Aggressive Rat Terrier Growls, Barks, and Bites

I picked up my dog from the humane society about 3 years ago. At the time I lived alone and he made a great companion.

Now I live with two roomates that he loves and is a great dog until someone sits down on the sofa with me. He turns very aggressive towards me. He bares his teeth, growls, barks, and sometimes bites me. What do I do?

I don't want to give him up and I don't want to move out, but something has to happen otherwise I'm gonna have to be forced into putting him down.

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Mar 23, 2022
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Rat Terriers
by: Anonymous

I love stella my rat terrier she is so beautiful. Elvin is the bestest Pitt bull anyone could ask for. Took in Stella. she is a recure dog. Fixed. But she growls and she nips but she never bits. me. or Elvin or Stanley our cat. But why does she have to be so agressive. Elvin only barks to protect me. Stanley well he is a Cat. He is cool cat Stanley

Jan 10, 2017
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Aggressive small mixed ... help?
by: Anonymous

I too have just rescued a similar breed mix... either chi-min--pin or rat terrier.
They said she was a stray . Shes sweet but is starting to "lap guard" and boy does she bark. Shes smart so I think she can be trained . Shes learned alot in a frw days:). So far I just put her down off the lap with a firm NO. I also give my first, and senior dog priority. .. first everything. And/or my husband when he reaches near me.
She needs to learn pack order.
Any other suggestions??

Mar 11, 2012
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Aggressive Rats
by: Linda

I have/had a chihuahua rat terrier mix...she was fine for two years, even with three other chihuahuas..seemingly overnight she became aggressive towards the other female, who had previously acting as a mother to her..she would go for the throat, ears, anything she could grab on the older chi...we kept them apart, at great trouble, one in a crate, one out, etc etc..finally, my husband became totally disabled and it was just too much stress on the whole family, because of this one little black dog..so i took her to the local humane society...they will work w/her if possible and either adopt her out or sadly put her down..but sometimes you have to choose between dogs and people and my heart is broken, but that is what happened with our experience..

Jul 25, 2011
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Do Not Put Him To Sleep!
by: Adam

You need to learn how to establish a proper relationship with your dog, and you need to develop a way of communicating that is both understood, and has meaning.

Letting him on the couch is communicating to him that you are not the pack leader... he is!

Adam G. Katz is the author of, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!" -- which you can find at DogProblems.com.

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