A Herding Behavior or Dominance Behavior?

[ReeboksMomForever]

I have a question. When starting out on a walk or coming back from a walk (but not all the time) Tex will grab my rubber boots or jeans with his teeth, let go and stand diagonally in front of me. If I take another step he'll do the same thing, etc., etc. I can tell him 'no' or 'uhh-uhh' but he'll still do it. Today for the first time he did it in the house. Does anyone know if this is a herding behavior or a dominance behavior and the best way to stop this?

Thanks!

[Carol Burke]

It really doesn't matter whether it is a herding or dominance behavior. It is rude and unacceptable and I would not allow it.

[ReeboksMomForever]

Thanks Carol - that was very helpful....

[damp]

Originally Posted by ReeboksMomForever

I can tell him 'no' or 'uhh-uhh' but he'll still do it.

If your dog doesn't obey your commands I would think YOU have a (obedience) problem!!!

[ReeboksMomForever]

Obviously, if I am trying to get advice on how to stop it I realize it is a problem - I thought this was a forum that is suppose to 'help' people with advice not to put them down!

[Carol Burke]

What you may want to try is as you start out on your walk and he goes to bite your boots or pants, turn in the opposite direction, give a collar correction and move on, praise him when he is walking nicely, ignore him except to turn away when he is biting your pants. I have a girl who does this and has since puppyhood, she is 4 1/2 now. Her thing is she thinks it's a big joke, once she realizes that today is not the day for her jokes she settles down.

[ReeboksMomForever]

OMG - that's what I do when we are heeling and he gets a little ahead - why didn't I think of doing that in this case! I've tried to keep walking forward but it seems like he thinks its just a big game. I will definitely try that when we go out again in a little bit. Thanks Carol!

[Cash]

Originally Posted by damp

If your dog doesn't obey your commands I would think YOU have a (obedience) problem!!!

....................AMEN

[fbkeays]

You don't have a herding problem, not sure about dominance. What you do have is a "I want to PLAY!!!!!!!" problem. All he wants to do is invite you to play with him.
It is a form of tug. Have you played tug with him? My dogs love to play tug with me, but they know that I am the one that starts the game and it is with only tug toys- not clothing. I teach them to take the tug, tug and to release the tug all on command. Sometimes I let them win and they happily brings me the tug so we can play again. I put a word to stopping and ending the tug game. Perhaps you can do the same? It may help with your current problem.

[ReeboksMomForever]

fbkeays - I've never really played tug with him. I use to with my previous dogs - I've read pros/cons on this forum about this but I think, like you stated, if I start it/finish it that's ok. I recently bought a sort of tug toy (but after he started doing this) to keep in my pocket and let him tug as a reward on training. I could buy him another one for every day play - I'll try that!

Thanks!

[Britz]

Are pup does this every once in awile and is finally getting a little better on it. He woudl do it msome times and actually grab skin so I woudl use what I read her for Bitting and nipping and it really seemed to help alot, I have to small childeren and dont want him doing it to them. We will have an incident or to and I have had a couple pairs of pants that got little rips in the middle. I have also Read in a Rotti book to say something that comes to your head GRuffly like a growl example " KNOCK IT OFF" That really seems to work with zeus when he is doing something he knows he is not suppose to he stops right away and I will hand him something he can chew on.

[Gunsey'sMom]

Gunner used to do this- not with pants but with his leash! Grrr. My fiance thought it was cute when he was a puppy to teach him how to "take himself inside"- wich was him taking his leash in his mouth carrying it inside. Yes it looked adorable- but became a problem when he thought he would decide when he wanted his leash all the time- or like Tex- decided it was time for a game of tug.

Gunner- we would find out- is also not the kind of dog with wich we could (and cant) let anything like that go- or it snowballs into a giant mess. I had heard spray the leash- use a chain leash- but didnt try any of that. I did try popping it really quick out of his mouth- wich you cant do with your pants obviously---. What worked best for us is to STOP. I gave him no satisfaction with what he was doing.

You are walking when he is doing this? He wants to play-move around. You could try to just stop- turn away. That might detach his mouth from your pants. Then take the leash and step on it enough to where he has to lie down. Wait until he is calm and resume the walk. If he is reliable with a sit command you can also tell him sit- and reward him for a sit.

In my expereince when they get riled up like that and you are starting out trying to break a bad behavior- it isnt the best time to proof a new command for a young puppy. Once you have progressed further and have more control and expectations of what they are cappable of handling- take it up a notch- but dont tell them sit if you know they wont.

With these kind of behaviors absolute consistancy is the key- you have to tell yourself you will never allow the behavior again and set about eh proper ways of making sure it happens- once you let it in the door again- they will try it all over again!!! Believe me!!!!!

[Obelix]

It' s 'heeling'.When herding ,the dog sometimes has to nip the heel of a cow to make it start moving.This is ,for a Rottweiler almost instinctly behaviour.
You can also see this as dominance because the dog tells you to move or stay.Diagolally in front of you:you have to stop or fall over him.
Nipping your boots:start moving to escape the nip.
You have to make him very clear that's is you who makes the decissions .

[Troodie's Mom]

Originally Posted by ReeboksMomForever

I have a question. When starting out on a walk or coming back from a walk (but not all the time) Tex will grab my rubber boots or jeans with his teeth, let go and stand diagonally in front of me. If I take another step he'll do the same thing, etc., etc. I can tell him 'no' or 'uhh-uhh' but he'll still do it. Today for the first time he did it in the house. Does anyone know if this is a herding behavior or a dominance behavior and the best way to stop this?

Thanks!

Troodie used to do that constantly as a pup, when we were outside. I had to spray my shoes with a bitter apple spray from the pet store, I could not think of anything else to do- and it worked. She will try to "herd" me now by cutting me off, when we are playing outside and I want to go in and she wants to keep playing, but I just plow right through her. You can't have a rottie be the boss of you.