Hi All,

Our Weimaraner, Bailey, is now 12 months old, and is usually generally well behaved. However, just recently, (about past three weeks) he's become a dog we just don't recognise! Our 10 yr old GS, Tara, is bullied whenever we give them chews, and he has to 'own' both of them, otherwise he becomes aggressive towards her, and if she has the audacity to challenge him, a proper fight ensues. I've tried taking one back off him, and he's not interested in this one until he owns both again. Tara just gives up, and walks out of the room. They both love being in very close proximity to us, so Tara lets him get away with it, and leaves the room for some peace.  He's fine when they're eating their food, as they both get fed at the same time, he even sits back and lets Tara eat first. We also give the treats to Tara first, and he's ok with that, its just the chew sticks! Also, if I take them both away, he's growled, snarled, and barked at me too. Nice.

The other problem, is that he's just recently started being REALLY willful, we laid a new carpet in the kitchen where he sleeps, went out for two hours and he'd chewed a hole in it. I told him off, (which usually does the trick) and when we came down the next morning, he'd done it again. He's an intelligent dog, and knows he's doing wrong because of his reaction when we open the kitchen door, but still does it. This has happened 3 times now, since last week and as I'm 8 months pregnant, I'm worried that his behaviour will only worsen once the baby arrives.
We take him out 2 daily ( on and off the lead) and we've set up a baby gate across the front room door, in preparation for the baby's arrival, so that they're used to it before the baby arrives. It's been up for about 2 months, and we just keep them out of our company for about 20 mins at a time, in preparation of the baby's arrival. They were a bit put out at first, but are getting more used to it now.
Please could anyone give me some pointers about what to do about the change in my dog, I want Bailey back, think someone swapped him at the park when I took my eyes off him!! Thanks.

Hi All,
Forgot to mention, He's been castrated, about 4 months ago, on the recommendation of the vet.
Thanks!

This sounds like typical *Kevin* behaviour or, in other words, the dreaded teenage time :) Training, training and more training will see that you have a lovely weel behaved dog returned to you in about 6 months time :D :D

You need to give him a kong or something to occupy him whilst you are out ...freeze it to make him work harder to get the insides out of it ;)

Most male weimaraners come into rescue at around 10 - 12 months of age when they turn into the canine equivalent of a lager lout with testosterone overload; this period may last until around 2 and is rather a tedious time but the good news is that both you and they generally survive.

If you are having problems with resource guarding Mine! a practical guide to resource guarding in dogs by Jean Donaldson is very useful.

I am afraid dogs do not "do" "right or wrong" they are amoral.  Telling him off after the event is a complete waste of time as he will not connect your actions to his behaviour.  Weimaraners are extremely intelligent dogs as you have rightly identified and need to be mentally as well as physically occupied and stretched.  Stuffed kongs are a good boredom buster to begin with.

If you would like any further help; please do not hesitate to pm me; I have had 4 weimaraners! :D

Hi Tohme,
Please ignore my ignorance, but whats a kong??
Thanks for the advice, I'll have a look at the book, thanks!

KONGS.

Thanks Melodysk!
Have ordered my kong, don't feel quite so ignorant now!

Yes, sorry about that, I think we all assume everyone knows what a kong is :)

>The other problem, is that he's just recently started being REALLY willful, we laid a new carpet in the kitchen where he sleeps, went out for two hours and he'd chewed a hole in it. I told him off, (which usually does the trick) and when we came down the next morning, he'd done it again. He's an intelligent dog, and knows he's doing wrong because of his reaction when we open the kitchen door, but still does it. This has happened 3 times now, since last week and as I'm 8 months pregnant, I'm worried that his behaviour will only worsen once the baby arrives. <

I know Tohme has already mentioned that dogs will not associate being told off with the 'wrongdoing'   but as this is so important I would like to emphasise it.

The 'know he's done wrong' look is not guilt or knowledge of anything in the past it is merely a submissive posture that dogs use to appease to ward off danger.   If your dog is doing this it is because he is associating you coming in and telling him off, nothing more.   Telling him off will only serve to increase his anxiety at being left even more and you will have more damage done to your house. You must be really nice to your dog when you return home whatever the damage.

I would also get Jean Donaldson's book The Culture Clash as this will explain a lot about how dogs think and act and about training and behaviour in general.   It also explains a lot of 'owner misconceptions'.

All the best with your puppy

Wendy

Thanks Seddie,
Since reading the responces here, I've changed tack, and not shouted at him whenever we've returned home, and noticed the difference already. There's been no more damage (as yet!!) to the carpet, and we've bought a kong (which he loves!) and fill it whenever he's left to his own devices.
He's still 'resource guarding' with his chew sticks, but am waiting for the first J Donaldson book to arrive to set things in motion.
I always knew that their perception of things would differ from ours, but its amazing , when you know what to do how easy it is to make things better. (With a little bit of help, encouragement, and effort from you guys that is!) So thank you all, and I'll keep you posted on how we're all getting on. May need some more help once the baby arrives... anyone for babysitting???!!!
Thanks again,
Julee

You can always do swops if you want something from him like a tasty treat adding the "give"command doesn't have to be give I use out