A Behavior Problem with Prince.. - Page 3

Nipping, biting... if my dog intentionally puts his teeth on someone in my house then we've got a problem and it's my responsibility to address it...  barging, growling, lunging, barking (copying the words the OP used) doesn't sound like herding to me, at least my dogs have never done that while actually herding and if they did they'd be "retired" right then and there!

If this happened to me I'd take Barb's approach (and agree that my dogs would be toast if they repeatedly pulled crap like this in my house), but I know my dogs and know how and when to correct them to make the point clear without nagging or escalating.  I'm hesitant to suggest that here just because I've seen dogs who've had too much freedom come back at their owner when the owner finally steps up.  It's an option but just don't go trying stuff you aren't comfortable with because 1) we can't predict the result as armchair trainers and 2) if you're not really confident and commited to getting the point across to the dog, you probably won't.

When herding an animal that WON'T go in the direction the dog wants, they will eventually nip them right in the ass. Have personally witnessed it many times. And every time it delivered instant results. Problem solved.

It doesn't sound like herding behaviour to me either, it sounds like aggression.   I agree with Slam (where is he lately anyway) and Kelly weighing in on this.  Kelly knows this dog.
  Personally, I love Prince and would take him in a heartbeat.  Fiesty booger that he is.

I guess I'll just agree to disagree.  My dogs better know the differnce between dealing with a flock of sheep and letting my own husband out the door without throwing themselves at him or the door barking and growling.  I've never seen such a thing and a lot of my dog friends own herding breeds and herd either because they actually live on a farm or herd for titles/competitively and I've never been nipped in the ass trying to leave their homes.  To me all the "nip" shows is bite inhibition (good!) not herding.

That is the interesting thing about dynamics! This is Rugers1 dog, and her husband has let her and the dog know it! Therefore, he's lower on the totem pole, because in the dogs eyes, he is below Ruger! 

Good grief, things sure can get complicated.

It's unacceptable. Therefore, it must be stopped. If a dog doesn't have the good sense to act appropriately, then the human must. Lots of internet input and furious typing over a simple problem that this dog has had since day 1. Time to take charge, Deanna. You don't have all these different problems with Prince; you have ONE big problem with him; you continually underreact to his behavior. Now he's bitten your husband (I agree that it may be rooted in herding behavior, but seriously...if the dog can't tell a person from a sheep, then the owner needs to be smarter than the dog and eliminate any opportunity for the behavior to take place) and something tells me that if he bruised someone else's ass (like a delivery person, daughter's friends, etc.), there would be more consequences than what your husband dished out. You could wind up in court over that. It is YOUR responsibility to keep Prince from getting himself in trouble. We can't all fix  your problems with Prince via the internet when your lack of corrections/discipline ARE the problem and continue to be such by refusing (by your own admission) to correct him in an effective manner thinking you're being "nice." Being "nice" is great until your dog gets killed or you lose your house over it.

Sorry to sound like Queen Bitch (comes naturally, can't help it, LOL ), but honestly, this is the SAME problem you always have with Prince and I am so tired of dogs getting in trouble because their owners are afraid to correct them. Correcting them is far nicer than what often happens to them when allowed to run wild in the hands of an inexperienced or unwilling handler. 

Crawling back under my rock now........................

I agree Jenni. Some dogs just arent the clicker and cookie type. Prince needs strong correcting and I think an E collar or prong collar might not be a bad idea despite me not having much experience with them at all. If Deanna is not strong enough to dole out a firm enough negative correction herself he needs to find a correction that IS effective or the behaviour will continue to escalate and Prince will end up with a rescue or put down. If you go the e or prong collar route find someone to teach you how to correctly and effectively use it. Nothing like the blind leading the blind.

The dog sees himself as HIGHER in the pack than her husband. That leads to problems like this. Problem #1

The fact that it has gone on for six months and now escalated into a nip. Problem #2

Now is the time to get some professional help to stop it, before it gets worse.  

NO to the ecollar. Yes to Ruger stepping up. Bite the bullet, it will work, and you and your dog will be happier for it. YOU in CONTROL, that is what your dog WANTS. If you don't do it... guess who will?

Not that I have, answers, only an attitude.

Having followed Deanna's issues with Prince from the start, I agree with the people saying it is time for Deanna and Prince to reconnect with the professional that assisted them the first time.

There needs to be a hands on professional, evaluating Prince's behavior and Deanna's ability to correct him.    I would be concerned that if Deanna isn't taught how to deliver an appropriate correction, the misuse of a prong collar or an e-collar could result in Prince's aggression escalating, rather than detouring the behavior.