Help PLEASE Puppy Attitude / Biting is he aggressive or “Normal!”

devotee

catlou wrote: »

Thanks again for your replies.:T

I think I will have to persevere with playing tug as much as possible, although he does have other toys that he bites/chews a lot too.

He generally jumps up and/or bites when he can't have his own way sort of thing being trying to think of an example to give not sure if this is the best one but can't think of another one mind blank at the mo! - sometimes he will jump on the sofa (which he is not allowed to) so I give him the "off" command he either comes down and then jumps up snarling and biting me or won't come off it and runs from side to side on the sofa trying to bite me if I go towards him so I then give him a gentle shove off and he then will jump up and bite me too.

It's sounds stupid but it's like as if he does it worst when he knows I'm annoyed with him so in the past when I have tried to tell him off or just ignore his actions when he is biting that seems to be when he won't leave it and keeps at it biting me hard because I have tried to stop him/ignore him - if that makes sense?!?!

Supermezzo he doesn't seem to be going for my mouth!! :eek: I don't think I will try your other suggestion yet but I will definitely bear it in mind - thanks.

Oh the teenagers! :rolleyes:
That definitely sounds like he's testing your position as an alpha, and they tend to do that at that age so you need to reinforce your position and show him who's the boss!
Definitely persist in initiating the play yourself. Leave the toys around that he values LESS around for him to amuse himself and when you want to play with him bring out the more exciting ones, so that will put you more in control. So once you've decided the play is over remove the toys of value.

I guess he knows he's not supposed to be on a sofa but he's pushing his luck so you really have to discipline him and teach him boundaries (teenagers seem to forget all those when hormones kick in), so pick him up and put him in his crate or a different room if you don't crate him. It's not a punishment as such, but teaches him if he does not behave on your terms equals no attention/affection/play.

Mine growled at me for the first time the other day - I gave him a real bone to chew and he was happily chewing it...until he decided to move to the living room with the bone and chew on the rug, I didn't want that so I tried to take the bone and guide him to the kitchen....He got so aggressive in guarding the bone and growled at me so I just removed the bone. Fun time over! Hopefully he's learned his lesson, if not I'll try it again.

sarabe

devotee wrote: »

Mine growled at me for the first time the other day - I gave him a real bone to chew and he was happily chewing it...until he decided to move to the living room with the bone and chew on the rug, I didn't want that so I tried to take the bone and guide him to the kitchen....He got so aggressive in guarding the bone and growled at me so I just removed the bone. Fun time over! Hopefully he's learned his lesson, if not I'll try it again.

He has certainly learned that he was correct in needing to guard his bone in case you were going to take it away.

esmf73

Oh the joys of puppyhood. I'm there too as I have a 12 week old Ridgeback who is FAR more intelligent than our last Ridgeback - it's coming as quite a shock. I was advised to go down the dried chickpeas in a plastic bottle route by a dog trainer for our previous dog and it worked. Other thing that worked was a spray of water from a water sprayer!

Have to say though this was just for discipline - it wasn't for what sounds like aggression. I have been told by many that you need to start from the beginning so the dog knows that you're in command. This is a bit more difficult with two children as well. But we're taking food away mid meal and inspecting ears, feet and mouth regularly just so they get used to it. We have an elder dog who also helps keep her in check.

I wouldn't get another dog (in case you were thinking about it) until you have this problem sorted out as the second dog will pick up on the behaviour of the first and then they'll run as a pack.

Just try and reestablish yourself as the pack leader. If our pup does anything other than nip in fun then we put her on her back until she submits and relaxes - this also worked for us with previous dogs.

sarabe

Putting a dog on their back - or alpha rolling - is not actually what would happen amongst dogs or wolves.

A dog may roll over and submit but if another dog or wolf forced a dog onto their back it would be with the sole intention of killing it.

How scarey is that for your dog?

This is going to have one of three consequences.

1. The dog will accept and learn from this.

2. The dog will become scared and their willingness to learn impaired.

3. The dog will defend himself and become aggressive.

Because of the third of dogs that this works on we are encouraged to continue which is a big shame for the two thirds that it will have a detrimnental effect on.

catlou

Thanks supermezzo, devotee & esmf73 it's really good to have someone else's opinion. Somtimes it's difficult to see the situation when you are in it yourself. I'm going to have to think about things and the way I deal with stuff a lot harder and about the best ways to change situations with him.

Sarabe trust the white haired dog to get on the sofa - sods law!! :rotfl:

We can't physically stop him going on the sofa as downstairs is open plan and I do let him come on it on his own blanket at times I don't think that I have confused him in that respect because he only jumps up "uninvited!" when he is in a cocky mood!! But I do think maybe you are right and that I have confused him somewhere along the line in other ways.......Although we have done our best to leave nothing out as a temptation to make it easier for him.

Another example of him biting would be if I am reading the newspaper he will try to jump and grab it or rip a piece off it. Whether I just turn side on and ignore him or tell him to leave it he will always jump up and bite in response.

He so is a "teenager" sometimes he has a look in his eyes "right what mischief can I do now!" and is about to jump on the sofa or something so I just warn him in a low voice "don't you dare" he then back-chat barks at me in a very specific way he only uses in that situation as if don't you tell me what to do!?! omg..........So cheeky :eek: but very clever:D Someone told me it's easier to train a more stupid dog........

I probably have painted him out to be a horror which he really isn't he is lovely too and because he is SO cute people I meet out and about comment on how adorable he is when he is on best behaviour. Sometimes I say he can be really cheeky too and they look at me like I'm mad!! He will also sit on my knee like a baby and let me clean his eyes and really tug at his fur with the comb if there is a knot and he lies there like an angel he just seems to also have a very naughty / awkward streak too!

Thanks but I wouldn't put him on his back I know what he is like - he would just struggle against me! :rolleyes:

supermezzo

catlou wrote: »

Thanks supermezzo, devotee & esmf73 it's really good to have someone else's opinion. Somtimes it's difficult to see the situation when you are in it yourself. I'm going to have to think about things and the way I deal with stuff a lot harder and about the best ways to change situations with him.

Sarabe trust the white haired dog to get on the sofa - sods law!! :rotfl:

We can't physically stop him going on the sofa as downstairs is open plan and I do let him come on it on his own blanket at times I don't think that I have confused him in that respect because he only jumps up "uninvited!" when he is in a cocky mood!! But I do think maybe you are right and that I have confused him somewhere along the line in other ways.......Although we have done our best to leave nothing out as a temptation to make it easier for him.

Another example of him biting would be if I am reading the newspaper he will try to jump and grab it or rip a piece off it. Whether I just turn side on and ignore him or tell him to leave it he will always jump up and bite in response.

He so is a "teenager" sometimes he has a look in his eyes "right what mischief can I do now!" and is about to jump on the sofa or something so I just warn him in a low voice "don't you dare" he then back-chat barks at me in a very specific way he only uses in that situation as if don't you tell me what to do!?! omg..........So cheeky :eek: but very clever:D Someone told me it's easier to train a more stupid dog........

I probably have painted him out to be a horror which he really isn't he will sit on my knee like a baby and let me clean his eyes and really tug at his fur with the comb if there is a knot and he lies there like an angel he just to seems to also have a very naughty / awkward streak too!

Thanks but I wouldn't put him on his back I know what he is like - he would just struggle against me! :rolleyes:

I think that perhaps put into perspective why the dog is a) confused and b) thinks he can get away with it - the goal posts keep changing.
He jumps up once and he gets ignored, so he jumps again to get your attention and he gets it. To you it sounds silly but to him its exactly what he wanted and he's learnt that in order to get it, he has to jump even harder and bite even more as the first time gets him nowhere.
I think that you should pick a course of action and stick to it, no matter what and ensure that the rest of the family do so too. At eight months this needs to be stopped now or you will almost certainly spend the rest of your dogs life doing exactly what he wants and the scenario you have now will never change as he will have you well and truly trained!
Believe it or not, he will thank you for putting your foot down in the long run and both he, you and the family will have a far easier and more pleasant life with him around.
And I suspect I am about to be slated for this but I firmly believe that dogs belong on their own bed/rug/floor etc and not on the same seats as humans. Especially in these sorts of situations, you are quite literally putting the dog on the same level as you. Put his bed or blanket on the floor and if he jumps onto the sofa, walk away and ignore him until he gets down. Reward him when he's in his basket etc
And sorry if I sound short but I've a) had a dog with this problem and it does need a very firm line taking to stop it and b) I've got a rotten cold so the world is pretty p** at the moment.

devotee

sarabe wrote: »

He has certainly learned that he was correct in needing to guard his bone in case you were going to take it away.

Hmmm yeah suppose, but then should I have then just left him to mess up my rug? Have taken bones off him before, this is the first growling I had!

catlou

Delayed reply........The latest..................

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!

I read your post supermezzo on Friday thanks for replying (and I didn't think you were being short and hope your cold is better too now!) and thought ok so if that's right and we have confused him then we need a new strategy so I decided if he bites I will completely ignore him so then he is not getting a reaction or any attention so he then won't think it's a game etc. and the attraction of this will stop. So I was feeling quite pleased new approach etc.......

Then on Friday night he jumps up to bite the newspaper I'm reading so I just moved the paper calmly so he couldn't reach it and completely ignored him so he then bit my hand and just wouldn't stop and was biting really hard but I thought I will persevere because he will then get bored and realise it's no fun but he just carried on biting my hand and arm REALLY hard for a few minutes :eek: until in the end he was hurting SO much I had to get up and walk away so I did a "scream" and walked off to go in another room and he followed me still jumping up and biting my legs!!

I was ready to send the little beggar packing!! Not sure where.....................??

So I'm back to square one again and I now have a bruised arm/hand I can't possibly let him bite me like that to teach him and I'm also annoyed with myself because I wanted to find one thing and stick to it but there is no way I can stick to ignoring him like that I will be black and blue!

I was really upset about everything but now I'm just pretty confused at the moment and unsure what action to take with him now as I agree that I don't want to keep chopping and changing as maybe that's what the problem has been in the past?

elsien

Sorry to hear you got hurt - I can completely understand you wanting to send the dog back at the time - I went through that stage myself on more than one occasion. Little so-and-so's sometimes, aren't they?
I was going to sugggest doggie time out - when mine was doing that to me I used to walk off and close the door on her till she calmed down, but having read your posts you're open plan so that's not really an option is it?
Sorry I can't suggest anything helpful, but it sounds as if ignoring is making the dog up the ante till you can't ignore it any longer, so whatever strategy you use needs to be a bit more proactive. Like I also found out, you can only ignore up to a certain point - never worked with mine unless I could separate us completely.

sarabe

catlou wrote: »

Delayed reply........The latest..................

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!

I read your post supermezzo on Friday thanks for replying (and I didn't think you were being short and hope your cold is better too now!) and thought ok so if that's right and we have confused him then we need a new strategy so I decided if he bites I will completely ignore him so then he is not getting a reaction or any attention so he then won't think it's a game etc. and the attraction of this will stop. So I was feeling quite pleased new approach etc.......

Then on Friday night he jumps up to bite the newspaper I'm reading so I just moved the paper calmly so he couldn't reach it and completely ignored him so he then bit my hand and just wouldn't stop and was biting really hard but I thought I will persevere because he will then get bored and realise it's no fun but he just carried on biting my hand and arm REALLY hard for a few minutes :eek: until in the end he was hurting SO much I had to get up and walk away so I did a "scream" and walked off to go in another room and he followed me still jumping up and biting my legs!!

I was ready to send the little beggar packing!! Not sure where.....................??

So I'm back to square one again and I now have a bruised arm/hand I can't possibly let him bite me like that to teach him and I'm also annoyed with myself because I wanted to find one thing and stick to it but there is no way I can stick to ignoring him like that I will be black and blue!

I was really upset about everything but now I'm just pretty confused at the moment and unsure what action to take with him now as I agree that I don't want to keep chopping and changing as maybe that's what the problem has been in the past?

Ignoring a dog doesn't teach them anything in my experience or at least not anything useful.

It is time wasted that could have been spent on teaching him what to do instead.

Dogs need to bite, it's in their nature. It's their way of relieving stress. It's why you need to play tug with him and give him an outlet and put the biting under your control.