Owner aggression in 6 mo old

[AuburnTiger1]

I have a beautiful 6mo old male, ~65#. He is a very sweet palyful dog about 75% of the time. Lately, with a greater frequency he has been snapping at me, snarling a few times, when he wants to play and I do not. Usually this behavior escalates until I begin to lose me temper. Before anyone asks...the dog has not or is not being abused. He is well-cared-for, he has been to a four week in-house obedience training, has been to the vet every month since I got him.

Two things that have bothered me even more about this behavior.
1) It is ONLY exhibited around me or my girlfriend, usually towards us, but sometimes towards others when we are present.
2) He was taken away from his mother early. Earlier than I had originally thought.

I cannot have an aggessive dog, and will not tolerate it. I am planning on getting him neutered, but I am not sure if I want to make that decision if have to find a new owner for him down the road. I work nights as a critical care RN and leave him with my girlfriend, who is quite small.

What can I do to correct this behavior? I have read the Alpha dog article someone posted a while back and that really has not helped. I do not want to get rid of my pet, I do love him very much, but this is getting so frustrating that I am not enjoying his company.

Please help!!

[RottiMomCT]

Whether or not you will possibly need to rehome him should have NO bearing on getting him neutered - do it. he doesn't ned his testicles so why keep them?

He sounds like a spoiled brat. Time for NILIF and puppy boot camp (IN HOME done by you and your girlfriend).

Why has he been to the vet every month since you got him (how old was he when you got him)?

Can you sign up for a group obedience class? A 4 week in home class is just the tip of the iceberg in training. A group class offers socialization, a chance to learn to be have around other dogs, and is ful of distractions which he must learn to ignore and pay attention to you.

That said, what do you do when he pesters you until you are angry? Walk away, tell him to knock it off? What?

My suggestion? Give him a good stern "KNOCK IT OFF!" and mean it. If he won't stop being a pest and YOU need a time out, crate him. Don't shove him in the crate and yell at him, pop him into the crate, close the door and walk away, saying nothing except "I will be back in a few minutes" calmly and quietly.

If he is a pest to others, he should be on a leash when people visit and told to "KNOCK IT OFF" by you or the GF (whomever is holding the leash).

[AuburnTiger1]

The obedience class was at a reputable school, in-kennel situation.

He is corrected with stern "NO"s, if it gets worse I grab his collar and look him in the face and get even more stern with "NO." He has been popped a few times by the girlfriend as an instinct. It is not a continuous thing. When she has popped him on the face he lunged back at her.

Will the neutering help the aggression at all?

[RottiMomCT]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'in kennel' situation, could you explain that? Was the dog traing by someone else and you observed? Was he sent away for training? Reputable school - recommended by whom? Vet? Someone who works at the school? I go by speaking to dog owners who have dogs that are well behaved and ask them where they train - and then I GO to the facility and observe...and then make my decision.

Once he blows you off when you tell him "NO", pop him into the crate and ignore him. Its not a time out for him, it is a 'correction' of sorts for being a brat - time away from his people, in another room where he can't see you (and you have time to calm down).

I would strongly recommend a class for you and the dog (and even the GF) ASAP.

Neutering won't help with aggression, but it will prevent many health issues such a prostae cancer and the like. Removing the hormones might help him focus a little more

[Burnsway]

Originally Posted by AuburnTiger1

He has been popped a few times by the girlfriend as an instinct. It is not a continuous thing. When she has popped him on the face he lunged back at her.

Although it's not real common in Rottweilers nor should it be you may have a reactive personality dog. The louder you get the rougher he gets. Pops will send them into a nut case of a dog. No more pops. With a reactive dog even "loud" good dog verbal rewards can set them into a frenzy.

Other then getting him into training, Around the house slap a leash on him and keep him tied to you 24/7.

Ignore the brat in him and correct fair and consistant with the leash. If he is reactive, a simple calm NO will do much better then popping and screaming. A simple pat and treat for good behavior. Keep it calm all the way around.


Make this dog work for everything!

[Judi W]

Sending a young pup out to someone else to train may have taught him to have some respect for the person who trained him, but it does nothing for his relationship with you. You really have an untrained dog. You need to get in a training class and attend religiously as well as train daily. It is through training that he will learn his place in relationship with people.

Don't think for one minute that there is a home waiting for an intact aggressive dog. You are the one who has raised him and if you can't love him enough to put in the time to straighten him out, no one else is going to want him. Neutering him should help a little but it will not replace training.

[AuburnTiger1]

He was trained at a kennel that the vet recommended. I went and observed. The did a fantastic job! It was amazing all that he learned while there. He behaved wonderfully for about two weeks and then this aggression things started. He was away from me for the entire four weeks. No problems readjusting to home, he just started this business recently.

Just this morning I have already had to correct him, the second time I crated him and left him for about 20 minutes. Is that too long?

Interesting that you said that neutering will not help with aggression. The vet seems to think that it will. To answer previous questions about why I have been to the vet so much, vaccinations, puppy visit, and folliculitis twice.

[AuburnTiger1]

I do love him enough to correct his behavior....that is why I am here...searchign for advice on how to do that! Understand: I have invested a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money in this pet and do not want to get rid of him. However, if I cant trust him with the person I love the most, then something will have to give.

Also, he is ONLY aggressive around me. My two year old nephew....with him he is the most gentle puppy you can imagine.

[RottiMomCT]

Originally Posted by AuburnTiger1

He was trained at a kennel that the vet recommended. I went and observed. The did a fantastic job! It was amazing all that he learned while there. He behaved wonderfully for about two weeks and then this aggression things started. He was away from me for the entire four weeks. No problems readjusting to home, he just started this business recently.

Do you know what was done to him when you were not around?? Two weeks post 'vacation' at the training school - honeymoon period. He has realized what he can and cannot get away with and it starting to DO it. I'm sorry but how can you say they did a fantastic job when he is being a brat and blowing you off when you tell him to knock it off? Have you contacted the facility you sent him to about this problem?

He learned to behave AT the training school and during the 2 weeks he has been home he has realized that you and your GF do not hold the same 'power' that the folks at the training school do and he's taking over.

You and your GF need to enroll WITH the dog in a class that you attend WITH the dog - he doesn't respect either of you and he is showing it.

Even though he is gentle with your nephew - he hasn't earned the right to play with him - he's being a brat and if he enjoys being with your nephew, he needs to EARN that privelege. An accident can happen in a nanosecond - keep a leash on that boy until he learns to be gentle with EVERYONE.

[AuburnTiger1]

We are now in our second trip to the crate this morning. I am new to this. If I keep this up all day long, Coltrane will be in the crate more than he is not. Will this not make him extremely hyper when he is out?

TIA

[RottiMomCT]

Originally Posted by AuburnTiger1

We are now in our second trip to the crate this morning. I am new to this. If I keep this up all day long, Coltrane will be in the crate more than he is not. Will this not make him extremely hyper when he is out?

TIA

Not if you pop a leash on him and WORK HIM. Take him thru his obedience commands - make him WORK for the attention he has been bullying you for. If he is being a brat then he deserves nothing - so crate time it is for him...

When he is crated - take that time to look in the yellow pages for a training facility that YOU take the dog to and bring him home at night.

Sending your dog away for training, even if recommended by someone, is NEVER a good thing - which you are learning now and are here to fix it...

Here is a list of AKC all breed clubs in Alabama. I'm not sure what is closest to you but I would start with that and go from there.

Anniston Kennel Club
Corresponding Secretary : Teri Nesmith
Address: 349 Post Oak Rd, Alexandria, AL , 36250-5058
Email: encorebeagles@aol.com
Club Type: All Breed

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Birmingham Kennel Club, Inc.
Corresponding Secretary : Deborah Barrett
Address: 500 Oak Glen Trace, Birmingham, AL , 35244-2262
Website: www.birminghamkc.org
Email: bearett@charter.net
Club Type: All Breed

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Birmingham Obedience Training Club, Inc.
Corresponding Secretary : Dottie Ammon
Address: 221 Stacy Cir, Birmingham, AL , 35213-1121
Email: dottieamm@aol.com
Club Type: All Breed

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Cahaba Valley KC
Corresponding Secretary : Deborah Nummy
Address: 1600 6th St Nw, Birmingham, AL , 35215-5308
Club Type: All Breed

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Decatur Alabama Kennel Club
Corresponding Secretary : Greg Wilson
Address: 2723 Longfellow Dr Sw, Decatur, AL , 35603-4535
Club Type: All Breed

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Huntsville Obedience Training Club
Corresponding Secretary : Kristy Hill
Address: 297 Ita Ann Lane, Madison, AL , 35757-7427
Website: www.hotc.org
Email: caterafs@worldnet.att.net
Club Type: All Breed

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Mobile Bay Dog Training Club
Corresponding Secretary : Heather Dickinson
Address: 19316 Baria Rd, Moss Point, MS , 39562-9441
Email: hdickin580@aol.com
Club Type: All Breed

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Mobile Kennel Club
Corresponding Secretary : Shirley Boyd
Address: PO box 6655, Mobile, AL , 33666
Website: www.mobilekennelclub.org
Email: silhouette@iwon.com
Club Type: All Breed

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Montgomery Alabama Dog Obedience Club
Secretary : Jo Drummond
Address: 664 Glade Park Dr, Montgomery, AL , 36109-1810
Website: www.madoc.org
Email: DRUMMOND_J@BELLSOUTH.NET
Club Type: All Breed

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Montgomery Kennel Club
Corresponding Secretary : Rea Cord
Address: 2280 Weldon Rd, Tallassee, AL , 36078-3816
Website: www.montgomerykennelclub.com
Email: reacord@hotmail.com
Club Type: All Breed

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Southeast Alabama Kennel Club
Corresponding Secretary : Judy Cartner
Address: 302 Harrison Dr, Daleville, AL , 36322-4882
Club Type: All Breed

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Tuscaloosa Kennel Club
Corresponding Secretary : Sara Ashcraft
Address: 14522 Preacher Lee Road, Northport, AL , 35475-1647
Website: www.TuscaloosaKennelClub.org
Email: sawa36@peoplepc.com
Club Type: All Breed

[AuburnTiger1]

Harvard's K-9 is where he went before, and they have group classes. Those are included for the life of the dog in fee that I paid for training. They will also train him for free, in-house, if he is not following commands. I work with him daily...all of the commands that he learned in "school." This is not a neglect situation. I work 45-50 hours a week and he is the only other thing that I have going on, so he gets a great deal of attention. I also moved to a house with 3 BR so he can have his own space, and a fenced in back yard, which he hates.

How much crate time is too much?

Site for the place he went: http://www.harvardsk9center.com/

[RottiMomCT]

Originally Posted by AuburnTiger1

Harvard's K-9 is where he went before, and they have group classes. Those are included for the life of the dog in fee that I paid for training. They will also train him for free, in-house, if he is not following commands. I work with him daily...all of the commands that he learned in "school." This is not a neglect situation. I work 45-50 hours a week and he is the only other thing that I have going on, so he gets a great deal of attention. I also moved to a house with 3 BR so he can have his own space, and a fenced in back yard, which he hates.

How much crate time is too much?

I don't understand how the facility you sent the dog to says they can 'teach you how to train your dog' when the dog is staying with them and you go about your daily activites - THEY train the dog - you learn nothing... You have to train the dog - it is a team effort.

Why does he hate the fenced in yard?? Is he out there alone?? My dogs will sit on the porch looking at the door if out alone (which is rare) - they prefer me to be out there with them - to play with them.

If the school offers free training and YOU can be the one HANDLING the dog and the instructor helps YOU train the dog then go for it. I don't think you got your moneys worth the first time around so take advantage of this free stuff as long as YOU are the one handling him (holding the leash) and he comes with you to the facility and leaves with you after class.

[Stubby]

When you had this dog "trained", what kind of transference did they do with you at the end?
By this I mean, did they teach YOU the things they taught him? Did they help you through understanding the commands, how he works etc?

OR

Did they simply send you home and say "seeya" ???

If you took this "trained" dog home, and have done NOTHING in the way of continuing what they taught him, then, why would you expect him to do or remember any of it?

Training does not stop after a two week crash course.

[Judi W]

well, then you have your answer. Start taking him to those group classes so you can learn how to work with him. Dogs need to keep that formal training going until they are well into adulthood (about age 3). Their view of the world changes as they go through different maturation stages so you want to have to tools to guide them through.