Feeling like a complete failure - please help (very long)

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Well, just a bit of disagreement. Few dogs are truly stupid. Most know very well who they can mess with and who they absolutely should not!

That's when the dog's owner personal knowledge and experience in the know how comes into play. A dog will grow and develop accordingly. It's that simple.

[pbhound]

eva i am new here but i will let you know what we do when our Raven missbehaves...first we scold her like we would any child then we punish her wether it be ingnoring her or gateing her out of a particular room (she hates that the most she has to be with us at all times). but unlike your kane she does not have that alpha role going, the only troublei have is she will listen to my wife and kids better than me; but i am the one that punishes her and makes her listen when she is bad. if any one has suggestions on how i can get Raven to listen to me better when i give commands i would greatly appriciate it. and like all the others have said you do need to get one on one with a knowledgable rottie trianer.

good luck and never give up

[brnlow]

Originally Posted by lblax

well considering an alpha roll puts the dog in a live die situation i would say you have a really submissive dog..... and you are lucky an attack from a dog getting a alpha roll has nothing to do with disrespect but everything to do with survival ..

Perhaps I am misunderstanding what a true "alpha roll" is but I have never had any problems wrestling my dogs during playtime. At some point in every one of those wrestling matches I have the dog under me and on his back, but it is still a game to both me and the dog. Maybe I have been twice blessed with docile-submissive dogs, but I think they are smart enough to know its part of the game. Good fun - they are grrring and nibbling at their rope tug while Im rubbin and petting and pulling the rope, sometimes I let them reverse me and lay on my back with them standing over me. But the game usually ends in me pinning the dog again and declaring myself victor of the world (with much imaginary fanfare )

your dog does not have to be at the bottom of the pack they need to respect the leader and therefore they also respect the others that are under the leaders protection

Ok, I'll buy this.
In my particular case, my household has always been me and one other adult (roomate in college w/Zooey wife w/Jake)who won't allow a dog to be above them in rank. I don't have any experience with dogs and children in the same household but can see what you mean.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by brnlow

Perhaps I am misunderstanding what a true "alpha roll" is but I have never had any problems wrestling my dogs during playtime. At some point in every one of those wrestling matches I have the dog under me and on his back, but it is still a game to both me and the dog. Maybe I have been twice blessed with docile-submissive dogs, but I think they are smart enough to know its part of the game. Good fun - they are grrring and nibbling at their rope tug while Im rubbin and petting and pulling the rope, sometimes I let them reverse me and lay on my back with them standing over me. But the game usually ends in me pinning the dog again and declaring myself victor of the world (with much imaginary fanfare )



.

yes you are playing a game but this is not an alpha role that you are doing a alpha roll is dead serious stuff and it does when done as a alpha roll put the dog in a life death situation in his mind.... keep up the good work

[Mattweiser]

OK... I am blown away at the entire thread....

a 14 week old puppy is actively aggressing it's owner, striking at her face, and even drawing blood????

To me this is an entirely cut and dried issue... there is no need for a mystical "alpha roll" or to try to act like a dog...

Act like a damn human being.... DO NOT ALLOW THE DOG TO BITE YOU... if it does.... PUNISH IT UNTIL IT STOPS... read into that what you need to....

Whatever you are currently trying to do, is clearly not working.... Punishment is only effective when the undesired behavior stops....

But I do agree with Iblax.. if you cannot handle a 14 week puppy, rehome it.... I will not go into a personal diatribe of how baffling this is to me.. it is one thing if he is being a little mouthy (which is perfectly normal... unwanted, but normal)... but a baby attacking the owner.. absolutely out of the question.


although, I would like to see this pup.... ;) too bad you are across the pond.