Advice needed please
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Hi Sharron, Malaika is 11 weeks old.
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I had a red/wht named Ringo that was very growly his whole life. He just automatically growled when you'd pick him up. He wouldn't bite just very growly. I'd just tell him "oh quiet you rascal".
Thanks Dan, this puts it into perspective a bit for me
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I think it is probably just a tantrum, to see if she can get her way. Do LOTS of picking her up, don't put her down until she relaxes, not matter how wild she gets. Ignore the growling, or just say 'too bad honey, you gotta do it'. Lots of puppies try this at this age, it doesn't mean she is going to have a nasty temperament…she just needs to learn it isn't going to get her what she wants. She is the size and age, that you can physically control her, and teach her what is acceptable, as she gets bigger, and more experienced it is harder to do that. This does tell you that she will be the kind of girl who knows what she wants, and will do what she can to get it...so I would start working a kind of "nothing in life for free" program with her.
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It's a control issue. Ringo like to make sure he let people and large dogs know that he wasn't going to be controlled except it didn't work with me. He knew what I wanted was going to happen. Some dogs like people have control issues. You can't let it intimidate or stop you from controlling the dog. Ringo knew after a while that what I wanted him to do was in his best interest. He would still do his little growly thing but that's just him complaining.
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The growl is just information. It lets you know when she doesn't like something. Now you can use that information to work with her so she becomes accepting of being picked up. Lots of dogs really don't enjoy being handled and restrained.
We just got back from puppy class where we practiced, "Grab me, Feed me". The object is to teach the puppy when a person grabs at you that good things (food) is likely to happen. We would grab their collar then feed them. Then maybe grab their ruff and feed, hold their leg and feed, etc so they started to get the idea that being touched even occassionally roughly means good things will likely happen. This also teaches them to like being handled though because they start to associate the handling with the food so they become more accepting of handling.
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Some folks punish growling harshly. That gives the dog no option.
Stay quiet and then BITE.
Please, as Pat says, its just information. Sort of like a kid grumbing about something. -
Thanks everyone for your advice, i understand about the growl being a warning and have to curb my natural reaction to stopping it. It worried me a bit when she nipped me after being told No, it was a peevish bite and not a play bite. In reterospect i realise i should have used a calm voice.
As for the nothing in life is free training, we are working on getting her to see us a leaders, ie we are in charge of her toys, we get her to sit before her meal etc. We also ignore her first demands to be picked up and cuddled, and try to invite her over to us before picking her up.
Roll on the puppy classes. -
The growl is just information. It lets you know when she doesn't like something. Now you can use that information to work with her so she becomes accepting of being picked up. Lots of dogs really don't enjoy being handled and restrained.
We just got back from puppy class where we practiced, "Grab me, Feed me". The object is to teach the puppy when a person grabs at you that good things (food) is likely to happen. We would grab their collar then feed them. Then maybe grab their ruff and feed, hold their leg and feed, etc so they started to get the idea that being touched even occassionally roughly means good things will likely happen. This also teaches them to like being handled though because they start to associate the handling with the food so they become more accepting of handling.
I like this advice a lot!
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Shelley - I agree that Howards' was the better reaction but as I said it's understandable that you were worried because of your previous experiences.
I hope now by everyones' comments and advice that you now realise that this is no major problem? Malaika is a different baby and she's yours to shape into a lovely girl - the good thing is that you've seen the worst and have the knowledge to avoid it!!
Talking about growling - here's a laugh, Adonis, our Fula Tri, was excelled in obedience competition but from the age he started to the age he died he accompanied all his obedience actions with a low growl saying "I'm only doing this because you want me to." He had the sweetest temperament with young and old, known and unknown and the growl never meant "I'm going to bite you."
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Shelley - I agree that Howards' was the better reaction but as I said it's understandable that you were worried because of your previous experiences.
I hope now by everyones' comments and advice that you now realise that this is no major problem? Malaika is a different baby and she's yours to shape into a lovely girl - the good thing is that you've seen the worst and have the knowledge to avoid it!!
Talking about growling - here's a laugh, Adonis, our Fula Tri, was excelled in obedience competition but from the age he started to the age he died he accompanied all his obedience actions with a low growl saying "I'm only doing this because you want me to." He had the sweetest temperament with young and old, known and unknown and the growl never meant "I'm going to bite you."
:D:D Adonis sounded a real character and what a name, no wonder he had big ideas ;)
