Hi,

I'm really concerned about our new little schnauzer puppy. Most of the time, he's a very loveable little dog - other times he's like a little demon..

(He's 10 weeks old now, just had his 2nd jab).

A friend of mine came around on Sunday..he's a big guy, tall, and very well built (a rugby player) - the second he walked in the front room - he GROWLED like crazy - like we've never seen him before, and barked his little head off. He didnt actually BITE him, it was just very concerning at the time that he is possibly going to react like this towards a lot of people. He did the same with the window cleaner today - my wife picked him up, went to open the back gate for him, and he growled and snapped out at him.

He occasionally growls at my wife - for no apparent reason.

We love him dearly and would hate to have to see him go - maybe this is an over-reaction - I just want the best for the dog.

Any advice would be most appreicated.

Sounds like you have a little rufty tufty mini on your hands, who is asserting himself and finding his feet.

He has found out that growling equals people he doesnt like backing off.

I suggest you start to put him in his place a bit more, up his training, ask you wife not to pick him up (increases his confidence to have a go) and start socialising him a lot more (take him onto town, sit with him on a bench and get people to give him titbits so he gets to realise people are nice) :)

HTH
Chloe

Hehe :)

Yeah, he's certainly a little 'rufty tufty mini' alright :P

Thanks very much for the advice - I have booked him into his first puppy class this coming Tuesday...which is lead by an ex West Midlands police dog trainer, came very highly recommended from lots of people.

Don't get me wrong - I dont mind too much about the barking etc - its only right for him to bark at strangers I suppose - it was more a case of thinking "oh my god, is this one gonna turn into a little demon who bites everyone ?"

He's actually been VERY good today - he met my Mom for the first time, barked once initially when she walked in....then didnt have a problem with her after that. My 2 children and 4 of her friends have played for about 15 mins in the back garden, tapping the football to him so he could play - he LOVED this :)..

Thanks again.

It does sound like you have a mini Schnauzer rather than a Schnauzer. They are very territorial little dogs and don't like strangers or people entering their home without them having something to say about it. My one barks at everyone who passes by our house and even in the street as he thinks this is his territory as well (we live on a quiet no through road). I'd be very surprised if they actually go to bite anyone as they are not normally nasty or aggressive, just noisy and demonstrative.

One trick is to train them to bark on command. I did see some tips how to do this on another website ages ago when I was researching the breed. I've not managed it myself, but i didn't really persevere. I also like the fact they bark at strangers when I'm in the house as i find it very reassuring when I'm on my own. Mine even barks at family when they visit and growls for attention. He just gets very excited.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, but if you don't like it then I guess you have to try and train it not to be quite so vocal...they really are a very vocal little dog!! I'll see if I can find that website link.

Yeah, sorry he is a Mini Schnauzer..like I've said to chloe, I dont mind the barking really...nearly all dogs bark at people, especially strangers - I was more concerned about the GROWL and little 'snap' he did towards the window cleaner (he didnt actually bite him, but apparently the window cleaner didnt speak to him, just reached straight out with his hand to stroke him..suppose he found it a bit scary).

My friend has 2 mini's who are extremely vocal - they can get a right old chorus going on between 'em :)

Thanks for the reply, and it would be nice if you could find the link :)

Hi,

Here is the link (sorry it isn't a direct one..I don't know how to do these):

http://www.executec.com/branford.htm

Go to training tips. You may find it useful.

I personally would use a very sharp "NO" if he goes to bite a hand. I'm sure it wasn't a real bite because it would have hurt! It could be that he thinks it is OK because he bites (mouths) hands in play...my mini was a horror for this...but mainly because my other half used to play with him and make him think this was a game and it was OK (sigh!). Minis in my experience do not have a nasty bone in their body...if they do mouth and bite a bit, it's because they are very young and exuberant and don't know any better. My only thought is that being picked up and approaching a stranger must have unnerved him excessively, and maybe don't pick him up in these situations if it makes him feel powerless. I try not to pick mine up too much, as he doesn't really like it.

Hope the website is of use. I'm reluctant to give training tips myself because I'm no expert. I've only owned a mini for two years now and have had contact with others through occasional showing. I just like to swap my experiences occasionally if I think it will help.

My mini Shnautzer is comming up for 6months old and your post reminded me of a frantic one I posted myself.

My little bitch barked like crazy (noise was like a screwdriver piercing my brain)!!! but, I am glad to say she is much improved.
Telling her firmly "no" and holding her mouth gently shut at the same time, worked for me.

Oddly, she seems to bark most when she is with me, my sister took her for a long walk for the first time last Sunday and she never barked once!! and when my daughter takes her out she rarely barks.

She is very well behaved for me but she can be quite naughty for everyone else so, I think it may be she is trying to show me she is "top dog" or, that she loves me to bits and the barking is to warn everybody to "keep back" (my own personal theory which I rather like ;-) )
She still growls a lot and it can be quite fierce even when she is playing, but it has never led to anything.
So I would just say "there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it will most likely get better."

hi, we have a male 10 month old mini schnauzer :D,he recently started barking at the window cleaner and the work men over the road,he only ever barks at people when he is in the house,i presume he is showing that this is his territory and making sure everyone knows it.appart from that he is the most lovable,mischevious,rougish character i have known,i just tell him on the first bark ok,thank-you,and if he carries on i tell him NO.if it persists i put him in his bed.
as i say he only does it when the other people are outside we could have a burglar come in and he would just play,he is slightly mad. ;)

This sounds completely normal to me! :)