Our 12 mth old OES was recently neutered and ever since has started to be more dominant, he jumps at me when I am sat on the sofa trying to bark in my face, even when I tell him to get down he wont, he used to a month ago.He starts barking for no reason whilst sitting in the lounge or follows me to the kitchen and starts to bark at me, I have gone through all the things he may need when he barks but none seem to be the one and he continues to sound off. The only thing that stops him is if husband is in and he tells him to be quiet which is what makes me think this is a dominence issue between dog & me.He has also sytarted to lunge and bark at the TV if there is anything resembling a dog on it which in the past he never even noticed.
the only godsend is that when we are out walking he stil responds to all commands by me, just in the house he seems to have lost it.
I am finding this stressful as he is starting to jump at the youngest of my children (5 yrs old) and try to nibble his arms, he doesnt actually make skin contact but I fear that may happen.He is not behaving like this to my other 2 children or my husband.

Any ideas that may help?

thanks, Jude

nope, forget dominance, nuffink to do with it.

He is a teenager now.

I have a one year old lurcher.....exactly the same, barking at me, yapping at me, bouncing on me, wont get off the sofa, bed, worksurface, kitchen table, blah blah....u name it, he is doing it, and its driving me nuts.

Dogs do things because they are rewarding, simple as that. Neutered or not, his hormones are whirling about telling him to do all kinds of crazy stuff, and the LAST thing he wants to do is listen to you, cos lets face it, when your a teenager, listening to mum and dad and doing as you are told, is BOOOOOOOOOOORRRRING!( I know, snot that long since i was one! lol)

The best thing you can do is forget dominance, as previously discussed on here, it is entirely the wrong word and will lead you to treat him in entirely the wrong way.

He IS however, being pushy and obnoxious....and, as with a wilful stroppy teenager he is still going to need a firm hand. Ignore wherever possible the annoying behaviour, and consistently reward what he does that is good.
If you find he isnt being good enough to reward, set up situations where he cannot fail but to do the right thing.
Try adn limit the opportunitys he ahs to be 'bad'.

If he was a lovely dog before this, then he will be one again.....just takes time adn patience.

Good luck, im off to make MY little delinquent into a rug.

Em

Also take a look at www.dog-dominance.co.uk, most worried owners find the information on here reassuring and realise they have a cheeky teenager and not a dominant dog on their hands :)

Lindsay

Agree not dominance just youth. It may well last a long time so you will have to insist he does as you ask.

Thank you Em, Lindsay and Jackie!!!

Having just had an hour of my "teenager" jumping all over me, barking and u name it I feel very much reassured that it is his age and not dominance, he was such a good boy until this last few weeks I was beginning to wonder what we had done wrong!

I will take the advice on board about rewarding the good behaviour etc and I will look at the dog dominance website as that may help as well.

again I thank you, nice to know it is anatural thing!!!!!

Jude