I have read somewhere on this site cannt remember where, if an older puppy growls at you, you should put it in its place.
What does that mean exactly?

Yeah good question ! as my puppy will growl and show his teeth if im trying to make him do something he doesnt want to do. How can you stop that ? I dont want to make him frightened of me, but he does need to know im the boss ??

It depends on the reason why the puppy feels the need to growl at you!

Some examples would be nice.

Yes, it'd certainly make the correct advice easier to give! ;) Underwhat circumstances is this pup growling? How old is it? How longhave you had it?

I was just asking generally, but it would be good to know how to handle the situation if or when the problem crops up.

Well how about what aliwongo said, how would you handle that situation.

I'd still need to know the answers to those questions. What's she's posted is very vague - what does she want the puppy (what age? How long has she had it? How was it reared?) to do that it doesn't want to? What is her mood at the tie? Is the puppy completely healthy? Basically though, you 'show a dog who's boss' by understanding the way a canine mind works and working with it, not against it.

Whats her mood at the tie, do you mean when she gets mated? She wouldnt be mated would she if she was a puppy. Im not sure what you mean by that.

Oops, spelling mistake! I meant to say 'What's her mood at the time!' - referring to the owner's mood, not the puppy's! ;) :D

> Basically though, you 'show a dog who's boss' <

Why do you have to show the dog you are the "boss" at all ? Sorry I find it very strange to want to boss a dog,, train/modify/stop behaviour yes but "boss" ?

I was using Aliwongo's own phrase, MM. I agree, I don't think 'boss' is the right word as it reminds me of school bullies. However it's not easy to find a simple word describing the relationship between human and owner. 'Partner' would be good, but people tend to use that to describe the human they share their lives with!

:P

Lindsay
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Edited: Ooops wrong place that was meant for JG!

The phrase can sometimes refer to making a dog realise the owner is "alpha" but, as pack theory was originally worked out on captive wolves who were not family, there was some flawed science going on.

I agree with JG, you try to understand the canine mind and work with it :) and work on perhaps, boundaries, manners, that sort of thing (generalising a lot here).

Lindsay
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A growl, like a bark or a tail wag or a lip curl or hackles raised, is communication.

If you are playing tuggy, its playful, enthusiastic.... if you are my saluki x, its demented pointy dog saying hello (she is odd), if your dog is in pain, scared, feels threatened, its a warning.

You shouldnt focus on wanting to stop the latter kinds of growling. You should focus on wanting to prevent the triggers that CAUSE the dog to feel the need to growl.

If your dog feels threatened and growls at you, then YOU are possibly being threatening. Stop it and the dog will stop feeling the need to warn you he feels threatened and may bite.

Preventing a dog from displaying that he is feeling scared or pain or threatened will not stop the dog from FEELING these things, just stop him warning you.
And thats often where dogs who 'bite with no warning' come in!

Em

Hi, sorry for delay in responding.
My Beardie is 14 months now, had him since he was about 8wks. He will growl and show his teeth, for all sorts of reasons...

I left the room, came back and he was on my seat on the sofa (he always sits on sofa opposite me!) so I asked him to get down, he just looked at me, then i went to take his collar...and he growled, showed his teeth etc.
He also growls if I go to lift him into the car (after waiting for him to jump up - sometimes he will, sometimtes he wont) He also growls if I try to groom him.

He has never been smacked, (but kissed far too much !!)  Thats why everyone says 'you need to show him who is boss' eg, thats my seat not yours !!! (Not meant in a bullying way - if anything im way to soft with him, and always speak to him in loving tones, rather than strict! Unless he nips, then I tell him off, but he just looks at me as if to say "BOVERED??"

Have you tried keeping a light house lead on him so you can remove him with less confrontation than using collar? Only have it on while you are there to supervise though. I found it invaluable with my rescue boy.

Anne

I was advised to have short lead on my Rottie as he was growling at my son when asked to go outside.
It worked wonders. Just a couple of weeks later and there's no problem any more. The dog goes out when asked and also 'listens' to my son on other matters as well. We no longer use the lead any more.
He did have 'issues' that we also dealt with so it wasn't just the growling.

It's important to remember that dogs often need to be taught to enjoy being handled, esp. around the collar area.
Also, never command a dog to "get down" off the sofa if you also say "down" in other situations (often, people will say"down" for getting off the sofa, an obedience down, and for stopping them from jumping up!).

It can get very confusing. I'd agree with the use of a house line, you can also use say, clicker training to train what you want the dog to do and get him enjoying the command and enjoying doing what you want.

Are you sure his hips etc are oK too, as this can cause problems with handling.

Lindsay
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