[MiriMaran]

Henry, who is now approx 14 weeks, is starting to snarl when he gets told off.  One time I found him on his bed chewing a Christmas tree decoration, which he's been told off for before.  I said no, tapped his bum and took the decoration out of his mouth at which point he snarled at me.  Another time I was taking him out from crawling down the side of the log burner.  Again he curled his lip and snarled so I grabbed him put him on his back and held his neck until the growling stopped and he dropped his eye contact.  Then I walked out of the room and a minute later called him to me asked him to sit and then gave him lots of praise to restore the relationship.

Did I do the right or wrong thing?  I have no idea, but any advice would be great.  Should we be concerned that a pup so young is trying it on like this?  What should we do?  Help please!

[Norfolk Newby]

I have been watching the Dog Whisperer - Cesar Millan - on Sky and trying his methods with my spaniels.

The main point is to make the dog(s) understand that you are the boss - the pack leader. I think this is what you have done to correct your puppy and it should work. You have to maintain the control all the time though. This means that you lead when walking, not the puppy. He has to stay at your heels, not be pulling ahead of you. Also, you have to pass through doors before him.

Don't let him jump up when you meet him. Ignore him until he has settled. Then you can greet him. Tap him on his shoulder if he start to become fixated on other dogs or food until you have his attention. Then tell him to sit or lie down. Once he is under your control you can release him to feed or play.

I know this sounds childish but it is necessary to maintain your position as the boss. Dogs seem more relaxed if the know that you are in charge. They don't get so excited or nervous if there are loud noises, children or other dogs.

I hope this helps. If you get a chance to see Cesar Millan on TV or at one of his shows (he is touring the UK in March, I think) he is very good.

NN

[MiriMaran]

Thanks for that.  That's interesting the dogs here always get to go through the door first!  I need to get Henry out on his lead without the children or our other dog and start doing some proper lead training with him.  We very rarely use leads so its difficult to remember!

[little blue]

ignoring is effective, is there some way of shutting him away for a short time when he misbehaves, and completely ignore him?
If Cesar milan seems abit harsh, try reading 'The dog listener' by Jan Fennel.  It uses the pack leader principle, but no 'alpha rolls' like Milan.
Henry is trying to establish his 'position' in the house, as well as getting abit 'teenaged' and so you need to decide which training method you prefer and get all the family to follow it, so he doesnt try and dominate anyone.
Good luck!           x

[doganjo]

Henry, who is now approx 14 weeks, is starting to snarl when he gets told off.  One time I found him on his bed chewing a Christmas tree decoration, which he's been told off for before.  I said no, tapped his bum and took the decoration out of his mouth at which point he snarled at me.  Another time I was taking him out from crawling down the side of the log burner.  Again he curled his lip and snarled so I grabbed him put him on his back and held his neck until the growling stopped and he dropped his eye contact.  Then I walked out of the room and a minute later called him to me asked him to sit and then gave him lots of praise to restore the relationship.

Did I do the right or wrong thing?  I have no idea, but any advice would be great.  Should we be concerned that a pup so young is trying it on like this?  What should we do?  Help please!

Yes, you should be concerned, No you shouldn't let him off with it - at all, and yes, you've done exactly the right thing.  Don't let him do ANYTHING without you allowing it - and that means even when he is going outside for a wee.  Make him sit and wait while you open the door, keep him sat there, count to 10, or longer if he will contain himself but don't let him break the sit.  Put him back on the exact same spot if he does.  Then give him a  release command - go and play is what I use.  You must keep this up at all times for every activity - it is wearing, it is time consuming, but it is the only way to control a young reprobate!

You've started well, so keep up the pressure on him.  You are alpha not him!

[HappyHippy]

We had a behaviourist out to see one of our dogs who was becoming aggressive.
Her theory - and I don't know if others will agree - was that it was fear causing the reaction. It's the only way they have to express themselves. I have a good book called 'Dog behaviour explained' which i could look out and post down to you, but maybe your local library would have it or something similar. I would be concerned about it, especially in such a young dog, I'd check all the usual subjects- diet, maybe a sore spot somewhere make sure everything's okay there and then just be firm and consistant. One tip in the book suggests standing in the dog's bed - just to show them you're the boss 
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[doganjo]

We had a behaviourist out to see one of our dogs who was becoming aggressive.
Her theory - and I don't know if others will agree - was that it was fear causing the reaction. It's the only way they have to express themselves. I have a good book called 'Dog behaviour explained' which i could look out and post down to you, but maybe your local library would have it or something similar. I would be concerned about it, especially in such a young dog, I'd check all the usual subjects- diet, maybe a sore spot somewhere make sure everything's okay there and then just be firm and consistant. One tip in the book suggests standing in the dog's bed - just to show them you're the boss 
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

I doubt if it is fear aggression at that age but that certainly can be a reason - my old wirehair has fear aggression and I'll never cure her now but she is better with some dogs than with others.  I actually sit down in my dogs beds and make them sit alongside me - then I invite them in to lie with me.  But a young pup of 3 months is just trying it on.  Keep him calm and on a level - don't let the kids or anyone else wind him up.

[MiriMaran]

Thanks for all the advice and thanks for the offer of the HH, but we're OK for now.  I will go for the Alpha position with him.  He can be very good and drop things immediately when I say a sharp no - its when I tell me off and physically touch him that he snaps.  I will keep you posted!  My todays concern is a poorly chook so I'm now off to the poultry section!

[MiriMaran]

Update!  Henry was sleeping by the fire and my son Oliver went over to him, stroked him, which woke him up and then gently tried to lift Henry into his lap.  Henry growled so I grabbed him by the scruff and shouted.  He then attacked my arm for at least 15 seconds before backing down.  I then let go of him - I now have about 20 little puncture wounds on my forearm.  What am I doing wrong?  I think it was fear that made him bite, but he did it as soon as I got his scruff so i had to keep hold 'til he stopped.  Maybe I just totally messed up - I'm very confused!

After 5 minutes I let the dogs outside and made sure I was sitting on Henry's bed, in front of the fire, when my OH let them in.  He skulked backwards and forwards infront of me, tried to get behind me, but backed off when I leant back and then slinked off to the other bed.

Annie, anyone, please help.

[dixie]

Firstly, teach your children to 'let sleeping dogs lie', a valuable lesson believe me! Dog in bed, leave it be!!
Secondly he sounds like a strong willed character but I think you are doing things right but its difficult when its not just you and the dog, too many others around makes it hard to train eh?
definately be the boss ALL the time!,  use very few words eg sit, stay, down, leave, back. be positive in your approach, never go to your dog to give him praise, call him to you. lead work at this age is sooo important, I have a rescue gsd whom I literally attached to me when outside so I could control/command all the time.

[doganjo]

Absolutely right, Dixie!  But you MUST be fair with the dog.  He will NOT understand being told one thing one day and a different thing another.  Just for the moment tell the children and your other half not to pay ANY attention to Henry AT ALL.  Leave him absolutely alone.  You must do everything for and with him until he learns that you are alpha - even if it means you telling the children and your other half to do things too. He and they must learn not to do anything with the pup till he is trained, and if they don't want him to be put to sleep they must comply (that is what it may come to if they don't, and they must understand that)

[MiriMaran]

[/  You must do everything for and with him until he learns that you are alpha - even if it means you telling the children and your other half to do things tooquote].  Just to clarify, are you meaning I do everything and tell them not to do anything andleave Henry alone?

I agree Dixie, if they're on their beds they should be left to relax - its not so easy to tell the children that!  Oliver loves Henry so much and is brilliant with him and very gentle, but does pester him a bit.  However, Henry still shouldn't have growled regardless unless the children are causing him pain.

A friend of mine has suggested that because Henry had such a tough start in life he may not have learnt all the social skills that they learn in the litter - do you think this could be true?  Also do you think that we have taken on a potentially troublesome dog if he is being so aggressive at such a young age or do you think he is just a dominant character that is trying it on?

[doganjo]

At 3 months he is just trying it on, but if you don't keep the kids from bothering him you may have problems.  They MUST stay away from him while you are retraining him.
Yes, I mean you do everything for Henry.  You feed him, you let him out if he asks to go for a wee, you take him for a walk on the lead.  At 3 months he doesn't need much anyway.  You put him to his bed. And give them instructions that they carry out too - so he sees this and understands that you are the boss.  Even if it is small things like - Emily, go and pick up that book.  Emily gets up and brings the book to you.  You say 'Good girl'  Just make sure he is watching and hears you give the command in the same manner and tone as you give him commands. But don't smack him if he is bad or he will become 'hand shy'.  Instead put him in his crate then ignore him for a few minutes.  Then go and let him out making him sit before you open the door of the crate.  It's all down to perseverance and consistency.  And if after 3 months you have made no headway at all then I would say you have done your best and he may have to be given sleep. I can give you the email address of the chap who is having one of my pups.  He is a 'last chance' trainer with a Charity called SHAK - Safe homes and Kindness - www.shak.org.uk He can probably give you better advice than most.

[HappyHippy]

I agree that Henry shouldn't be growling at the boys, BUT it's the only way he can say 'stop that'. If he's missed out on socialisation it may make it even harder for him. Imagine how you'd feel if you were Henry's size and someone big and huge was scaring you. Although saying that Boris my GSD is sizes with my kids and he gets upset if the kids are running riot and shouting with lots of howling and crying from him, he tries to get as far away from them as possible.
I know it's hard to try and keep the kids back off him, especially cos he's new and a puppy and so cute, but for their sake and Henry's they've got to understand that the dog is NOT a toy for them to play with - they must repect him like they would any other member of the family. I'm afraid it's about the only thing I come down really hard on my girls for - they get a fair bit of slack with a lot of things, but not when it comes to my 'hairy baby' if anything ever happened to them, or him, because I hadn't taught them to respect and give him space I would never forgive myself. Maybe it's because we did have a dog who became aggresive after Rebecca was born and sadly had to put him to sleep that I'm so overprotective. But six years on from that and I still get upset about it - there's no way I'm going through it again 

[doganjo]

Been there too, Karen.