Domaince issues?

[gshock]

Hey everyone,


I have a 3 month old male, he's a great dog intelligent, active ,etc. However it seems like he has dominance issues.

1) I'm teaching him to walk on a leash, and he obeys or follows my commands about 10% of the time and the 90% he'll lay down on the grass/pavement and try to challenge me. Or he bites the leash and walks between my legs. He doesn't have this issue when hes off the leash and he is under his own freewill, he'll follow me around at my side no issues.

2) He likes to bite alot, I've tried closing his muzzle & putting lemon in his mouth, (which worked foronly so long) or placing him in 'time out' when I tell him " NO!!" he'll become more aggressive and you can see his face snarl/bite even more which kind of concerns me to be honest. It seems like he's trying to do that to strictly challenge me and show me who's boss. I've seen him ' play bite' and its a totally different type of demeanor.

I can control him by using the command ' sit' then he'll start to pay attention and become under my control. To be honest it depends on his energy level. I think having a dog opposite to the sex of the handler, makes the dog easier to train right off the back. A male handler and a dominant male puppy is challenge! Or maybe it's just mine.

any opinions are welcomed.

[DunRingill]

3 month old puppies do not have dominance issues!

This puppy has no idea what you want. How long a walk are you taking him on? How are you teaching him to walk on a leash? What kind of collar is he wearing?

Don't get into confrontations with your puppy....it's like trying to negotiate with a 1 year old kid, it's pointless. If he goes to bite, push a soft tug into his mouth and encourage him to bite on that. You're in the alligator phase, it will end eventually!

[gshock]

3 month old puppies do not have dominance issues!

This puppy has no idea what you want. How long a walk are you taking him on? How are you teaching him to walk on a leash? What kind of collar is he wearing? I'm using a regular leash, not too long. When I walk with him I use it at close intervals. Which means I allow him enough slack to walk on his own/ and follow me. If he becomes distracted for too long, I'll re-direct him towards my path of travel. The collar is a regular neck type. Walks are 25-30 mins depending on what time of day. Which consists of ' fetching 'ball.

Don't get into confrontations with your puppy....it's like trying to negotiate with a 1 year old kid, it's pointless. If he goes to bite, push a soft tug into his mouth and encourage him to bite on that. You're in the alligator phase, it will end eventually!
I've tried to re-direct a toy into his mouth. And he prefers the soft taste of my legs or hands instead lol.. Hopefully It will end soon enough.

[catz]

All very typical behaviour from a baby. He is only learning about the world with a very short attention span. Puppies dont have dominance issues.
His nipping, snarling, biting the leash and acting the fool is just play.
Perfect time to get the treats and toys out and start using that energy for training and bonding.
Look up the Bite Inhibition tread and you'll see that most of the members have gone through the land shark stage and come through it.
You sound like you have great puppy so give him a break and enjoy him.... oh and excercise his mind as well as his body. A tired puppy is a happy puppy

[carmspack]

straight to the point

a ratio of 10% obey to 90% disobey is called - chance - luck.

a 3 month old dog or any dog not trained cannot disobey something that it does not understand.

clearly the dog , who is "intelligent " by your own admission has not been taught well. Treat this intelligent dog as an intelligent dog.

How exactly have you "taught" him.

Laying down shows either fatigue, stress and avoidance .

Why should the dog walk with you? Is it a half pleasant experience?

There is no obey , there should be co-operate though.

wow on number two . good number . In all my years this is a new one !!! A lemon in the mouth and muzzle held shut? The dog is challenging you not to be the boss but for his own well being , defending himself . Do you want the dog to fear you and avoid you or do a defensive bite?

Time out ? The dog won't reflect and mend his ways - can't . Seems like there is a diconnect between what you want, how to get it , and what the dog understands and is able to deliver (age).

Are you suggesting a female handler and a dominant male dog are a better match. The gender of either party does not matter . Some of the hardest butt head dogs are trialed by male trainers - .

Have you talked to the breeder ? Are they able to have you out to their place to give you some support?

Please find some good training classes in your area. Find a club or association in your area American Dog Trainers Network -- Your Dog Training & Behavior Resource Ctr

Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

[gshock]

Originally Posted by catz

All very typical behaviour from a baby. He is only learning about the world with a very short attention span. Puppies dont have dominance issues.
His nipping, snarling, biting the leash and acting the fool is just play.
Perfect time to get the treats and toys out and start using that energy for training and bonding.
Look up the Bite Inhibition tread and you'll see that most of the members have gone through the land shark stage and come through it.
You sound like you have great puppy so give him a break and enjoy him.... oh and excercise his mind as well as his body. A tired puppy is a happy puppy

yeah... maybe I'm expecting too much of him at this age.

[carmspack]

hi again. there seems to be no consistency in what your expectations are . you said . Which means I allow him enough slack to walk on his own/ and follow me. If he becomes distracted for too long, I'll re-direct him towards my path of travel.

[gshock]

a ratio of 10% obey to 90% disobey is called - chance - luck.

a 3 month old dog or any dog not trained cannot disobey something that it does not understand. True.

clearly the dog , who is "intelligent " by your own admission has not been taught well. Treat this intelligent dog as an intelligent dog. He is a intelligent pup, knows how to fetch and sit. Not to mention how get me worked up when he picks up something in his he's not supposed to have. And gets me to chase him around the living room.

How exactly have you "taught" him.

Laying down shows either fatigue, stress and avoidance .

He'll do this when leaving the lawn near my house at the beginning of the walk. Avoidance?

Why should the dog walk with you? Is it a half pleasant experience?
He gets to play with other dogs and play fetch/ run his little heart out.
There is no obey , there should be co-operate though.

I agree with you on this one..

wow on number two . good number . In all my years this is a new one !!! A lemon in the mouth and muzzle held shut? The dog is challenging you not to be the boss but for his own well being , defending himself . Do you want the dog to fear you and avoid you or do a defensive bite? No. I don't think I properly conveyed what I meant. I sprayed lemon on my hands and legs, so he would be discouraged from biting my body parts.

Time out ? The dog won't reflect and mend his ways - can't . Seems like there is a diconnect between what you want, how to get it , and what the dog understands and is able to deliver (age).

Are you suggesting a female handler and a dominant male dog are a better match. The gender of either party does not matter . Some of the hardest butt head dogs are trialed by male trainers - .

Have you talked to the breeder ? Are they able to have you out to their place to give you some support? Yes.. she suggested giving him toys and reading a book. Re-directing his mouth to his toys. Kinda vague.

Please find some good training classes in your area. Find a club or association in your area American Dog Trainers Network -- Your Dog Training & Behavior Resource Ctr

Yes, I do need a trainer. Just not sure if I should seek out the 'pet shop type' or a profressional/breed specific type.

Thank you.
Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

[DunRingill]

Originally Posted by gshock

He is a intelligent pup, knows how to fetch and sit. Not to mention how get me worked up when he picks up something in his he's not supposed to have and gets me to chase him around the living room.

DO NOT chase him around the living room when you want something back. This quickly becomes a game.....they soon learn that if they pick up something that you don't want them to have, you'll chase them. Sort of like a naughty kid, bad attention is better than no attention at all.

My in-laws have a golden who quickly figured out that if she stole their shoes or socks they'd chase after her, and then go get a cookie and exchange the cookie for the item. Yeah that went well, pretty soon all shoes and socks had to be locked away. Dogs do what works, stealing shoes and socks worked to get attention and cookies!

Calmly walk to your dog and CALMLY take your item back. Don't chase in a way that gets the adrenaline going. Walk him down, don't chase. x-pens make great puppy playpens, put him in there with his own toys when he's being too much of a pest or you don't have time/patience to watch him. If you can't catch your puppy or he's too good at playing keep-away, have him drag an old leash so you have an easier time catching him.

He probably IS an intelligent puppy, but really, 3 month old puppies don't "know" much of anything....but they do quickly learn that biting makes you yelp and chase him. Don't just stick a toy in his mouth to distract him, make the toy move and have him chase it. PLAY with him, make the toy alive. Start this stuff now, it will all be useful when real training starts.

Oh and I think you said you're taking him on 25-30 minute walks? I think that's too long.

[gshock]

[QUOTE=DunRingill;2295962]DO NOT chase him around the living room when you want something back. This quickly becomes a game.....they soon learn that if they pick up something that you don't want them to have, you'll chase them. Sort of like a naughty kid, bad attention is better than no attention at all. Point well taken..

My in-laws have a golden who quickly figured out that if she stole their shoes or socks they'd chase after her, and then go get a cookie and exchange the cookie for the item. Yeah that went well, pretty soon all shoes and socks had to be locked away. Dogs do what works, stealing shoes and socks worked to get attention and cookies!
Sounds like a hostage exchange

Calmly walk to your dog and CALMLY take your item back. Don't chase in a way that gets the adrenaline going. Walk him down, don't chase. x-pens make great puppy playpens, put him in there with his own toys when he's being too much of a pest or you don't have time/patience to watch him. If you can't catch your puppy or he's too good at playing keep-away, have him drag an old leash so you have an easier time catching him.

Ok, I'll try this out.

He probably IS an intelligent puppy, but really, 3 month old puppies don't "know" much of anything....but they do quickly learn that biting makes you yelp and chase him. Don't just stick a toy in his mouth to distract him, make the toy move and have him chase it. PLAY with him, make the toy alive. Start this stuff now, it will all be useful when real training starts.

Oh and I think you said you're taking him on 25-30 minute walks? I think that's too long. How long are your walks?