[ScotsGirl]

What sort of dog is Henry?  You shouldn't be using physical violence at 3 months whatever he has picked up.  Use a cage so he has his own space away from children. If he picks up something that is not his exchange it for something nice like his toy or a tasty treat and tell him to 'leave' what you are taking but don't hit him as he doesn't understand.

A great treat for them which you can make is liver cake - chop and blend  a pack of liver, mix with 2 eggs and sufficient self-raising flour to make a cake mix texture then put on a lined baking tray at cake temperature for approx 40 mins - 1 hour until cooked.  Remember to rub butter on paper cause it sticks .  Leave to cool, cut into cubes and freeze. Just take a handful out when you want to train him or keep a couple of pieces in the fridge.  He will sell his soul for that!

Jan Fennel's book is excellent.  Make sure you go to lots of puppy socialisation which your vet may organise or a local dog club.  I do agility with my spaniels and some clubs do great behavioural classes (for both owner and dog!)

Good luck!

[MiriMaran]

Thanks Scotsgirl.  We think he is a Jack RussellxSpringer.  He's fantastic - quick to learn, wants to please, always drops things when you ask him to, is starting to walk on the lead nicely.  I really want to get this sorted out as he's lovely.  The children have backed off, I am doing everything.  He now has to sit and wait before going out and before getting his food.  I am doing any training and the only thing the children are doing are sometimes sitting on Henry's bed so that when he is let in the house he has to defer to them and go elsewhere.  When I find him chewing something he shouldn't be is told to drop it and given one of his own toys.  He has never been hit, but he has been gently pushed off and told no when he has jumped on furniture.  His treats are dried bits of pig's liver from our pigs which he loves.

Karen I understand that Henry has no other way of communicating, but he could move away instead of growl, but the boys have had strict instructions to leave him alone if he is on his bed and to invite Henry over for attention and not to go to Henry.  In hindsight it was very dim of me not to set ground rules for the children.  I'm not experienced with puppies as we have always had rescue dogs either ancient or at the youngest 18 months.

Annie,  that's a great idea to talk to the children like I do with Henry - he watches everything, but do I have to call Oliver and Harry Emily!!!!   I also think using the crate is a good idea - I did have concerns about using the crate as I didn't want him to connect it with punishment, but since we have had Henry for a while now and he always gets a biscuit in the crate before we leave the house or go to bed.  The lack of biscuit should be a clear enough seperator of the two situations i.e. us going out of him being naughty.  How do I get him into the crate if he has growled and I think he may bite me if I have to physically push him into the crate?  Do I scruff him or pick him up with gauntlets on?

[mab]

Just some other thoughts on this:-

Could he be ill? - dogs can be irritable when they're feeling ill, same as us.
Is he getting enough exercise? - jackrussel/springer cross sounds like a very energetic dog to me! springers are generally easier to train after they've been allowed to burn off their excess energy.

other things to try to emphasise your dominance:-

When feeding, feed him after you (and family) have eaten.
Don't allow him on the furniture - height corresponds to status in the dog world.

you could read the Jan Fennel 'dog listener' book but I did find it a tad tedious in places myself. 

good luck

mab

[MiriMaran]

Thanks Mab, feeding is totally separate to human feeding and no dogs are allowed on furniture.  He does get exercise, infact we had concerns that he was getting to much!

I totally agree that JRxSpringer is an energetic combination - he'll certainly keep us fit.

[doganjo]

At 3 months you have to watch not to over exercise - garden and lead walks are all he needs. I don't think you need to change the kids names though - but Emily is quite a nice name if either of them fancies changing   

Feed him AFTER you have eaten - that was always the case years ago went there was no proprietary dog foods - dogs got the scraps from the table after the family had eaten.

I have a feeling that you won't need to use the crate - sounds like he's real smart and will realise his privileges have suddenly disappeared.  But how about the oven gloves for protection if you need it?

[MiriMaran]

I think you're right, I'm feeling much more positive today.  He is already automatically sitting at the door when I call him to go out and the same at food time.  I'll keep the oven gloves to hand though.

[little blue]

If you use the crate alot of the time, and keep it positive, he should go in quite willingly even for 'punishment.' Maybe you could cover some of it with a towel or something when his in 'trouble' to indicate the difference, and be sure to ignore him.

As you know, Sheba our gsd sleeps in the bathroom, on the worlds biggest dog bed.  When we had her last winter, if she was just going in to be secure (ie away from the cats, or people, or we were going out) she had the light on, lots of fuss when she sat on her bed and occasionally a biscuit (but not every time - in case we forgot or took her up in a hurry, we didnt want her to expect it).
If she is 'in trouble' She is told once 'basket' and goes up with us, she gets no more verbal attention and we leave the light off.      Shes only left for 5 or 10 minutes, but learned surprisingly quickly (for a rescued, previously abused dog) when she's being ignored, and when she's just going on her basket for a kip!

Henry is still learning the boundaries, so be consistant! Good to hear you're feeling positive though...

[HappyHippy]

Karen I understand that Henry has no other way of communicating, but he could move away instead of growl, but the boys have had strict instructions to leave him alone if he is on his bed and to invite Henry over for attention and not to go to Henry.  In hindsight it was very dim of me not to set ground rules for the children.  I'm not experienced with puppies as we have always had rescue dogs either ancient or at the youngest 18 months.

I know it's tricky and I don't for a minute want you to think I'm having a go It's just that having been through the mill with a much loved family pet that turned aggresive I know how heartbreaking it can be.
Henry is the 'short man' of the dog world - small guy - BIG attitude, all the jr's I've ever met have been the same, and I think it's part of their charm. Maybe the growls are him trying to show dominance over the kids - he maybe thinks he CAN'T back down and has to protect what's his. And because he's had a rough start and feels safe and secure now he's with you he's going to want to fight for that. I think it's worth seeing if there are any puppy socialisation/training classes you could take him along to - might help a bit ? But I'm sure that given time and carefull handling he'll come good. Oh, and they CAN and DO pick up on how you're feeling too so try not to worry or be to anxious or it might make him worse - easier said than done, I know.
Good luck Miri - keep us posted xxx

[MiriMaran]

Thanks Karen and I'm not offended in the least!  We also had to put a dog to sleep as he wasn't safe with children.  This was a year or so before we had the children.  Today and yesterday have been good with Henry, no problems at all.  I will let you know how things go.

[qpd4ever]

The advice on here is general and good sound advice ............. sadly Henry needs specific professional advice.

Beware good advice from well meaning forums can cause problems for the unwary.

I am a professional dog trainer and I am reluctant to give advice about aggressive behaviours without seeing the dog or people involved. Aggression is a complex subject how it is dealt with may also be complex.

Most if not all aggression problems can be solved, don't give up but tread carefully.

[MiriMaran]

He's doing well at the moment.  We have been doing dominance work with him which has improved things.  The children are showing him more respect and all-in-all I'm pleased with how things are going.  I'm still reserving judgement on him for the time being, but am happy.

[Birdie Wife]

At only 3 months it's likely that he doesn't know how hard he is biting with those little needle teeth.  My pup used to be quite bolshy, to a point that looked like aggression (drew blood from OH's hands quite regularly in fact) but someone on another forum recommended that we read "The Bite Stops Here" by Dr Ian Dunbar.  We read it and followed the advice and it really helped. We also excluded her from the room we were in for a 'time-out' if it got too bad, rather than alpha-rolling her like we might an older dog - in fact, there is a warning in ALL of Cesar Milan's programmes not to use any of the techniques without professional guidance.  This gave her time to calm down and was a much more effective punishment than any dominance tactics.


http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=64170.0;wap2

[doganjo]

My 3 month old Brittany puppy bites his Mum all teh time and she tolerates a lot - I keep tellimng her to give him a nip but all she does is squeal relly loudly - scares the daylights out of me but doesn't seem to bother him - he comes back for more 5 minutes later.  He's certainly not aggressive though.  My older boy sorts him out every now and then too.

[MiriMaran]

Henry play fights alot with Ralph and Ralph is very good at putting Henry back in his place when it gets too rough.