big bob's progress

[bobbygeorge]

hi,

I have not been on here for ages as been really busy, bobby is now 8months old and huge weighing in at 35kg!!!! and continues to grow!!!
puppy class has finished we passed although the trainer did not really like us or bob, telling us he is far to clever and scatty??? he refused to work with her and performed the tasks about 3/4 of the time and the rest of the time wanted to play with the other dogs.

he is really beautiful and most of the time is really mild mannered, except when off the lead if he sees another dog he is off and will not come back for love nor money, which is a quite scary.... we now do big road lead walks and only off the lead at the beach as its safer.
bob continues to growl and try to be dominate if a situation is not going his way ie if he is asleep and needs waking for whatever reason he can be quite scary??
he seems to do it more with my husband??? sometimes bob is so bold it can be so challenging and disheartening as we are trying to do everything right...

we are planning on having his gonads removed in may, we are told we may see a vast improvement, fingers crossed!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Jac]

Hi Michelle and Matt, welcome back!

I would have told that trainer to refund the money! If the trainer didn't care enough to make the training experience at least pleasant, the problem was with the trainer not your dog!

I don't know that growling is so bad. It serves as a warning and so long as it doesn't escallate, it is not a problem...but if it is troubling you it might be a good idea to find a dog behaviorist in your area (and run from your trainer!)

I have dogs that growl with pleasure...it scared me at first, but then I realized that they growl and they sound really scary and serious, when they are feeling good...like when we scratch a backside or rub ears...they growl like crazy! I have one girl that always growls a lot when she scratches her ears.

My point is that maybe your pup isn't growling out of aggression...I can't say because I am not there...but it is possible.

[bobbygeorge]

good evening,

the growl is defo when he is a tad displeased, but i agree it is a warning and has never become any worse. We tend to tick him off and put him out of the room and he does not do then for approx a week...

he is lovely though, i am currently on nights and he has woken me up three hourly to check on me, with kisses, his tennis balls or just sitting on me.... how sweet

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Jac]

What a love! He must really adore you...

Here is a good link to information about growling, what it means and how to react...I think it is really helpful:

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=2258


One thing I would want to make sure of is whether or not your dog is in pain. Sometimes a dog hurts and that is the only way you know...by their warning growl. Sometimes a dog will have painful joints and when you are near he fears that you will make him move...so he growls...I'd make sure that he is in good health before I look into the behavior.

[bobbygeorge]

what a great article i think bob fits into growling when he does not feel like doing an activity!!! he really is that clever!!


he is in tip top health as he has just had his mot, thanks for the advice, lets hope i get more sleep tonight

xxxxxx

[Jac]

Keep us posted!