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Rottweilers => Rottweiler Discussions => : doggylover July 05, 2006, 10:42:06 AM
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We hand feed raw food and have never had any problems. This morning I was feeding Pookie (I'm feeding him first, before the puppy) and he grabbed the meat out of my hand aggressively. He has very seldomely done this in the past, and yesterday he did it to David half way through his meal. When he did it to David, he said, 'NICE' (which you can say and he will normally calm down and behave)and Pookie did it again, so David didn't feed him anymore, he had to wait a few more hours for the bulk of his dinner. He was then fine eating from me. Now this morning I was giving him breakfast, and he hurt me. No blood, but the intent was to hurt me. I said loudly, 'NICE' and I pointed at him in his face (which normally makes him look down submissively and behave)then he snapped at me. I raised my voice and said 'cut it out' and he jumped back, snipped the air, and barked at me (it was clearly a frustration bark, laced with a little yelp).
I stood over him in an aggressive posture and sort of stared him down, and yelled at him to take it nice, and he took the rest of his meal gently.
This dog NEVER does this stuff. He was a very difficult/stubborn/pilly puppy, but other than pouting, he hasn't done anything like this since he was a pup. By pouting I mean, grumbling constantly, generally showing his displeasure when things aren't how he wants them to be. We used NILF (without knowing we were) as a pup, we hand feed and we don't allow him to get away with stuff.
I am SURE he is ticked off about the puppy. He is barely tolerating her. If she comes over to him, he growls if he is tired of her (she is taking the hint and leaving him alone when he is grumpy). He gets distraught if we feed her anything (he gets fed first), he hops around and cries and gets visibly upset.
What do you guys think? Is this classic frustration around the puppy coming? I was planning to reintroduce NILF, and start doing light training with him again (his leg needs surgery so I can't exersise him right now).
I think he is also a little sleep deprived. The puppy is keeping him awake where normally he slept 20 hours a day.
I am totally open to all opinions so don't feel like you have to walk on eggshells.
Ronda and Nana Pookie need help!
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I know everybody else will have great suggestions but I just want to chime in with sympathy! I think bringing the new baby in is definately upsetting Pookie...and maybe with more loves, and reassurance that, to you, he's still number one in your heart, he'll calm down. What a scary thing, though!
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I know everybody else will have great suggestions but I just want to chime in with sympathy! I think bringing the new baby in is definately upsetting Pookie...and maybe with more loves, and reassurance that, to you, he's still number one in your heart, he'll calm down. What a scary thing, though!Â
This is my first sort of gut reaction too, then I thought, 'Cesar would say affection is last'. I wonder though if this really is the solution because he seems pretty upset, and he is and has always been such a good boy.
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:-\ Awww...poor Nana Pookie. It's tough to have a new baby. I don't have any suggestions, just some empathy.
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:-\ Awww...poor Nana Pookie. It's tough to have a new baby. I don't have any suggestions, just some empathy.
Thanks you guys. It really was sorta scary. Badger is so nice, I nearly fell over when he did this. It hurt pretty bad, but mostly it just really scared me.
:-\
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I wonder though if this really is the solution because he seems pretty upset, and he is and has always been such a good boy.
If this is so totally out of character for him, I would think reassurance would be best (now, take this with a grain of salt because I know virtually nothing about training anything other than Newfs!! ::)). It doesn't seem like you'd need to start over to train him; he's already trained. It would seem that the baby has just made him insecure in his standing with you.
As I said, I'm probably the dead LAST person to advise you, so listen to those how know more. I have a tendency to think with my heart....and that's not necessarily the best tool in the tool chest!!!
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AWWW poor boy. I think it is probably related to the puppy too. You did mention that he needs surgery on his leg maybe it is hurting him too. I would do the light training ( that way he knows that you are still the boss "alpha")that you can and reassurance that he is still your baby boy and you still love him too. He probably is figuring out where he stands with the new puppy too.
I hope everything works out. Our tribe took a bit to figure out who stands where yadda yadda yadda.....Rosi e still pushes thier buttons some days ::)
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Samson regressed back to some undesirable behaivor he used to show when he was 7 to 10 months old when Rosie was gone...I bet it's the puppy & the upheaval in his life right now...I'd definitly use NILF to reinforce what he already knows but also give him LOADS of extra attention & some one on one time with you & your DH...He may be feeling unsure right now of his place in the "pack" with Gossy there...How stable would you be feeling if David brought home another female companion? :o :-\ ;) Be stern when you have to but I'd seriously pour on the attention for Badger...I mean really lay it on thick so he knows his place is secure...I bet Mr. Stinky Butt will be just fine then! :)
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I dont know... I am more iron fisted with my dogs even though it sometimes kills me.... Anything that is unwarranted is unacceptable. Yes, there is a new pup but his behavior is 100% unacceptable especailly towards the pack leaders and needs to be corrected. I am (to some people) extreme with my methods but they work and well they know that they have to behave.
I personally wouldnt give the dog extra love... he tried to bite and twice regardless of why, he knows better.... I would ignore him 100% and keep him crated with no acknowledgemen t for atleast a day. Leash him to go to bathroom but no attention and back in crate.. pack animals do not like to be deprived from their pack
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We had a similar situation with McDougal after we got Binky. McDOugal is the sweetest dog and had NEVER shown any aggression until a few weeks after we brought Binky home. I went to get him off the bed and he growled. I reprimanded him and went for his collar and he just barely snapped at me.
I grabbed him, brought him downstairs and made him sit in the corner for 1/2 an hour. When I let him move from the corner, I ignored him for a couple hours. I felt sooo bad-he looked so miserable and kept following me around, all hunched over- but it worked. It is really hard for me to use "harsh" discipline like that, but snapping just can't be tolerated.
McDougal continued to pout about Binky for a solid 6 months-and he still doesn't really like her-but he has never again even hinted at any type of aggression towards me.
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I agree with everyone else.. he feels displaced because of the puppy. Bubba is a little jealous of Lola too at times, expecially if she's getting attention and he isn't. But no growling/snapping is allowed and he knows it. Just keep working NILIF and don't let any bad behaviour go unpunished. If Bubba misbehaves he's ignored and put in a down/stay in an out of the way spot for as long as I see fit.
Babs.. I don't think your methods are extreme by the way. My motto is do whatever works for you and gets your point across.
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Babs.. I don't think your methods are extreme by the way. My motto is do whatever works for you and gets your point across.
I agree!...Babs is one of the people I really look to for advise & answers when the going gets tough with my dogs!...I most definitly do not allow ANY agressivness from my dogs & am absolutly hardcore when any is shown!...Nip that in the bud immediatly & firmly!...But, maybe I am too softhearted because when the dog is acting appropriatly then I pour on the love. :)
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Babs you are not too extreme...but right on target :)
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Just my two cents here- if I were hand-feeding and got snapped at even once, the food would b immediately put away and not brought out again until the next scheduled meal. He would no doubt get the point very quickly if you were consistent in his actions having a quick and direct result. I am sorry you are going through this.
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This is kind of what I was thinking. Biting (which is what he did, he didn't draw blood but he was very much trying to hurt me, he bit hard) needs to be nipped in the big fat bud. Babs, I don't think your suggestions were harsh. I love Pookie enough that I'll do whatever is needed to 'smack' the attitude right out of him.
Badger has always had, right from day one, an undercurrent in him of dominance (I'm not even sure if that's the right word for it), he was hard to train and although he doesn't bite (EVER) he stomps around a LOT.
Babs would you crate him for ANY attitude or just the biting?
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Just my two cents here- if I were hand-feeding and got snapped at even once, the food would b immediately put away and not brought out again until the next scheduled meal. He would no doubt get the point very quickly if you were consistent in his actions having a quick and direct result. I am sorry you are going through this.
How cool is this...we were posting at the same time, and I was saying to hubby right after I hit 'post', but before I saw what you suggested, that next time, the meal was being taken away and he could just be good and hungry for the rest of the day. Nana Pookie doesn't like to be hungry. ;)
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I really don't have anything to add the posts before me are SO much more knowledgable, just wanted to write in and let you know that I feel for you, having a new puppy and one who is having a bit of trouble handling it is very disheartening but I hope it gets better everyday!!
Badger has such a sweet face I never realized he was a slightly difficult pup? I haven't been able to see the new pup because all I get is a white box with a red x in it? But I'm sure she is very adorable!!
Randy
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Randy,
:) I'll try and see if I can get a puppy pic on the avatar. I hesitate to say Badger has issues because it isn't so much that, as that he needs a constant firm hand.
I've had friends who had dogs who could let them up on the sofa, sleep with them in bed, feed them before eating dinner themselves...i t really doesn't seem to matter what they do or don't do for training, the dog is sort of submissive naturally. With Badger, it's just that it takes daily reminders of who is boss. He doesn't test us much anymore (that biting while feeding is only recent, since puppy, I mean other than that)but growing up, he would test us EVERY day. You couldn't sit on the floor with him or he would sit on you. You couldn't feed him first or he would get an attitude and not listen. He couldn't be allowed to go out doors first or he would be dominant.
He is a wonderful wonderful dog and he is never dog aggresive (he has snipped at puppy a few times now because she bites him, but he doesn't 'hurt' her). He can be totally trusted with kids, he doesn't do anything naughty if we leave him in the house for 10 hours at a time. But if we didn't reinforce our alpha role all the time, he would probably attack us.
:-\
We love our Pookie shmookie, he is just really uh...in touch with his inner wolf.
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Badger was soooo much better today. We did some work last night on basic commands and David spent time with him today, feeding him and making him do stuff (sit, shake, wait). He is even being more pleasant to puppy!
I took a little from all of your comments and wanted to thank you all, it was a comfort knowing I could come here and get help.
:D
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I hope you are keeping a close eye on that puppy, Ronda. She is in SERIOUS danger of being puppynapped!
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Aunt Holly
LOLOL Holly, um I think David might just let you have her. I've been sleeping on the couch so I can let her out every 2 hours, and David no likey that plan. ::) :o
I'll stick her in a big fat envelope, with her head sticking out, and plop her pudgy self in the mail.
She weighs 14 pounds! She will be as big as Badger soon, then he'll have trouble on his hands!
:)
Oh and btw, I LOVE when you all threaten to pup nap her, it feeds my new momma pride and makes me smile!
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That'll be quite the postage charge though... 14 lbs :o