Shocked... Lola went for me last night

samuela66

ripplyuk wrote: »

Obviously it's important to get the vet to check her in case she's in any discomfort but the clue is when you say she'll give a little growl sometimes when you try and move her from the sofa. I would contact a qualified dog behaviourist asap as this behaviour really only tends to escalate. If nothing changes, soon she may challenge you every time you ask her to do something that she doesn't want to. Also, make sure she is getting lots of exercise as increasing the exercise almost always helps with this type of behaviour problem.

Hi Ripply

She is now booked in at the vets for her glands...
She gets two good walks a day, and is generally let off the lead to run around...
I can see what you mean about her challenging me, I will have to nip it in the bud!

thanks

ostrichnomore_2

Growling is doggy language for "I'm uncomfortable, please back off". - but on the other hand, a little moo growling at you when you tell her to get off sofa is a problem that should have been sorted out, not laughed at.

It does sound as though she's in pain and needs the vet visit, and that's why she acted so out of character, but OP you also need to have a normal level of discipline with your dog. It is really not OK for a dog to growl at you because it doesn't want to do what it's told. Leads to all sorts of crap behaviour.

Person_one

The OP said the dog growls if she is asleep on the sofa and they move her.

I think I might growl too if I was suddenly picked up while I was trying to snooze! The expression 'let sleeping dogs lie' exists for a reason!

OP, if you want her to move, call her name, get her attention, and then use a word like 'off' to tell her what you want.

You couldn't just pick up a big dog, you'd have to train them. Its really important that we small dog owners don't get complacent because their size makes some things easier.

ostrichnomore_2

Oh I read that too quickly. Yes, OP, don't just grab a sleeping dog and move it!

McKneff

Seems like dog owners need nearly as much training as dogs to be honest.

krlyr

It is not about "challenging". Dogs do not want to take over the world, and they don't know wrong or right from a morals POV either. They just know that they've been taught X is rewarding, Y is not (and possibly Z results in punishment, depending on how you train).

If OP has let the dog sleep on the furniture, the dog will not know that growling at said owner when on furniture is any worse than when they're on the floor. They're simply communicating in one of the few ways they know how.

OP has identified a possible health cause for growling, so the dog is likely not growling because it wants to be on the furniture, but because it happens to be sore or feeling under the weather.

The growling and the being allowed on furniture are two separate matters. You should never punish a dog for growling - you risk teaching it not to give that basic warning, but to skip to the next step. And then if you punish that step (e.g. air snapping), they'll skip that and progress to the next step. Punishing a dog for growling is an easy way to train a dog to bite without warning.

If the furniture thing is an issue, then OP needs to teach the dog not to climb on furniture. But they do need to address the possible health issue as a genuine concern. If it turns out that's not the cause, then reading up on resource guarding may help - there's a good book by Jean Donaldson - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mine-Practical-Guide-Resource-Guarding/dp/0970562942

Dog behaviour is often much more basic than the whole dominance theory (which has been debunked).

Person_one

McKneff wrote: »

Seems like dog owners need nearly as much training as dogs to be honest.

We really do, its a shame more don't realise that before they get a dog!

samuela66

McKneff wrote: »

Seems like dog owners need nearly as much training as dogs to be honest.

I try my best McKneff, I rescued her (with money) from a house where she had never ever been walked or brushed, it may not be good enough to some, but I am giving her a better home and learning along the way!

Person_one

samuela66 wrote: »

I try my best McKneff, I rescued her (with money) from a house where she had never ever been walked or brushed, it may not be good enough to some, but I am giving her a better home and learning along the way!

Don't take it personally, its the same for every first time dog owner, its a learning curve. I've had dogs nearly all my life and I still get things wrong sometimes!

meritaten

I am thinking blocked anal glands too - its really uncomfortable (or maybe painful) for a dog. easy to sort out too. the vet can do it, and my lovely vet showed me how to do it, as my springer was getting them quite often. saved me a fortune in vets fees!
I also echo that its quite good you were given clear warnings but not actually bitten - means the dog wanted you to back off but wasn't willing to hurt you.