Questionable behaviors?

[Taipan]

We have a 5-6 year old rescue Rotti(we've had her for 2 weeks today!) and I have some questions about some of the things she's been doing...
1. She nips Dad when they are playing, mostly on the arm and hand, she doesn't actually take a bite, just kind of nibbles. She doesn't do it with me, but I don't play with her like Dad does. He gets right down on the floor with her to give belly rubs and hugs, etc.
2.A man walked his rotti by the front of our house this morning and Jasmine, on her run, ran towards them and barked a couple times. Dad went right out and calmed her down, but is that acceptable behavior? I don't want people afraid to walk by our house and yet I want her to be alert to strangers. Maybe it was just the dog she was barking at. But doesn't the good canine citizen test require good dog to dog behavior?
3.We are trying to teach her to get along with my cat. Most of the time she ignores Taipan but every once in a while she will stare and lunge and bark. What is a good way to correct this? I don't want her to think this is acceptable at all!!!!
Thanks for advice in advance
Cindy

[Paxx]

I am moving this to Training.

[ElaineandMike]

Another thing to think about is that a dog is more likely going to be "territorial" when they are chained in their back yard, or in a car. My dog goes nuts barking whenever she is in the car and someone walks by. Try getting people you know to come up to the dog when she is outside and petting her (with you present) so she can see that it is not so bad that someone is encroaching on her territory. (Make sure you know the dog before doing this.)

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by Taipan:
<STRONG>1. She nips Dad when they are playing, mostly on the arm and hand, she doesn't actually take a bite, just kind of nibbles. She doesn't do it with me, but I don't play with her like Dad does. He gets right down on the floor with her to give belly rubs and hugs, etc.
2.A man walked his rotti by the front of our house this morning and Jasmine, on her run, ran towards them and barked a couple times. Dad went right out and calmed her down, but is that acceptable behavior? I don't want people afraid to walk by our house and yet I want her to be alert to strangers. Maybe it was just the dog she was barking at. But doesn't the good canine citizen test require good dog to dog behavior?
3.We are trying to teach her to get along with my cat. Most of the time she ignores Taipan but every once in a while she will stare and lunge and bark. What is a good way to correct this? I don't want her to think this is acceptable at all!!!!
Thanks for advice in advance
Cindy</STRONG>

OK, possible answers, in order:

1. When she nips/play bites, make like it REALLY HURTS (even if it doesn't). Say "OUCH, no bite!!" really loud, every time she does this.

2. Is she out on her run alone, unsupervised? NOT A GOOD THING!! Any animal could come into the yard and possibly attack Jasmine, and she's got nowhere to go. She may also be trying to tell the other dog and person that "Hey, this is MY yard and I want to you to know that I'm here...just in case..." It is not acceptable behavior if she is barking like she wants to get off the run and kill the dog/person. The CGC test requires good dog to dog behavior in a social situation-the dogs walk past each other and they are obvioously going to be curious and want to sniff, but they should not want to attack each other.

3. Be ready when she eyes the cat. Put her on a leash and when she even gets that look in her eyes, give her a correction, tell her to 'LEAVE IT' and praise the daylights out of her when she re-directs her attention to you. I used a squirt bottle and blasted Ben in the butt when he gave our cat 'that look' and now he just want sto kiss her, but 'just in case' he knows that bottle is in arms reach and he'll get a squirt...

Good luck with Jasmine!!