[MountainDoodle]

My sweet 13-week-old who plays so well with our middle-aged lab at home is a holy terror when she's around other puppies! It started with two different neighbor puppies -- both adolescents and both quite large -- and I attributed the barking, snapping, growling and snarling to being afraid and overwhelmed. She also had her tail between her legs part of the time and hid, so I thought it was due to anxiety. We just removed her from the situation and I figured once she was bigger we'd try again.

Then we went to her first puppy gathering with other puppies her size (it was a playdate for her puppy kindergarten, which we haven't attended yet). She did fine at first, didn't seem scared or overwhelmed, just curious, and played fine. About half an hour into it she started snapping, snarling, biting and pinning the other puppies when they'd try to initiate play! The trainer was there and said it was not atypical -- that some puppies need to be taught how to play nicely just like some little kids. She had me pick Stella up and hold her under my arm for 30 secs- 1 min., being totally neutral, and then once she stopped wiggling and relaxed to let her down again. I had to do this MANY times (talk about messy workout!). I'm glad I have her in this class to nip (no pun intended) this in the bud but I'm appalled! My lab as a puppy LOVED other dogs and would have never acted this way (still wouldn't)! I feel like the mom of the class bully! The trainer claims this will all work itself out if I keep bringing her to class, but I still feel sort of embarrassed! (silly, I know)

Did anyone else go through this? I want her to be dog-friendly and this worries me a bit. She's an absolute sweetheart to all people and kids and has lots of fun with cat -- it's just other puppies she seems to have a problem with! I haven't introduced her to many adult dogs so I'm not sure how that will shake out-- all my friends' and neighbors' dogs are 1 year or younger.

Any thoughts? I guess I sort of just wanted to vent! Oh, and if you didn't see her on the "won't walk" thread, here she is:



A puppy THAT cute couldn't possibly be a terror, could she?!
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Traci & Stella

[Chucker]

Do you know anyone with older dogs that are not aggressive, but very confident? Layla was never aggresive, but played fairly rough with other dogs, esp my girlfriends lab who was fairly passive.
I have a friend with a Lab mix that really kept her in line. In fact, the first time they met, Layla looked at him an pee'd on the spot. It was kinda funny to see her being a little timid for once. I think it may help to socialize with all types of dogs so they know their rank in the pecking order. She plays great with other dogs. Just listen to your trainer and keep socializing, she should come around.

[lmtoth2]

I cannot get over how cute she is!! I just want to give her a big hug!

She is still sooo young!! We started taking Dexter to the dog park after he had his last set of shots. There were older dogs there who put him in his place (not in a mean way, but just let him know he couldn't pull any crap) I think it was good for his socialization. I would warn you - if you do this, try to pick a less busy time so your puppy isn't overwhelmed by a million crazy dogs.
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Leslie M

[CRoswell]

That fur looks so soft!

Dudley is 1.5 yo and was a stray pre-rescue. He has some issues with other dogs, but my sister's stray rescue (a dog 2/3 his size) put him in his place with a growl and a nip about a week ago and he has been quite a bit better since.

I think they are like the big tough kid on the playground that goes from elementary school to Middle school and gets his butt kicked on day one by a giant 8th grader.

I'm not advocating a dog fight of course, but sometimes they need to get a growl or a little nip from an older dog to make them realize they're not the center of the universe.

[Maddjaxx]

Gotta agree with what the others are saying. Marley's best friend is a 140 lbs female Newfoundland. They became close almost from day one. As Marley grew up to the rambunctious puppy stage, while Jewel was tolerant of him, she did find it necessary to reprimand him from time to time. Stern, but gentle and definitely got the point accros. Marley has learned alot from Jewel, and today they remain the best of friends. The benefit a relationship like that can be priceless.
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Greg
"I used to look at my dog and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

[Tink]

Just curious... how old was your pup when taken from Mom? Usually Mom nips that problem for them before they leave her.
I know Canada hasn't tolerated any over the top roughness in either of her litters.

She is really pretty!
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www.tinkerdoodle.net
Hickory, Ava, Hana, Misty, and Chip (happy master of his Harem)

[MountainDoodle]

[L's Mom]

Perhaps she is just a bit nervous and is acting out... Della was more fussy around new dogs than Lucas (she talks more than him in general), but you could tell it was just because she was a bit unsure of herself. Della stayed with her mom, dad, brother, sisters, aunts, etc... until she was about 3 months... so she was well socialized in her group, but with new dogs she wasn't so sure of herself... just keep socializing her, she'll get it
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Jenny, Sam, Lucas, & Della

[momoftwo]

Traci - I can so sympathize with you. I carefully picked my puppy he was great with my two young children then I took him to his first puppy pre-school class and he turned into cujo!! The trainer told me I had a very dominate dog. Every time he snarled he had to be removed from the room as a time out. By the third class I was so frustrated as the behavior wasn't improving and I was spending more time out of class than in. I also knew that I didn't get the dominate dog of the litter.

I discovered several things after removing him from that class and starting with a different class. It seems more like a fear agression.

1. He did not great well on leash - he felt he couldn't escape.

2. The first class I took him to had too many dogs in too small of an area.

3. When we moved to a class with a larger area the trainer told me his play was appropriate, he was just vocal.

As he got older he is no longer vocal in his play and does fine at the local dog parks. Although his play is appropriate he does like to play rough and now will seek out dogs he can wrestle with and play chase. He has never acted dominate with any one in our family and does great with all of my kid's friends that come over. He does not liked to be rushed at the gate of the dog park by several dogs and will snarl and snap and let them know it. (I try not to let him in until the gate area is clear - he has to sit and wait for a release command from me before he can enter the dog park.)He is getting better about greating other dogs on leash and even was fine last week when a stray dog came after us while out on a walk.

Try hard not to be aprehensive about your pups behavior and make sure the situations you are exposing him to are not too overwhelming- they will sense it from you and it will only make matters worse.

It will work out if you keep with the training - you may have to find a different class - if what you are doing is not working try something else!

Heather