Grumbling and Showing teeth

[WiscRottie]

When Bruiser grumbles she shows her teeth. She seems calm and relaxed but still does this. Is this normal or is she being disobedient?? Is she trying to see how far she can get with us or something?

[rottnkidd]

I don't think 'showing the teeth' is 'normal in the sense of it just
being grumbling. My girl is a real grumbler, and the sound reminds me of a moose! She only bares her teeth on Monday's
when we're doing our weekly grooming sessions...and that's because I tell her to, so I can inspect them! What is
going on at the time, that she'd be showing teeth?
kathy

[tilerspop]

Tiler is very vocal. Growls and grumbles all the time. He never shows his teeth (except to the puppy) when doing this. If he's talking and showing his teeth you need to figure out what he's saying, fast! What is going on at the time? How is the body language, ears back or forwad, tail up or down, etc. For further info check the thread titled Growling vs. Gumbling in the Behavior area.

For those of you have advised me on Tilers growling, your advice is working:)

[moondog]

I think you already have an inkling that this behavior is not all that innocent ;) , so let me just throw out an example for you:

When a child is young and they decide to question authority, they'll put their thumbs in their ears, wiggle their fingers and stick their tongue out at us. If we view this as a harmless show of independence and just let it go, it won't take long before they move on to level two.

When a youth has successfully conquered level one, and us along with it, the next step towards running the household might be something along the lines of target practice on our windows with their slingshot, which of course we bought for them. It doesn't occur to them that this is not the best use of a slingshot. By now we're on our way to real trouble, the kid is developing a serious lack of respect not only for us, but for others by default. On to level three.

A teenager brought up with this lack of leadership naturally thinks that the world is their domain, to do with what they choose. Why should they think any different, this is what they learned as youngsters. Level three unleashes on the world a person who might just take the car, fill it up with others of like mind and go out and terrorize others just for the fun of it, maybe even vandalize property and steal things. After all, what they want is all that matters and they haven't had to show respect before. Now we're really in hot water and not only that, we haven't developed any skills ourselves to deal with the problems. On to level four.

Now they're of age and have successfully reached level four, they've gone out and bought a gun to further assert their authority and guarantee their self-assigned position in society. One day, someone says or does something they don't like and out comes the gun. In a split second, BAM, someone is dead.

Remember that cute little baby we brought home from the hospital? They just got the death penalty.

The point of this is that a phase is only a phase if YOU do something about it. Behavior needs to be directed into constructive activities that enable your dog to live in harmony with society in general and your family in particular. Your 8 mo old is not getting any younger and has progressed from growling to now showing teeth along with it. Give her a firm, no-nonsense correction for this and then immediately put a leash on her and do a 10 minute obedience march with sits and turns and stays, and treat and praise her for listening to you. Get her into obedience classes and find something constructive for her to do as a part of your family. Teach her to carry things, teach her some tricks, teach her that you are THE firm but loving leader of the pack and it is not up for discussion as the position is filled. You do right by her and she'll do right by you, but you are the one who has to be calling the shots, not her.

Please read this thread you posted in training again, paying particular attention to JudiW's posts:

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/sho...threadid=17529

Good luck, I hope she grows up to be the BEST! :)

[Judi W]

A dog can only be disobedient if it has been given instructions in the first place. It sounds to me as if you have not let her know she is not to issue threats to people and now she is showing you how she intends to enforce her will. (with teeth). Time for you to take the gloves off.

[tilerspop]

Moondog - Great analogy - it really illustrates the point. Every place it says child or similar, insert dog.