6 month old male sits on wife's feet and barks at me

[JerseyRott]

My 6 month old male is displaying some weird behavior. I can be playing with him for a while and everything is fine. When my wife walks in the room, he go over to her and sits on her feet, and barks at me. Not agressively, or growling, but just barks. He also does this with only a select few people. Kind of strange right? I might add that he really likes these few people. He goes crazy with joy when they walk in the room. Much more than when I walk in the room. He doesn't do it all of time neither. Only sometimes... Any thought???

[Storm]

He has probably learnt to activate some sort of behavior by doing this, what? Difficult to know not seen the different scenarios?

[LORHEL]

Is he a "talker"??? Some rottie love to talk.

Need more info please, I am guessing it is playful.???

[Burnsway]

Originally posted by LORHEL
Is he a "talker"??? Some rottie love to talk.

Yes but would you like to know what they are saying.......

I would discourage this silliness of sitting on your wife and others feet and telling you off while he is doing it......;)

[Miabella]

He is undoubtedly getting something out of this behavior. It sounds quite bossy and he no doubt delights in the fact that it leaves you and your wife flummoxed and trying to decipher his message, LOL. :)

But, no matter, I would definitely tell him to knock it off. Snap a leash on him and give him something else to do. A quick obedience drill everytime he pulls this stunt will make him think twice in the future. ;)

[Judy Chrusch]

I think he's definately telling you who's boss and wants your wife all to himself . He's the guest in your home not your wife. Tell your wife to correct him and stop this bossy behavior before he gets to be 100 pounds and he's REALLY telling you what to do and what he wants.

Hopefully Judi W. will respond bc she has the input on this type of behavior:D . I just know it isn't a good thing and he needs a correction as soon as this occurs.

Judy

[JerseyRott]

I agree with everyone here... It's cute now, but he likes to try to show that he's boss... Well, whenever this occurs, I quickly try to show him that he will never be in charge. I gently tell him down, and roll him over, and just try to take control over him. No yelling, or hitting, or anger.. Just reminding him that I'm the boss. Does this sound like a good aproach to everyone??? He especially needs this done when he has something in his mouth and I can't get it out. Squuzing cheeks, nor food works for him. All in all, he is very friendly, loving, and smart. I think he's just trying to feel out where he ranks. He is also going in to get fixed this week. So, hopefully that will take him down a notch or 2. Thank you all.....

[Miabella]

Originally posted by JerseyRott
I gently tell him down, and roll him over, and just try to take control over him.

Hi JerseyRott,

FYI, this "alpha roll" technique has been largely discredited, and even the people who first popularized, the Monks of New Skete, have backed away from recommending it.

Is your dog in obedience classes? Does he know some commands, like "sit" and "down"? When he starts barking, I would recommend leashing him and having him perform some "puppy push-ups." Basically, a course of sit-down-sit-down-sit-down.

[Judy Chrusch]

Hi Jersey, at least you acknowledge it is a problem and as for the not releasing food etc. Ummmm, definately is showing his authority. Keep working on it, my boy was just like that and it is something that MUST be worked on everyday. It took awhile for Czar to learn he doesn't need to be possessive of anything and even though you don't think you're making headway, one day it will finally click in their brain and they will learn.

I don't know what commands you've taught but make sure you use one that will make him "release", leave it, or "OUT". Just use the same command each time and that's how they learn, Stay consistent, it's vital at this age and ALWAYS remember who wears the pants:D.

You need to show him what rank he is:D, lol.

Judy

[spidey]

Here is what the Monks of New Skete say about the alpha roll in How to be Your Dog's Best Friend, Completely Revised and Updated, which I am currently reading:

"In the original edition of this book, we recommended a technique termed "the alpha-wolf rollover" to be used in conjunction with one of the disciplinary procedures already described" (they then go on to describe it) "We no longer recommend this technique" (italics are theirs, in the book) "and strongly discourage its use to our clients. Though it can be argued that has a natural basis in pack life, in a dog-human context it is potentially very dangerous and can set up the owner for a serious bite in the face (or worse), particularly with a dominant dog. The conditions in which it might be used effectively are simply too risky and demanding for the average dog owner; there are other ways of dealing with problem behaviour that are much safer and, in the long run, just as effective." They then go on to restate things in shorter form.

In short - even those who were among the most vocal proponents of this method now strongly recommend against it.

[Carol Burke]

Sitting on your wife's feet is a dominant act and needs to be curtailed. The barking is telling you "look, she's mine". He needs to be removed from your wife's feet and given a few basic commands to get him back in line. The alpha roll is very effective for young puppies, but I agree with the Monks as far as a six month or older goes.

Sounds as though this guy needs to realize he is not the boss, you are.

[JerseyRott]

Thank you all... Yes he just finished his first class where he did very well. He learned sit, stay, down and come... One good thing is that most of the time when he's displaying this dominance, he usually listens when I tell him "No", or "Down". I will try to lay off the alfa thing laying him down on his back. I'll try just giving him some basic commands...

As for the clamping down of his jaws. He never does it with his toys. However, if he gets something small enough in there like a rock, stick, pine cone, just forget it. Sometimes it takes me as much as 10 minutes minutes to talk him out of it. Even the alpha thing doesn't work. Funny, because I've trained him to "give" when I want him to release a toy, or bone and he does it with no prob. I physically can't open his mouth, nor intice him to with food. I know he's still a baby, and everything goes in the mouth. I hope he grows out of it... Thanks again...

[Grendl]

You might try the exchange method of extracting an undesirable object from your dog's mouth. Simply offer him something more enticing (a piece of meat, a finger of peanut butter, some edible treat) in exchange for the rock or pinecone. This is a short-term solution. Consistent training to "out" or "release" is needed to cure the behaviour, but it can take a long time to get to the 100% successful point. I have a male dog who has tendencies towards canine possession agression, and I sometimes resort to the method described above if the object needs to be extracted quickly. It has always worked. As a matter of fact, now if he sees me heading to the treat jar, he immediately drops the object, follows me and sits.