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Dogs - all types I am scared of my 5 month old puppy!
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Author | Topic: I am scared of my 5 month old puppy! |
addicted2u567 New Member Posts: 3 |
posted 01-05-2004 05:44 PM
I know this may sound stupid, but here it goes. I have a 5 month old Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle) and I am scared of him. By the way-I am 13. Most of the time he is a very good dog, well, besides the normal puppy behavior! But sometimes he gets really mean and aggresive. For example, I will be petting him and suddenly he will just bite my hand. When you try to pick him up from places he doesn`t want to leave (the couch) but isn`t supposed to be on, he growls, shows his teeth, and bites at you if you try to pick him up. Sometimes he will bite me to get my attention or during play, but his biting in all really scares me. Sometimes it breaks the skin but not always.. Does he have "Rage Syndrom?" Can this be solved by going to a behavioralist? I really don`t want to get rid of him! IP: Logged |
puggleowner Member Posts: 228 |
posted 01-05-2004 07:00 PM
Oooh sounds to me like he needs some serious training- he needs to be taught that this behavior isn't acceptable. Our 9 month old pug/beagle mix Cameron has never been aggressive or bitten, but she can be a brat sometimes, such as when we try to take away her favorite toy, she used to let out a low "this is MY toy- don't take it away!" growl. We quickly cured her of that behavior by teaching her some rules. Whenever she growled, we would squirt her with a water bottle (not the mist, the all out squirt- most dogs HATE that), and then take the toy away for good. As she started to learn and wouldn't growl when we went for the toy, we praised her and not only let her keep the toy, but gave her a little treat. It took awhile of doing this, but she learned the advantages of not growling, and now never growls when someone takes something away from her. Techniques like this would probably really help with your dog, but I would also suggest getting a behavior specialist to help you and/or your parents a long in the process. You probably just have a very head-strong pup that just needs to learn the rules! IP: Logged |
susan_cude@hotmail.com Member Posts: 813 |
posted 01-05-2004 09:42 PM
You got some good advise from puggle. Dogs are alott smarter than we give them credit for sometimes. He knows you're afraid of him, he can since it. Training is needed here! you're the boss, and he needs to know that....Good luck! Susan IP: Logged |
ddd0102 Member Posts: 22 |
posted 01-06-2004 06:48 AM
I would be sure to show him who is boss...do NOT be afraid of him. I have a 8 month old cocker and went thru the same thing. She was always wanting at my hands and would growl at times, I put me in charge right away and she is now the best dog ever!! GOOD LUCK! IP: Logged |
ddd0102 Member Posts: 22 |
posted 01-06-2004 06:51 AM
By "putting me in charge" I mean....say NO NO loud and be stern! NEVER hit the dog they will only end up scared of you. You want the to know your angry voice not fear your hand. Again good luck. IP: Logged |
Samsintentions Member Posts: 944 |
posted 01-06-2004 07:00 AM
Sounds to me like he knows he's got dominance over you, and that your afraid. You need to start some obediance, and quit spoiling him so much by allowing him to do this. BY jerking your hand away and squeeling, ans stuff like that lets him know he got away with it and to keep doing it. IP: Logged |
red devil 2 Member Posts: 200 |
posted 01-06-2004 12:05 PM
my dog was just like thatthen i trained him by slapping him silly every time he attacks me now he is very good and healthy IP: Logged |
addicted2u567 New Member Posts: 3 |
posted 01-06-2004 12:55 PM
By "putting me in charge" I mean....say NO NO loud and be stern! NEVER hit the dog they will only end up scared of you. You want the to know your angry voice not fear your hand. Again good luck. I do this. I don't act afraid of him, but I don`t like to really play with him because he always ends up doing this. If you spray him with water, he just gets worse. My brother has hit him, and he gets madder. He is very stubborn and he doesn`t listen to anything. I do stop playing with him when he bites, but then I get up and walk away-- he lunges at my legs. My mom is acually thinking about getting rid of him because he is starting to scare her, but we want to know other methods. IP: Logged |
honeybear Member Posts: 926 |
posted 01-06-2004 12:57 PM
My parents shitzu is the same way, and she is 8 years old! I would get a handle on it right away with some of the advice given hear. I recently noticed my dad had a nasty bite from her. we always joke that we need oven mitts to pick her up, but she could serously hurt someone honeybear IP: Logged |
puggleowner Member Posts: 228 |
posted 01-06-2004 03:24 PM
to red devil 2, I take it you're kidding? If not, you've obviously got some serious issues and maybe you're the one who should consider finding your dog a new home. IP: Logged |
puttin510 Member Posts: 1179 |
posted 01-06-2004 06:03 PM
If you think your family needs more help in actually showing you what to do by all means call on a behaviorist. He just needs the whole family in agreeance. And showing him what is acceptable and whats not. No matter what if he does not listen he should not be rewarded in any way. When he listens then play, if he wants to chew on your hand tell him sternly NO, then give him one of his chew toys and leave it to him. It all takes time and patience. He will understand after awhile. But with a dominate dog, you need to make a definate change or he will get much worse. There is so much invloved. But have the whole family do the same with the pup. Have your family sit and have a chat about what you will all do as a family to help hi through his puppy age. ------------------ IP: Logged |
addicted2u567 New Member Posts: 3 |
posted 01-06-2004 06:19 PM
So do you think this is just a puppy dominance phase, or do you think this states that he will be a more aggresive dog all throughout his life? IP: Logged |
Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 01-06-2004 06:58 PM
It could go either way. Does he act this way just when playing or wanting attention, or does he snap at you if you try to take away toys or food? Our pup is VERY mouthy as well. She is almost 8 months old now and she is much better than she was before. She used to jump up and nip at any body part or clothing she could find. It HURTS and she is bigger than your dog. Our kids (ages 9 and 11) hid from her for weeks after we got her. While she still does it, it is much improved over how it was. We tried to be consistent and use body language to express our displeasure. I tried to use a low, quiet voice (sort of like a growl) while I held her mouth shut and said "No bite" and would hold on until she sighed and waited quietly for me to let go. I spoke calmly without yelling and I would draw my eyebrows together and lean toward her while I did this. I know it sounds stupid, but animals are very sensitive to body language and as I am not a very big person I needed her to get the idea that I am still in charge. We also would do time outs if she really got out of hand - either in her crate or out in the backyard. We only left her alone for a few minutes, but if she came back in and started right up again, out she went for another time out. Everyone says to withdraw attention (by ignoring the dog until it behaves), but that was very hard to do with a dog that was hanging from your clothes or had a chunk of leg in her mouth. However, once I realized that the behavior was not aggressive (she used to scare me when we first got her) and that it was normal puppy behavior coupled with her herding drive, I became more successful in handling her. Not letting her scare me anymore was the first step. I'm not really sure if any of these techniques really helped or if she is just outgrowing it, but I tend to think it was a little of both. I have heard other people describe the same situation and say their dogs outgrew it as well. Just be consistent and ride it out, and perhaps hire a behaviorist. Oh, and bopping her on the nose made it a TON worse. I only tried it once.
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ddd0102 Member Posts: 22 |
posted 01-07-2004 05:20 AM
You have tried saying NO NO and being very stern??? My only other thought would be to totally ingnore the puppy. Puppies want to be played w/ and at 5 months they think that they are playing....when truely they are hurting and scaring you. If you ingnore him then he will think that you are not interested and then maybe/hopfully he will get the hint that this is not playing. I had to do that as well, as hard as it was I got up and walked away....not looking at or showing any interest in her. Eventually she just realiaze that what she was doing "mommy" was not interested in and it stopped. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones, but she now an AWESOME little girl. Keep me posted. DDD IP: Logged |
Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 01-07-2004 09:28 AM
My husband does this when he gets home and Nala gets up on her hind legs and paws at him. Since it is winter and he has an indestructible coat on, he can just stand there while she does it, not looking at her, and eventually she will stop and sit down. THEN he pays attention to her. Now sometimes she will approach him and sit down (while still wagging her entire body) instead of jumping up first. BUT there was no way this would have worked when she was younger, unless we wanted our clothes and skin shredded. "NO NO and being stern" does not work with every dog. When Nala gets out of control, I don't think she has the ability to listen or behave at that point. I have to physically help her to calm down by positioning her in a sit and making calm, shushing noises. Having a leash on her also helps, since it is easier to catch her and you can also step on the leash to stop the jumping. Knowing what triggers your dog - whether it's situation or time of day - also helps. Watch for subtle signals. If you can distract the dog or tire him out BEFORE he goes berserk, it's much easier than dealing with him after he's already crazy.
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tuttifrutti Member Posts: 478 |
posted 01-07-2004 11:04 AM
My Brittany Ranger used to do this, and we would pick him up from his favorite places, like his crate or somewhere, even if he was allowed to be there, and if he growled, bit, or anything, we kept on going. There are some in the family who didn't, and they still don't have complete control of the dog. I don't always either, mind you, like when I call him outside, but we are working on that! I think just ignore it when your dog does that, and he will soon learn that even if he does do that, you won't stop! IP: Logged |
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