Growling in class tonight!

[nynewbie]

I apologize ahead of time if this is a little long, but I am trying to understand...In class tonight, when we come in, we hook our dogs on leads to the wall. Ryan was with me, petting and talking to Nash to settle her in, she is always excited when we come to class. A little golden pup (who Nash liked last week, nub wagging, nose to nose) was left alone by the owners and yipping, etc, so I walked over to the pup at the next hook up over, since Ryan was with Nash, to give him a head pat to quiet him down. Nash growled at this pup, the owner walked over, but I continued to pet the pup as I backed up to Nash and pet her too. She stopped growling and the class started. Later in the class, as the other dogs were on leads attached to the wall, I walked by a St. Bernard pup, with Nash on her leash. This pup she also seemed to like, nose to nose, nub wagging when they walked into the classroom earlier. The St. Bernard walked towards her and she growled big time at him! I pulled her away and scolded her. Told her to knock it off and quit grumbling. She did, but I don't understand why she was growling at either of these pups in the first place, when she seemed to like them both. I know I am missing something here, and I hope somebody can fill me in! She was fine last week with everyone and the only thing different this week is that Ryan came with me.

[alexav]

What is the purpose of tieing the dogs to the wall?

The only time we tie a dog out is to play on thier frustration level to help bring out defense and prey drives in Schutzhund training. I can't see how that would be productive in an obedience class...

[Mick Trainer]

I am assuming that Nash is the same Nash who is a 6 yer old rescue that fills your heart with Joy? How long have you had her? I also would ask what are the trainers trying to achieve with the tie out? What was her body language like when she was growling? Did she bring the hair up on her back? If so how far down her back was it? When she meets these other dogs you talk of her rubbing noses and nub, where does she place her head in reference to theirs? In what position are her front paws in (Does she hold them flat and with the weight on her heals, or is she up on her toes)? Where are her ears when she meets the other dogs?

Answer these and I will better be able to assist you. But for starters I will tell you that you should not have gone too her when she was grwoling at the GR. This is only re-enforcing the behavior and may have had a further influence on her later behavior.

Mick.

[Leader]

:DMick,
Just wanted to say hi and say it's good to be reading you again.

Leader

[nynewbie]

The trainer has a lead about 4-5 ft or so, that is hooked to the dog's collar and then on a hook to the wall so the dogs cannot roam free in the training room and so our hands are free for signaling, clicking, treating. A family member is always supposed to be with the dogs when they are tied. We unhook them as the trainer works with us individually. There are also crates for the dogs. Most of the time we use the tie, but have used the crates twice. We started clicker training class on 1/20 and we got Nash 12/1/02 (and yes, she stills fills my heart with joy, I just want to understand if I did something wrong). When she growled at the GR, no hair up on her back at all, ears up and alert, head raised, body seemed relaxed. I got the impression that she growled because my attention was on the other dog. With the St. B, different case-hair up around her neck, ears forward, tense body, head lowered somewhat. When she originally met both these dogs, her ears were back, body relaxed, weight on paws, not up on toes. With the GR, she lowered her head as the pup is very young. In the case of the St. B, head stretched toward the dog, but head at the same level as the other as they are the same size, even tho the St. B is 6 mos old.

[Mick Trainer]

Originally posted by nynewbie
(and yes, she stills fills my heart with joy, I just want to understand if I did something wrong).

Please do not read anything into this or take it as anyway derogatory it was simply a matter of clarification and that your signature made me laugh. It should in no way to be taken as any reflection on you or your dog. It is not my style.

When she growled at the GR, no hair up on her back at all, ears up and alert, head raised, body seemed relaxed. I got the impression that she growled because my attention was on the other dog. I would say that you are correct that she has growled to show her dislike for you putting your attention else where. This is not uncommon for a dog that you have not had long. It is a dominance based behavior (you should be paying attention too me) which is understandable as the hierachy has not been properly established yet (impossible after one month). To cure it simply repeat the exercise and either ignore her until she calms down or you can correct her for it if you wish (I at this stage would not I would simple ignore her until she alters her behavior unless it esculates markedly upon doing so). Once she calms down return and give her attention. I would simply keep doing this until she learns that shedoes not get your attention through this. If however she does get markedly worse then a correction of sorts may be necessary. You may find that it faids with time as the rules and leadership become clearer.

With the St. B, different case-hair up around her neck, ears forward, tense body, head lowered somewhat. This sounds more like a fear reaction but this may vary if the hair was only up on the dogs neck and not all down the back. Either way you need to continue training the dog and simply be rewarding everytime she passes by the other dog without incident to begin with. To help this pass at a distance where she notices the dog but is comfortable with it. If she reats negatively then you are too close. You will get a feel for the distance. Watch her body language, if she stiffens you are too close, if she looks but hardly reacts, the distance is correct. Once she will do this and you can see the distance strinking then you may with to look at some compulsion to make her believe that she cannot do this behavior.

You can also add this this focus exercises.

Have you spoken to your trainer about this? Will be very important to get her input, she can see the dog and should be able to give you far more specific advice.

Mick.

[nynewbie]

Thanks for your reply Mick! No offense taken. I have no problem with anyone knowing I love this dog. She has stolen all our hearts. I asked the trainer after class what she thought. She felt that since the St.B. advanced toward her first as she was walking by, that I shouldn't worry about it, but I do. We love camping and want to take her with us, so she would be exposed to other dogs there and my older son also want to take agility classes with her in the spring. I am also new to Rotties and want to correct any mistakes I might make with her. I will work on ignoring her growling with the GR and lots of attention when she stops. We got her to stop jumping on us by ignoring her when she did, then lots of attention when she hit the floor. I'm not sure how to get more distance, tho, because of the way the room is set up, but I'll talk to the trainer about it before class next week. Thank you so much again! Your advice is great. I feel better doing something to correct the behavior instead of just pretending it didn't happen.

[Mick Trainer]

I recommend that you do that training outside.

Mick.