightly routine

 

[MyBuddy]

Who knows what conditions Austin grew up under... The approach of someone while he was sleeping may have made him afraid and protective of his personal space. You're familiar with territorial chain aggression, right MB? It stems from fear but becomes territoriality.

No, I've never had or been around a dog that has been chained most of its life. I think I can see the difference now between guarding or jealousy of its owner and territorial of its space. Thanks for the insight! I've seen the jealousy thing a lot in my lifetime, and how so many people feed it, unwittingly sometimes. Thinking it's cute that the dog does that. But I've had no experience with a chained up dog. And maybe that's a good thing.

 

[Ingrid H]

No, I've never had or been around a dog that has been chained most of its life. I think I can see the difference now between guarding or jealousy of its owner and territorial of its space. Thanks for the insight! I've seen the jealousy thing a lot in my lifetime, and how so many people feed it, unwittingly sometimes. Thinking it's cute that the dog does that. But I've had no experience with a chained up dog. And maybe that's a good thing.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean that you had witnessed a chained dog first hand in your own life but rather that you were familiar with the concept of how a chained dog can become aggressive. I have experienced two chained dogs and both were at auto garages. One was a German Shepherd that terrified me as a child, and the other was a GSD mix that was actually a pretty nice dog except for when he was at the end of his chain.

 

[MyBuddy]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean that you had witnessed a chained dog first hand in your own life but rather that you were familiar with the concept of how a chained dog can become aggressive.

I think I understood what you meant and even though I've not had personal experience with it, I can now see how chaining a dog (ugh, so sad) could develop into this territorial guarding. I guess I didn't separate the two (territorial and resource guarding) But I see it clearly now. Food for thought, for sure! I feel I'm walking away much more informed. Thanks!