Is this normal puppy/dog behavior?

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Fluffypants

You can't let her go until she submits to your authority (suddenly hearing Cartman from South Park in my head ).

You too Jessica? <LOL> Seriously, this is one reason these brainstorming sessions with input from so many are good. The hand over the muzzle - good call Deb and also lots and lots of praise for when she's a good girl with a liberal dash of treats as was mentioned.

Debbie

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by glencorgi

Go with your gut this is not appropriate behaviour- she's testing the waters seeing what she can get away with and how far she can push.



Honeymoon is over, she's settling in and seeing what the rules are going to be.



Yes to a degree on normal puppy behaviour, although it is not acceptable puppy behaviour. ALL puppies will test to see what they can get away with. 7 weeks, the age you brought her home is supposed to be an imprinting and bonding stage. Many old schoolers and some in specific breeds (sporting breeds for example) believe that is a prime time to send puppies home. However, for a home that is just wanting a loving pet, the extra 2 weeks or more spent with the dam and littermates can make a world of difference in the manners learned. She's crossing a line and no it will not necessarily go away.



I can sense the concern and displeasure her behaviour is bringing out, I'm not sure if I'm also sensing a little bit of fear of her already too. IF so, then she's already top dog, you need to reverse the roles.



A well founded and perceptive fear, because that is exactly what she can grow into.



She's doing it to test the waters, see where the limits and boundaries are and to display displeasure about things she might not necessarily want to do. This growling is different than what what Nikki is describing Midnight is doing. I have the grrrrrer's when they're getting their backs or tummies scratched and I hit "the spot." I have the ones that "comment" on different things.

Okay, what to do? First - you, mom and dad are all bigger than puppy , you are all going to have to take charge and set the rules and yank a FIGURATIVE knot in her little bunny butt. (NOT LITERALLY!!!!) Carol Lea Benjamin has a book called How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With which is very good. I don't know if you recall some of the threads where Nothing In Life Is Free (NILF) has been mentioned, but I suggest going back in the archives here and checking it out or put it in a search engine and read some articles about that. She's very much still a baby - so make her be a baby. I don't recommend the alpha rolls, as many times those can get you bit. What I do recommend is holding her on her back in your arms like you would cradling a baby. Tickle her tummy, scritch her head and make it a snuggle fun experience - on your part. I suspect she'll react with wiggling, not like it and may try her growling thing - don't give in, or let her go until she's still and calm. She doesn't have act like she's enjoying it when she finally gets calm, she just has to be still and calm. Then you let her go. IF you are concerned about her snapping and maybe getting bit, wear gloves - the heavier gardening type gloves offer some insulation. When you pick her up - arm/hand under her and her feet dangling - play with her feet. Lift up her lips and look at her teeth - she needs to be handled and if she were with many Breeders at her age, this is the type of things they do with their puppies beginning early on. Make games of it - use a silly, happy voice - for example if looking at her teeth, tell her you want to check her tonsils. She learns to tolerate handling (a plus when visiting the vet) and learns to trust she can be handled and nothing bad is going to happen to her.

Voice tone and inflection can send lots of messages and be used for many corrections. When she starts the growling about having her leash attached to her collar - give her an EXCUSE ME??? - I DON'T THINK SO LITTLE GIRL!!! And promptly attach the leash with AUTHORITY in your action while the tone of voice has her startled a bit. Annnnt or Attttttttt are also good corrective noises (words) and can work for some instances. IF you need something more physical in the way of correction, carry a water gun. She begins her growling, shoot her with the water gun, water will startle her and again, with AUTHORITY do what you need to do to her. (Now, if she happens to be one that likes to play with water, this isn't too helpful, turns into a game of a different sort.)

I commend you for noticing and admitting this isn't "cute," for being proactive and wanting to get a handle on this NOW! Good luck and we'll try to help as much as we can.

Debbie

Thank you for your info debbie (thats my aunts name too). It was quite helpful. I deffinatley do not think its cute. It bothers me an I dont like it when she does it to me, I dont know if my mom/dad likes it or not, but I dont. It sorta makes me feel bad. Ive been holding my hand over her mouth when she growls and she doesnt seem to like it lol , but I kept my hand on it til she stopped and I was holding her like a baby and she was throwing a hissy fit but I kept holding her til she stoped wiggling and got clam. She likes tummy rubs, maybe I will tickle her tummy when I do that. I will have to find a treat that doesnt make her sick since I tried beggin strips and they seemed to make her sick. My mom an I where thinking maybe her lil tummy cant tolerate them now since shes just a wee baby. I will go to wally world and see if theres some puppy treats there .

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by bubblegumbarbe79

Ive been holding my hand over her mouth when she growls and she doesnt seem to like it lol , but I kept my hand on it til she stopped and I was holding her like a baby and she was throwing a hissy fit but I kept holding her til she stoped wiggling and got clam. She likes tummy rubs, maybe I will tickle her tummy when I do that.

There you go!!!! Use what she likes to help her work through something she doesn't!

I will have to find a treat that doesnt make her sick since I tried beggin strips and they seemed to make her sick. My mom an I where thinking maybe her lil tummy cant tolerate them now since shes just a wee baby. I will go to wally world and see if theres some puppy treats there .

You can also get string cheese, use roasted chicken, cheerios and for right now just use little bits of perhaps softer type treats for rewards. Dog biscuits can be for when she's just being.

Debbie

PS: Good girl - you deserve a treat too!

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by glencorgi

There you go!!!! Use what she likes to help her work through something she doesn't!



You can also get string cheese, use roasted chicken, cheerios and for right now just use little bits of perhaps softer type treats for rewards. Dog biscuits can be for when she's just being.

Debbie

PS: Good girl - you deserve a treat too!

Thank you debbie. I have found out that she really loves chicken. I gave her some the other day to see if she liked it and she loved it. Wont string cheese make her constipated if she eats a lot? Usually eatting lots of cheese makes your not go potty very well . There's these treats called "Snausages" (sp?) and they look like pigs in a blanket, but they are made out of beef/cheese (I think thats the flavors). Do you think that'd make her sick? She puked up beggin strips , so she cannot have them.

[corgimom]

bubblegumbarbie79

My Cody has never been able to eat those beggin strips or anything on that order - he gets major diarrhea from those things. I tried that for treats during puppy classes when he was younger and then he would suffer the next day- I have chosen more natural treats with the least bit of additives as possible - I use freeze dried liver bites and venison treats that he does very well on. I think the string cheese will be okay, but just don't overdue it - just as Deb said give him some variety, chicken, string cheese, cheerios which will make it more appealing for it him rather than one thing all the time.

There are lots of good more natural treats in the stores nowdays that you can check out.

[CorgiMum]

deleted....

[corgimom]

Our humane society said that the 6 to 9 month old stage is the most frequent time that dogs are relinquished due to behavior that was not corrected earlier.

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by CorgiMum

I agree you certainly do! You have been given great advice here, and you are a good dog mom to take it to heart and set down a road that will only strengthen your bond with your dog. My Montrose was a headstrong pup as well.

I too read the easly warning signs of your starting to think in a fear mode with your pup. They can grow out of the puppy growling, into dog growling and then the bite.

I think that glencorgi will agree that untrained & mishandled pups/dogs are one of the reasons that she is kept busy in rescue.

I always like to hear peoples oppinons and take them into use. I know, I dont want her to have the growling turn into adult dog growling and then biting, because that will not be good! Too many people and kids around here . But I have been doing the tummy rubs as I hold her as a baby and she seems to like that better. When shes relaxed, I tell her, "good girl" and pop a little piece of a iams puppy biscut into her mouth. Shes doing much better on that aspect.

CorgiMom - Lexy had diarhea (sp?) when she ate the beggin strips as well. I threw them away when I realized that they made her vomite. I ended up getting her Iams puppy biscuts, so hopefully they wont make her sick. She seems to really like them. When I went to wally world, I discovered that they invented snausage roveroli treats! Aint that something?? Its like ravioli but in dog snack form. They think of everything now...

[corgimom]

snausage roveroli treats?

Haven't seen those yet, and don't plan on getting them - like I said, way too many additives and "junk" added to those treats that do quite a job on Cody's
stomach -

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by corgimom

snausage roveroli treats?

Haven't seen those yet, and don't plan on getting them - like I said, way too many additives and "junk" added to those treats that do quite a job on Cody's
stomach -

Yep, I bet they'd do a number on the dogs that has sensitive tummies. If its ravioli, then it has to have a bit of spice. I dont plan on getting them either, I just thought that was cute

[Michael Romanos]

If it is 'Roveroli,' I very much doubt that would contain any spices that could turn a worm. It's probably 1/ very much plain pasta, and 2/ a gimmick.
When I make a pasta dish, Taylor always gets some of the boiled pasta - not too much though because of the salt content in the water.

[corgimom]

Michael,

They make up all sorts of names for these treats they sell and it has nothing to do with it being any sort of pasta - just in the shape of a noodle, but contains all the same stuff that all those other treats do, such as pupperoni and beggin strips, etc. etc.

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by corgimom

Michael,

They make up all sorts of names for these treats they sell and it has nothing to do with it being any sort of pasta - just in the shape of a noodle, but contains all the same stuff that all those other treats do, such as pupperoni and beggin strips, etc. etc.

the Roveroli probably had cheese and some kind of meat (in real ravioli, do they use beef or what? I dont know since I dont like it) in it. I dont know about spices since I didnt read the ingriedents on the packege.

[corgimom]

I should go through the supermarket and get the names of all those strange treat names they come up with. I think there is a T-Bonz one, where they actually look like mini-steaks, and of course, has nothing to do with the real good tasty thing you would find in the meat dept. They may contain a percentage of real meat that wouldn't even register. Basically all those treats contain lots of stuff that I don't want to feed Cody and just upset his tummy so much they are not worth it.

If it says 100% liver, or Venison Liver or duck, then I will get that. I know what I am getting. I may pay more, but no more tummy aches.

[Jhemphill]

We have a Timber wolf puppy at home and use the hand over the mouth when she tries to bite and it works. She is very large for 7 months, weighing 50+ pounds so we also put her on her back, we can not hold her and do this, so we push her to the floor and roll her on her back and sit over her, like the pack leaders would to a subordinate member and she get the hint that biting is not an acceptable behavior. We also use this on the other dogs in or house when they were puppies, although we held them on their backs. Lots of praise and treats when they cooperated. It is a good and safe way to get them to calm down and accept the behavior modification. Keep up the good work, nipping is a Corgi puppy thing and need to be corrected before they get to big, they have very strong teeth when they grow up.