Horrible Experience! Is this "adolescent dog testing boundaries"?

[webangel2b]

Interesting!

I had not looked at it as Dominance. I do see what you mean however; its more of a demand to be on the bed or couch that I think I should be concerned with.

Not just that she did it, but that she demanded to be there. Snapping, Growling, etc.

Thanks for the education, so if things start getting outta hand the best thing to do is take it all away and re-establish your role.

Sounds right now ;)

[fostermom]

I agree that this is probably an issue of an adolescent dog testing boundaries, but I would also suggest when you take your dog to the vets for a health check-up you ask your doctor about testing for lyme disease...it can cause aggression and although his behavior probably doesn't fit the profile for lyme aggression, which from what I've read is pretty dramatic, but if it were my dog, I'd have it checked.
Good luck.

[cleaningchick]

We have a 1 year old male Rott and last week I was ready to send him packing, well not really!! He thought he was all that and more. He has had obedience training and quite a bit of socialization. About 1 1/2 months ago he started to get a really attitude with everyone, including me and my husband. He was marking his territory EVERYWHERE.
We waited untill he was 1 year to neuter because I think it is best. I would have liked to wait longer but we couldn't take it anymore. We have two females one fixed 5 year old and one 5 month old not fixed. He was also bugging them to the point I had to keep them seperated.
I have had many dogs and had other intact males but none like this one!!
Well, Koda got neutered Tuesday. We now have a different dog. He is loving, attentive, and everything else we want him to be.
Alot of people told us that we might not see results from neutering him that quick but he is a different dog and I love it.
He is now going back to intermediate obedience because he will concentrate on what we are doing instead of getting, well you know!! :)

[DarinBongo]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

An intact, mature male with no formal training, is what the headlines are usually made up of.

Please read up on NILIF again, you must not all be consistent, or not following it, because if you were...he would not be acting out this way.

What did you do each time he growled and snapped?? Putting him away...is not correction enough. If my own dog growled or snapped at me...he would have seen stars.

Get help ASAP...he's been getting away with growling and snapping...next time will be a bite.

Gina

Gina -
I normally agree with almost everything you say, however I have to go the total opposite direction here.

To suggest that the OP should make his dog "see stars" is the complete wrong thing to suggest. To use aggression on aggression will only accomplish the dog potentially turning around and REALLY snapping to harm. This is the LAST thing you should do SergeantMajor, and I'm very glad to read you didn't do that.

Also, the OP posted that this is a sudden mood change and otherwise has not had a problem with growling and snapping. To say that he's been "getting away with it", is clearly not possible, considering #1 - it has never been an issue and #2, the OP was concerned enough to go to the vet and even post here looking for help. To suggest without knowing the history that the OP "must just not be following" NILF is a totally pointless sentence, because it is very likely that he IS following NILF and the dog is just showing the typical adolescent behavior that comes up around this age. Dogs are not perfect and there is not one person on here who can say that they have NEVER had a dog act up, formal training or not.

Simple reinforcement of old training and stern rules will be the solution to help him get through this phase. And there may be a few phases of this behavior. Also if you did not get him fixed because you want to show him, then DO enroll him in formal classes, as an intact male IS harder to control with just training at home.

Best of luck!

[hennie400]

When one of my teenage dogs started showing behaviour I didnt like I was relentless with obedience training.

I made it fun but also indicated that I was serious. We went to formal classes but also worked on it everyday in different situations. I also had a private trainer help me out with the timing and also to evaluate the dog as to what was driving her behaviour . It made such a difference.

My latest pup I have started formal obedience training from scratch and it is really paying off.

I have only ever once had one of my dogs snap at me and although I have never hit my dogs before or since, I did give her a hard slap and made it known I was not pleased. She never did it again. However a male rottie may be a completely different thing as I have never owned an intact male dog.

My top dog sleeps on my bed but she has earned this and has the best temperament. The youngsters sleep in their crates at night and are happy with this arrangement.

[VioletAndRose]

This is a very dominant breed, you have to be more dominant than him. I feel that it is time to see a behaviorist (that is comfortable with this breed). Forget the trainers at this point. In my experiences trainers are better a preventing problems like this not fixing them. The two year mark is when these guys begin to come into their own. Often dogs that have been great suddenly become dog aggressive and start pushing their dominance. Also neuter him! It is not responsible to breed an aggressive dog, and if you arn't going to breed him there is no reason for him not to be neutered. An intact dog is at risk for multiple diseases.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by DarinBongo

Gina -
I normally agree with almost everything you say, however I have to go the total opposite direction here.

To suggest that the OP should make his dog "see stars" is the complete wrong thing to suggest. To use aggression on aggression will only accomplish the dog potentially turning around and REALLY snapping to harm. This is the LAST thing you should do SergeantMajor, and I'm very glad to read you didn't do that.

Also, the OP posted that this is a sudden mood change and otherwise has not had a problem with growling and snapping. To say that he's been "getting away with it", is clearly not possible, considering #1 - it has never been an issue and #2, the OP was concerned enough to go to the vet and even post here looking for help. To suggest without knowing the history that the OP "must just not be following" NILF is a totally pointless sentence, because it is very likely that he IS following NILF and the dog is just showing the typical adolescent behavior that comes up around this age. Dogs are not perfect and there is not one person on here who can say that they have NEVER had a dog act up, formal training or not.

Simple reinforcement of old training and stern rules will be the solution to help him get through this phase. And there may be a few phases of this behavior. Also if you did not get him fixed because you want to show him, then DO enroll him in formal classes, as an intact male IS harder to control with just training at home.

Best of luck!

Well...that's fine you don't agree with me. I've been a member here for almost 10 years....and I've never posted about any aggression problems with any of my own dogs or the many dogs I have fostered. Because, I think a good severe correction for snapping at the owner is much better then doing much of nothing. If the OP's dog had been given hell the first time, I'm sure he would not have even tried it again. Putting the dog away in a crate...is not the solution to aggression problems.

After years of experience, just from what the OP is writing...I can see this dog is running the show.
He's not following NILIF because the dog would be treating him like a leader if he was. The dog did just not turn...he's probably been giving signs that he is taking over....doing commands slowly, grumbling when given a command or ignoring commands...these are usually the first subtle signs that most people don't get.

I can honestly say that I've never had my own dog ever growl or snap at me...and that's after having many dogs in the last 32+ years. They know what I expect....and I think I am a fair, consistent leader. When I means "seeing stars"...I don't mean beating them up. I mean a "come to jesus meeting".....grabbing them by the jowls on both sides and lifting them off of their feet and adding a few choice swear words to boot.

One good correction, is far better then 20 little corrections. The dog understand that it did wrong and they better not try the behavior again.

I think it's far better then letting the behavior escalate ,and having the dog euthanized for attacking someone.

We are not talking about a poodle here...we are talking about an intact, mature male Rottie......and I would hope the owner is not afraid of his own dog.

Gina

[roushlionhearted]

Hi We had the same problem with our Rotti..
While petting him,or putting on his leash, he would do the same thing,
I put him in a sit stay,and I walked out of the room,after a few I released him..
After a bit we would go back in the room and he was just as lovie as ever....
He just got fixed and his attitude is much better.
We did take him to a behavorist,her exact words were "HE IS A JERK,GIVE HIM BACK"
ya sure lady,I took my dog and walked out she can keep the money!!!
How do you give a Dog back after having him for 6 months and loving the heck out of him??
We were patient and did everything we were taught in his classes, he is 7 months now and he is changing everyday for the better..He still goes to his classes and loves to learn.
Hang in there