Is this normal puppy/dog behavior?

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by 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.

You have a timberwolf pup? Cool. Well right now her teeth are strong, lol and they hurt. She doesnt mind me rolling her over like a baby, I think she likes it now . Although there is still some growling. Especially when I try to take the leash from her mouth, I think it ticks her off but Im not gonna back down.

[Dillydoodle]

Linda,
Dillon has a sensitive tummy. Since he was a puppy I only fed him all natural food diets. I noticed that anytime he ate any protein other than lamb he would get the runs. For obedience class, the only things i use for treats are his dry food ( wellness lamb) and BBQ shoulder of lamb cut into tiny pieces - and no more runs! I can give him an all natural treat here and there - or cheese here and there, but never more than three small pieces or i risk a messy next day clean up!

Beggin strips and pupperoni treats are mostly sugar- I was shocked the first time i read the ingredient list on pupperoni treats- first 3 of 4 ingredients were sugars. I think freeze dried meat treats are great and there are some cookies that dillon loved ( and again, one or two is ok, more not so good) by old mother hubbard bitz i think they were called...and also another one he really likes are charlie bear treats.

good luck on the training, consistnancy is the key here- you are the boss, all day and every day!

Emilie

[Chip's Mom]

I usually eat out once a week and I will bring home part of my steak and cut it into little tiny pieces and that is what I give Chip for obedience class. Not sure if this is a good idea or not, but he was getting sick on the pupperonis, etc and real meat he doesn't get sick.

[Fluffypants]

I have been home cooking liver for Jackie's school treats. She LOVES it (and all the other dogs in class give me good attention!) . . . but oh boy . . . is it GROSS!!!

The things I do for that dog . . .

[corgimom]

And I will second what Jessica said - gross, but the dogs love it. In fact, a while back one dog would not go through the tunnel with the treats his owners were luring him with, but when I shared some liver with them, he happily came through.

[Michael Romanos]

Offal meat is extremely high in protein. Of course it needs to be boiled first before giving it to dogs. The secret is not to over boil the meat because the more it cooks the the less protein and other goodies - remain. So I just bring the offal I cook to the boil and let boil for no more than two minutes. Taylor largely gets ox hearts - which are really cattle hearts in NZ - and are completely fat free. Sheep hearts are good too but they are fatty.

Taylor's treats at agility are small pieces of a chicken dog roll that he relishes and usually forms part of his dinner. The beauty of the dog roll is while it is wet meat, it is not sticky but relatively dry and smell free (to us humans). When I arrive at agility training I have a whole bunch of dogs surrounding me and following after me because they know that in my pocket is a plastic pouch with bits of Chunky Chicken. And I'm happy to give away a few pieces much to Taylor's annoyance. I must say that I am the only handler who attracts so many dogs - so it's the power of the food that does it.

[bubblegumbarbe79]

well ive been just using iams puppy biscuts and she seems to like them and they havent made her sick, so thats something good. Oh and about the growling behavior, she doesnt growl when you hold her anymore or anything. The only time she growls is when I take the leash from her mouth. So we're progressiong

[Fluffypants]

Progress is great! Keep up the good work!!

[Chip's Mom]

That is excellent news. Good for you

[magrant]

You need to get your pup in obedience training as soon as possible.
Do not hit, if you have a dog crate, tell him "no" then pick him up and put him in his crate everytime he growls. Be consistent. Find a dog behaviorist if it gets worse. My corgi, Balto, was 14 weeks old when I got him, he started aggressive growling two weeks after I got him. He is very strong headed and an alpha. But don't lose patience, perserverance is what you will need. I got a dog trainer with dog behavior experience and she has help turn Balto around to be a loving pup.

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by magrant

You need to get your pup in obedience training as soon as possible.
Do not hit, if you have a dog crate, tell him "no" then pick him up and put him in his crate everytime he growls. Be consistent. Find a dog behaviorist if it gets worse. My corgi, Balto, was 14 weeks old when I got him, he started aggressive growling two weeks after I got him. He is very strong headed and an alpha. But don't lose patience, perserverance is what you will need. I got a dog trainer with dog behavior experience and she has help turn Balto around to be a loving pup.

i am going to take her to classes but im waiting til she gets about 12weeks old or when shes avalible to be around other dogs. In my oppinon hitting is different from spanking. Spanking is like correcting and hitting is like being abusive. We have to spank her sometimes because she doesnt listen to verble things sometimes ,so therefore we have to softly spank her sometimes. My dad/mom (whom has had dogs all their life) said sometimes that you have to spank them to get them to mind, just like children. Lexy is a good little pup except for the growling hissy fits (i like to call them that lol), but she only growls when i take her leash away from her. Whenever she does that I put my hand over her muzzle (like previous people stated above^^) and tell her no growling and she stops.

[corgimom]

Kimberly,

May I ask as to what is it that Lexi does that therefore leads you to "spank" her? I have to respectfully disagree that I don't think you should be spanking her - now this is just my opinion and as with spanking children, well, there are many thoughts in that area also. And I am just addressing your "spanking", not what you are doing in regards to the growling.

I grew up with dogs all my life and a father who thought that "spanking dogs" was okay, even an hour after he came upon something they did wrong. As the pups grew, the spanks became more forceful - and nothing was learned by the dog, except to become fearful of my father.

When you enroll Lexi in puppy class, I really do not think your trainer will tell you to spank her as a means to get her to listen to you. If spanking worked, there would be no need for puppy classes and what would be the use of us teaching our dogs commands in order to get them to listen. I personally don't think spanking a dog builds a good trusting bond between owner and dog. She is at a very impressionable age right now and is learning much, and you have to be the leader and in charge, but you can do that the right way.

If spanking really worked in solving the behavior problem in the first place then you would no longer need to continue to spank her.

Since you are waiting until she is a bit older for puppy class which I think starts at 3 months, if I were you, I would get some of the books that have been mentioned previously to help you with training Lexi. They may help until she gets into puppy class
I am no means an expert, just my thoughts.

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by corgimom

Kimberly,

May I ask as to what is it that Lexi does that therefore leads you to "spank" her? I have to respectfully disagree that I don't think you should be spanking her - now this is just my opinion and as with spanking children, well, there are many thoughts in that area also. And I am just addressing your "spanking", not what you are doing in regards to the growling.

I grew up with dogs all my life and a father who thought that "spanking" was okay. As the pups grew, the spanks became more forceful - and nothing was learned by the dog, except to become fearful of my father.

When you enroll Lexi in puppy class, I really do not think your trainer will tell you to spank her as a means to get her to listen to you. If spanking worked, there would be no need for puppy classes and what would be the use of us teaching our dogs commands in order to get them to listen. I personally don't think spanking a dog builds a good trusting bond between owner and dog. She is at a very impressionable age right now and is learning much, and you have to be the leader and in charge, but you can do that the right way.

If spanking really worked in solving the behavior problem in the first place then you would no longer need to continue to spank her.

Since you are waiting until she is a bit older for puppy class which I think starts at 3 months, if I were you, I would get some of the books that have been mentioned in regards to training Lexi.
I am no means an expert, just my thoughts.

I only spank her when she is chewing on clothing articles or something around the house. When I spank her, she quits (sometimes). I cant have her chewing on everything in the house when we are renting it.Everyone has different oppinons on training dogs and different techniques. Ive been taking all yalls advice and some of it my dad doesnt believe in, but I do it anyway. I apperciate your thoughts and all but Lexy doesnt understand when you want her to do when you just talk, the only thing verbily she understands is sit and sometimes no chewing and no when she has the leash in her mouth. If you pull her away from what shes chewing on or give her a toy instead, sometimes she goes back and does it again. But most of the time now shes listening, so that means less spanking. Im not spanking her when she growls. I put my hand on her muzzle and tell her no growling like people above told me too, which works . But even the breeder says you have to spank them sometimes to get them to listen. And when I say spank, im not speaking of a hard lashing spank, im talking about a softer, gentler one :P

[corgimom]

Remember Lexi is very young yet; many new pups don't leave the breeders home until they are 10 to 12 weeks old. With consistency on your part, Lexi "will" start to understand your words and commands and what they mean as she matures.

I am sure in puppy class you are going to be taught the "leave it command" and the "drop it command" which means exactly what it says. When they pick up something or chew on something; you don't want them to have, you say "leave it or drop it" and give them something else more appropriate and redirect them - I was also taught to place myself between the dog and the object they were trying to get at, and tell them at the same time, while looking at them to "leave it" in a firm voice and then sometimes walking towards the dog at the same time which encourages them to "back up" and stay away from what they can not have. Believe me, changing their behavior does not happen over night. I actually got Cody at 11 weeks old.

And yes, many times, she will continue to go back to what you have just taken away, she is a pup, like a toddler, and is testing you to see who is boss, and that is where your persistance and consistancy(you being in charge) will have to kick in by reinforcing through commands and re-direction and firmness that she cannot have her way.

The trainer in puppy class is not going to tell you to spank her; and certainly not at a 3 month old age; you will be going there and being taught how to use verbal commands along with body movements to help with changing bad behavior and showing how to reward good behavior.

One thing my puppy trainers said is to throw out the word "no" except in extreme emergencies because after awhile, we say "no " to every bad behavior that the dog is doing and they have no idea what they are doing wrong and what they should be doing right.

With the leash, why not try to say "drop it" firmly as you remove it from her mouth; That way, you can use that same command for other things she puts in her mouth that she cannot have; rather than just saying "no". With the "drop it" command you must be consistant each and every time when Lexi takes hold of something she cannot have - you remove it from her mouth and say "drop it". Honestly, after doing this command enough times and being consistent and observant with watching her, she will eventually "get it" - but your family will have to work as a team in doing this and I know that is not always easy; my kids don't always follow the same in training my dog either.

When Cody was a pup, he used to like to put the leash in his mouth also. I would spray bitter apple spray on that end part and every time he would put the leash in his mouth, he immediately spit it back out - now some dogs seems to like this stuff, but it may be worth a try for you(and you can get it at any pet store)- and Cody disliked it. Afterwhile, as Lexi grows and matures, and you continue to do this for awhile, she will associate a bad tast with putting the leash in her mouth and not continue to do it. But Cody also knows the "drop it" command and does respond to that; and the leash thing is not an issue with him anymore.
Using this spray could be an option for you.

Also, you may be able to try a different type of leash for walking, possible a harness type, where the leash attaches to the back and therefore she would not be able to grab the end part of the leash in her mouth; others may have thoughts on what would be appropriate here; and give you some recomendations.

And with the growling issue, I can tell you that my one trainer did basically say the same thing that Brynlea said yesterday in regards to correcting it.(In the Something is wrong in Houston thread) You say that you put your hand over her muzzle when she growls at you and then she stops; however, she is still doing that behavior when you remove her leash, so something is not working with what you are doing to correct that. Really,this behavior of Lexis, would be my first concern in regards to wanting to put a stop to that immediately.


I can tell that you are wanting to make good decisions for Lexi, good luck.

[Chip's Mom]

If you lightly spank your pup, you are teaching him that your hands are not always good and sometimes they may hurt him. You never want your animal to fear you. Does your pup ever shy away from you or cower down? I am surprised a breeder would tell you that it is sometimes good to spank your pup.