Amanda Joy
Member
I loved bullies when bullies weren't cool!
Posts: 95
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Post by Amanda Joy on Mar 28, 2010 23:05:29 GMT -5
We have a 6 month old rott pit mix that is starting to growl when he is aggitated or playing too hard. Tonight he was laying on the couch and my husband moved him. He didnt snap but he growled.
I need some help fast about how to deal with this, the proper way! I want to end this before it gets aywhere!
Thanks
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Post by loverocksalot on Mar 29, 2010 8:20:02 GMT -5
Growling in play I believe is normal. But growling when moving off the couch is testing you. so Strict NILF (nothing in life is free) look it up on google. NO ON THE COUCH. Rocky was not allowed on the couch at that age. He did not earn couch privillages until he was about 2 years old. If we wanted to snuggle it was on the floor with him. Sometimes we still have to take the privillage away. Especially if he stops asking permission to come up on the couch.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Mar 29, 2010 8:31:10 GMT -5
I agree...Time for strict NILF!
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Post by adoptapitbull on Mar 29, 2010 8:59:34 GMT -5
Growling in the right situation is OK. You'll probably soon learn the "play growl" from the "what the heck is that machine you're pushing over the grass" growl. However, if he's growling at you for moving him, that's a bad growl. If you do the NILIF, you'll probably feel like you're depriving him of everything, but sometimes it takes that for the dog to get the picture.
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Amanda Joy
Member
I loved bullies when bullies weren't cool!
Posts: 95
|
Post by Amanda Joy on Mar 29, 2010 9:45:30 GMT -5
Awesome... read all the articles that I can find. Thinking about going to see if I can find a book on it. I'm sure it will be hard at first but we have literally had to fight tooth and nail to keep this puppy and I can't let his actions (or my lack of actions) create tension! Thanks everyone! I will keep you posted
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Post by loverocksalot on Mar 29, 2010 13:20:54 GMT -5
Actually Maryellen lent me a book that could be helpful although dont let the title scare you. "Click to Calm: Healing the Agressive dog." I used the book for ideas for my own dog as well as a dog I was working at the shelter and neither is agressive. Also poke around on Karyn Pryors site i think you have to register but is helpful clickertraining.com/Rocky has once growled at my son for trying pulling him off my other sons bed. That was the last time. My son pulled away but I told him you tell him in a growl like tone of voice to get off now. He was not allowed any beds for a long time. Sometimes Rocky will push it and start to take advantage of couch time and we have to go back to no on the couch. He is only allowed on the couch if I put his special couch blanket there. But if my husband lets him up on the couch then he starts taking advantage and goes up more often or with out permission or with out his blanket. Then he looses his privillage for a while. When it comes to feeding we have been following strict rules for his entire life. He is to sit or laydown on his spot until comanded to eat. You should do this too. growling at you when you try to remove him means he has claimed the couch and is guarding his resource and Is different than agression. Look up rescource guarding as you will find alot of help there and NILIF works real well for guarding. Like you may have to offer up a trade. He gets off when told he gets a reward. |
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Post by RealPitBull on Mar 29, 2010 14:39:23 GMT -5
All the above advice is great. It really helps to teach a "move" or "off" cue, as well. Sometimes I think we are just plain rude to dogs and then when they tell us off, we act like it is the end of the world. Instead of pushing, pulling, shoving, teach cues for move, let's go, and off. This way, it's not physical.
At six months old your pup is hitting that bratty teenage stage where they like to see how far they can push things, so a NILIF program would be a good bet right now.
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Post by PBLove on Mar 29, 2010 16:08:16 GMT -5
I agree with Mary, sounds like an extinction burst phase...seeing how far he can push until you give in. My girls went through it recently, too. As long as you stay on top of it, NILF works great, you should be able to get the situation back under control.
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Post by adoptapitbull on Mar 29, 2010 16:50:34 GMT -5
Heck, Cappy is pTrobably about 3 and he's still a brat. Sometimes when we tell him to "Go in your house" he bolts and makes us chase him, all the while with a big smile on his face. Sometimes I think dogs are worse than children lol
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Post by erpitrescue on Mar 29, 2010 17:11:09 GMT -5
I'm told "Mine" is a good resource for ppl whose dogs are resource guarders.
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Post by maryellen on Mar 29, 2010 18:54:46 GMT -5
6 month old BRAT. no more furniture privileges, strict NILIF make him earn everything. even at almost 8 rufus will still flip me the finger every now and then and be a brat..
rotties are VERY vocal so the growling when playing hard is normal, some dogs do growl when playing hard.. growling when being asked to move off the couch is a brat who needs boot camp lol
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Post by loverocksalot on Mar 29, 2010 20:01:28 GMT -5
Yeah forget growling at 6mos old if I tried to pull Rocky off the couch especially by his collar at that age he would open his mouth and air snap. it is just a brat stage and for the rest of the year into about 2 years old they go through stages. He really hated when someone reached for his collar. Maybe because of something in his past home. Like Mary said, after teaching him the off cue. Not Down cause down means lay down to him. Big difference.
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Post by suziriot on Mar 29, 2010 20:34:35 GMT -5
I'm told "Mine" is a good resource for ppl whose dogs are resource guarders. Yep, I agree 1000%. Works really well with my Lebowski. We do a lot of "mine/take it" games with him. |
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Post by loverocksalot on Mar 29, 2010 20:42:22 GMT -5
Yeah I get down and take ROckys bone and pretend to chew it and enjoy it then I give it back to him for sharing it with me. There was a time when he was not sharing no way no how. But showing him I was not going to keep his bone or take all his dog food and not give it back has done the trick. He will even share a bully stick with me now. 4 years ago I would be chasing him around the house as he kept the stick away all for himself.
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Amanda Joy
Member
I loved bullies when bullies weren't cool!
Posts: 95
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Post by Amanda Joy on Mar 30, 2010 8:41:33 GMT -5
So I took the advice.... yesterday afternoon and last night were our first stabs at it. He hated it at first but started to get the picture. After about an hour of me running him off the couch he went into the toy hole and grabbed his blanket, pulled it into the living room and crashed on it. I was loving on him last night after he went outside and I found a possible source for the growl that started this issue. He has a very small scratch on his neck... looks like maybe he scratched himself right were his collar hits his neck. It isn't awful but looked a little sore.
We are still using the NILIF training though. He is going to be large and I really dont want him to think he runs the house. I can handle him being brat sometimes but he really needs to know the life he has isnt because he owns it!
Thanks again! I am so excited to enter into this training together!
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Post by loverocksalot on Mar 30, 2010 11:39:45 GMT -5
Goof Job for you and your puppy. When he got his blanket and laid on it that is a perfect time to reward him with attention or treats. Now would also be a good time to train to go to his spot. His blanket/bed. A clicker helps with that. I know you will have successful life with him if you continue to lead a structured lifestyle with him. I believe it is a must especially with such a young dog.
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I look forward to learning much here