Are we becoming a teenager?.... Or a neurotic nervebag butthead?

[chelle]

Ok so my title was meant to be funny... or at least sort of. Can you help me analyze some of this recent behavior?

Bailey is seven months and one week today.

These behaviors literally just started last week, and even today.

Last Thurs/Fri, Bailey humped on my Shiba. First hump ever. Right in front of me. I shut it down asap.

Yesterday at the dog park, we were hanging out a bit with a 4 y/o neutered black lab and a 4 y/o spayed GSD. They were all hitting it off very well. Bailey tried to hump the lab, I shut him down immediately and no more attempts, but I swear he was showing some posturing at times. He was facing the lab's shoulders, head over the body and I was wondering if he was going to attempt to put his paws up on the dog, but he didn't. Could've been my imagination, but I don't think so.

Today at the dog park we were completely alone. He must've peed 6 times, (marking.?) Then, for the first time ever... the almighty leg lift to pee. Did this twice on bushes.

I swear Bailey is trying to "herd" my American Eskimo. My eskie (Dolly) is true to the breed nickname, "pesky eskie," because when she wants something, she's not shy about it. She's on a diet right now and I have to assume hungry, because she's pestering me for food when she just can't have it. Bailey will come up, get between she and I, and sort of herd her back away from me. No growling, nothing like that... I swear he's acting like some kind of cop - I'm telling her "no breakfast yet" -- and he sort of herds her away from me. I don't really think he is resource guarding me, though... She often sits on my lap and gets a good belly rub and he doesn't care.. or I brush her out and he doesn't care.

These may not really be big things, but they're new to me and all happening at once so I'm wondering if this is Bailey growing up, or more. Is he showing signs he may become a dominant dog? I've never raised a male dog and my two females didn't do any of these things.

Input is appreciated, thank you.

[1sttimeforgsd]

My male is almost 18 mo old and he does the same thing and has been since he was about your boys age. I make him get down every time I catch him trying to get his groove on with his sister (lab). They all try to crowd the other out for attention at my house, I just think it is a jealousy thing there is never any growling just one trying to crowd the other out.

[Freestep]

Sounds like teenage antics to me! He's not necessarily trying to be dominant, but he's pushing his boundaries and seeing what he can get away with. Just stay consistent like you have been, and let him know the boundaries, and you'll get through this.

[idahospud49]

Glock just barely started lifting his leg a couple of weekends ago. I about cracked up the first few times, he kept falling!! Sounds like a teenage BOY to me!!

[Dainerra]

honestly, I read your title and thought "is there a difference?" lol

I'd go with teenager as well

[chelle]

Originally Posted by Freestep

Sounds like teenage antics to me! He's not necessarily trying to be dominant, but he's pushing his boundaries and seeing what he can get away with. Just stay consistent like you have been, and let him know the boundaries, and you'll get through this.

Ok, good, thank you everyone... I'd rather be ahead of the game than come back later with a really big problem!

~

What do you think about the (possible) dominant posturing? Should that be shut down like the humping? My instinct is to say yes. I'm not sure of the best way to do so. The humping is easy; a NO or NO HUMP and physically knocking them at the hip. But the posturing... when to stop that? When you just sense it, when they're hovering, or to wait until they raise a paw?

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by chelle

But the posturing... when to stop that? When you just sense it, when they're hovering, or to wait until they raise a paw?

Dominant posturing needs to be interrupted as soon as you sense it.

At the risk of getting blasted, I'd suggest you look into neutering him ASAP. Yes, he is young, but he sounds pretty precocious to be doing "male" stuff at 4.5 months. Neutering him will help nip some of this behavior in the bud, so to speak. I'm assuming this isn't a show or breeding dog?

Of course, neutering isn't a cure for behavior issues, but it will help your training "take" a bit more quickly if his brain isn't locked up with all that testosterone. Of course, some dogs insist on humping whether they are neutered or not... but usually the intensity of it lessens after neutering.

It's interesting how some males are more "male" than others... some intact dogs will posture, fight, roam, hump, lift their leg on everything, and generally act like buttheads, while others are totally laid back unless there is a female in heat somewhere. Perhaps some dogs' systems are more sensitive to testosterone than others? Just thinking out loud.

[chelle]

Originally Posted by Freestep

Dominant posturing needs to be interrupted as soon as you sense it.

At the risk of getting blasted, I'd suggest you look into neutering him ASAP. Yes, he is young, but he sounds pretty precocious to be doing "male" stuff at 4.5 months. Neutering him will help nip some of this behavior in the bud, so to speak. I'm assuming this isn't a show or breeding dog?

Of course, neutering isn't a cure for behavior issues, but it will help your training "take" a bit more quickly if his brain isn't locked up with all that testosterone. Of course, some dogs insist on humping whether they are neutered or not... but usually the intensity of it lessens after neutering.

It's interesting how some males are more "male" than others... some intact dogs will posture, fight, roam, hump, lift their leg on everything, and generally act like buttheads, while others are totally laid back unless there is a female in heat somewhere. Perhaps some dogs' systems are more sensitive to testosterone than others? Just thinking out loud.

He's actually 7 months and 1 week, exactly. Not sure if that would change your viewpoint, but wanted to point that out, just to be sure. Also, just to be specific, these behaviors are brand new, literally within one week or less.

No, he is absolutely not a show dog and will never breed.

[RocketDog]

I'm watching your posts with interest Chelle. Rocket is 6 months on the 15th and I keep reminding myself everyone says "Just today he/she started doing this!!" He hasn't started anything yet, but that's the key word there.....yet.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by chelle

He's actually 7 months and 1 week, exactly. Not sure if that would change your viewpoint, but wanted to point that out, just to be sure. Also, just to be specific, these behaviors are brand new, literally within one week or less.

Whoops, I don't know where I got 4.5 months, sorry about that--at 7 months, he's right on schedule and I would still consider neutering him sooner rather than later. Once the "male" behaviors begin, they can become ingrained, even after he's neutered. So if you don't want these behaviors, neuter now to minimize them. Remember that it takes about 6 weeks for all the testosterone to leave his system, so he's not going to wake up the next morning and have all his "urges" suddenly gone. So you'll still need to remain vigilant. I've heard of males who got out and bred a female two or three days after castration surgery, and got her pregnant!

Anyway, others will come in and tell you the risks (growth issues, cancer risks, etc.) of neutering a 7 month old GSD. But if I had a pet dog that started humping and posturing, I'd neuter him ASAP, because I don't like those behaviors and neither do most other dogs. Leaving a dog intact has risks as well, so as far as I'm concerned, everything balances out in favor of neuter. A lot of people think differently about it than I do, though.