Now What?

[TMLL]

I have been having some issues with my 6 1/2 month "brat". Lately her personality is that of a 15 year old girl who believe her parents are the enemy. We completed beginner obiedience class in Mid March and has been doing great up until a couple of weeks agao when she seems to have forgotten every command. On some occasions, when I tell her to sit, come, etc., she will look at me and i swear she say "Come on now you don't really think I am going to do that" and walks in the opposite direction of me. I really didn't think it could get any worse until last night....After dinner I put her in her crate and gave her a bone from dinner that still had some meat on it. You would have thought she was in heaven. I was sitting close by just incase she broke it or swallowed it to quickly. She was able to crack the bone and I quickly went to retrieve it. As I walked towards her crate I told her to drop it and sit, She did this with no problem, until I reached into her crate to grab the bone and she lunged at me with a mixed of ar growl, snarl, and bark. She is not food aggressive. I make sure of that everytime I feed her by taking the bowl away or sticking my hand in her bowl while she is eating. She has one toy that she is very attached to but we are still able to take if from her. She was corrected immediately but should I be worried that it will happen again. I know it is the last time she wll get any food that is not her everyday food and cookie.

[Bucky's Mom]

I am no expert But I have learned from them here that ONE class is never enough. Also you stated:

On some occasions, when I tell her to sit, come, etc., she will look at me and i swear she say "Come on now you don't really think I am going to do that" and walks in the opposite direction of me.

I have also learned here to NOT give a command I cannot enforce - she then learns that there is NO option involved.

Hope this helps on that issue - train, train and train someo more.

[TMLL]

Thanks
We continue to train her everyday. My concern is not the lack of response. This is a behavior I have seen before. As long as her training is continuously reinforced, she will grow out of this "Brat" stage. I am concerned with her lunging at me with the snarl and growl.

[cpalenchar]

the lack of response is one step in the ladder towards a lunge/growl. Dogs tend to try to inch their way up the social ladder slowly at first (ignoring you for instance, or being pushy for attention)-- but then might strike out with a more "obvious" show of who's boss (lunge/growl).

I think this situation is pretty clear-- you gave her a high value item (a bone) in her territory (her crate), and she defended it when you tried to take it away. I would guess there are many other parts of your relationship that point towards her being a little "uppity" and she tried to raise the bar this time.

Personally-- I generally don't try to take things "away" from my dog. I will call them off it. Tell them to drop it, or something like this. To try to physically take something away *is* setting up a challenge of dominance. Some people may think you should set up those challenges often, and win them. I'm not in that boat. I think you should set up *small* challenges often, and win them (such as forcing a dog to move out of your way, or forcing them to do a command, or giving attention only when you want to, etc). A challenge of taking something away is "big"-- and I'd rather deal with it in a different way...... [that is not to say I don't expect the dog to "out" on command-- that is a must. All I'm saying is that if the dog is laying on the floor chewing an item--- I will generally call them off it before taking it....]

-chloe

[Judi W]

Whaaahllllll as the cowboy would say. I'd suggest that the lack of response is an indicator of who is running the show and yes, that can easily give her the idea that she is. Princesses are quick to seat themselves on the throne and declare themselves "Queen". Why wouldn't she think she can guard a bone if she can simply walk off when given a command? So, I would suggest that the two are certainly related although they might not appear to be so to you, if you explore the idea a bit I'm sure you'll see the connection.

[Judi W]

PS,
Although you might not find it too important or inconvenient if she disobeys a command without consequences, she likely sees it as a sign from heaven that she has been ordained by god to high office.

[RottieGirl86]

#1 she had a highly desired item

#2 she was in her crate? her turf

#3 Get her on Nothing In Life Is Free.

Do a search on forums, see it posted about once a month at least :)

She's a teenager now and she'll push as much as she can, if you let her! Best of luck!

*I forgot, try using item swap out next time - get an item she desires more: toy, food, etc. Most times, they guage a reaction to an item by your input - I usually make yummy nosies, and my girl gets very interested in what I Have, not what she has...I then swap , she's happy & I got what I wanted.

[TMLL]

[quote]Originally posted by cpalenchar
"Personally-- I generally don't try to take things "away" from my dog. I will call them off it. Tell them to drop it, or something like this. "

Just to clarify what was actually written in my message. She was asked to "Drop It" which she did. She was also told to sit, which she also did. I WAS NOT taking anything away from her. Yes in her territory but that is where she goes to eat or chew on her toys which I interrupt on a regular basis to avoid the situation that happened last night.

Thanks for the responses but i think I'll bring this one to the professional and consult our trainer.

[TMLL]

[quote]Originally posted by Judi W
[b]PS,
Although you might not find it too important or inconvenient if she disobeys a command without consequences, she likely sees it as a sign from heaven that she has been ordained by god to high office.

Not sure where you read that but I never said it. There are always consequences.

RottieGirl86....Thanks for the suggestions and responses to my actual post.

[cpalenchar]

it is good that she dropped it and sat. But-- if she was still near her bone (and in her crate?), then that would be close enough to guard. I will call my dog (at least) 5 feet away and then go back to pick the object up. If I was worried she would lunge to protect the item I would put her in a sit/stay.

[Bucky's Mom]

[quote]Originally posted by TMLL
[b]

Originally posted by Judi W
PS,
Although you might not find it too important or inconvenient if she disobeys a command without consequences, she likely sees it as a sign from heaven that she has been ordained by god to high office.

Not sure where you read that but I never said it. There are always consequences.

RottieGirl86....Thanks for the suggestions and responses to my actual post.

This WAS from your post

On some occasions, when I tell her to sit, come, etc., she will look at me and i swear she say "Come on now you don't really think I am going to do that" and walks in the opposite direction of me.

If she is ALLOWED to walk in the opposite direction she IS disobeying without consequence - you were unable to grab the (attached) leash and deliver a correction to the inattention

[TMLL]

Does everyone make it a point to read further into these posts.

Bucky's Mom...Thanks you for clearly telling me what I said. Funny never once did I mention that she was not corrected or that she was allowed to get away with her actions. It must have been written between the lines I wan unable to see it.

Thanks to everyone but like I said before I will seek answers from professionals instead.

[Birdie'sMom]

TMLL - it seems to me that EVERYONE that has posted a reponse has answered your ACTUAL post. You can't get defensive when you ask for help and someone gives it to you. What did you expect, someone to tell you that you are doing everything right and that it is just a stage and she will grow out of it? Well, that's not the case. The disobeying you IS related to the snapping at you, so this is what was being addressed.

Last summer, when Birdie was in that "I am the princess" mode, I posted here and asked a similar question. Judi asked if it was possible that I give her too many priviledges (such as sitting on the couch) that would make her think that she is the boss. Other things I was doing wrong is not enforcing my commands, so she thought she could do whatever she wanted. I put Birdie on the Nothing in Life is Free program and she has made a complete change. Try it - you might be surprised how the way you treat her is linked to the way she behaves!;)

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally posted by TMLL
Does everyone make it a point to read further into these posts.

Bucky's Mom...Thanks you for clearly telling me what I said. Funny never once did I mention that she was not corrected or that she was allowed to get away with her actions. It must have been written between the lines I wan unable to see it.

Thanks to everyone but like I said before I will seek answers from professionals instead.

How do YOU correct a dog AFTER it has walked away from you and ignored your command. (BTW - if you can find a more EXPERT expert than JUDI W - I would LOVE to hear about it - I want to run outside and watch the pigs fly over my office) :)

[Miabella]

Hi TMLL,

I think that what people are trying to tell you here is that the snarling over a bone is just a sympton of a bigger problem. It's often hard for people to realize that or accept it, but since we are outside the problem, we see little clues. I do think she needs to get back into formal obedience. Practice at home is important, but it can become unfocused without us meaning it to if you are not following a program and moving forward.

These dogs have amazing minds, and those minds are a terrible thing to waste. Practicing the same exercises from Level One Basic Obedience for a lifetime gets kinda boring, and the dog won't be as likely to see you as the all-knowing giver of knowledge and good things. Make any sense? :)