Quote:
Originally Posted by brunie's mom  An intact, mature male with no formal training, is what the headlines are usually made up of. 
Please read up on NILIF again, you must not all be consistent, or not following it, because if you were...he would not be acting out this way.
What did you do each time he growled and snapped?? Putting him away...is not correction enough. If my own dog growled or snapped at me...he would have seen stars. 
Get help ASAP...he's been getting away with growling and snapping...next time will be a bite.
Gina |
Gina -
I normally agree with almost everything you say, however I have to go the total opposite direction here.
To suggest that the OP should make his dog "see stars" is the complete wrong thing to suggest. To use aggression on aggression will only accomplish the dog potentially turning around and REALLY snapping to harm. This is the LAST thing you should do SergeantMajor, and I'm very glad to read you didn't do that.
Also, the OP posted that this is a sudden mood change and otherwise has not had a problem with growling and snapping. To say that he's been "getting away with it", is clearly not possible, considering #1 - it has never been an issue and #2, the OP was concerned enough to go to the vet and even post here looking for help. To suggest without knowing the history that the OP "must just not be following" NILF is a totally pointless sentence, because it is very likely that he IS following NILF and the dog is just showing the typical adolescent behavior that comes up around this age. Dogs are not perfect and there is not one person on here who can say that they have NEVER had a dog act up, formal training or not.
Simple reinforcement of old training and stern rules will be the solution to help him get through this phase. And there may be a few phases of this behavior. Also if you did not get him fixed because you want to show him, then DO enroll him in formal classes, as an intact male IS harder to control with just training at home.
Best of luck!