Help - Is this behavior "Puppy Aggression"?

[Goodrich]

I am the owner of 3 rotties. 2 of them are four months old and we have had them since they were 6 weeks old. We walk them twice a day and then train daily, followed by play time. When we bought the dogs, we were sure to be informed on the breeder and the parents which paid off. They are great dogs. Two weeks ago, a friend we get together with had purchased a rottie, 2 months old,female, because, "he liked the looks of them." He owns a old english bulldog which is 4 months old and VERY energetic. The rottie pup was aggressive toward the bulldog because it was always in her face. After a week, he didn't want her anymore. He was going to sell her to a person that was going to put her in the back yard on a chain. You guessed it, I could not let that happen. The pup had no vet care at all. I immediately took her to the vet and had the process of having her dewormed, shots started which every puppy should have. He had gotten her from a back yaed breeder who is in it for the money. The dog showed little aggression toward my rotties, both males, and has adjusted well, with the exception that the aggression is now toward people. If held, she will show her teeth and snap at your face. She does not like to be held or touched most of the time. I have worked with her many hours a day. I am the only one who can put my face to hers. This was done by taking her by the nap of the neck when she growled, as the mother would have done. I want to keep this dog, but I have a realistic fear she will bite someone. I have owned rotties in the past and never seen aggression like this. If I am not able to changr this behavior, I am afraid she will have to be put to sleep because she will not be a canadate for adoption. Please, advise to help me save this pup. Thanks in advance.

[bliss7373]

This is an 8 week old puppy? Or thereabouts? Am I correct?

If so, I would not be so hasty to label this puppy's behavior as uncontrolled aggression. It sounds like fairly normal behavior for any puppy, let alone one who likely didn't get the best start in life.

From your post, you gave two specific examples that stood out to me:

1. "If held, she will show her teeth and snap at your face." Many Rottweiler puppies don't appreciate being held. Look at it from their perspective - it is an immobilizing position that leaves them quite vulnerable. They've got four legs and like to use them! I've seen quite a few puppies with fine temperaments protest being held. If you must control the pup until she calms down, try sitting with the puppy on the floor, puppy between your legs, puppy's back to you, one hand looped through the puppy's collar at the back, forearm along the pup's back. Don't pull on the collar, just use it to control movement. Don't loom over the puppy. Stroke the pup and speak calmly to it. The puppy may pitch a bit of a fit at first, you just stay calm and wait the puppy out. As soon as she settles, calmly release and praise her. I think this is also described in one of the stickies in the puppy development forum.

2. "I'm the only one who can put my face to hers." For a dog, having a person put their face right in the dog's face (and likely looming over them in the process) is very threatening and downright rude. Many dogs would not appreciate it. She's just telling you that it alarms her, in the only way she can.

I would step back with this puppy. Work on gaining her trust in a positive, non-threatening way....avoid the methods touted to "show that puppy who is boss." Make everything fun - and make good behavior the most fun! The last thing you want to do is further erode her trust in people. Work on her schedule, she's just a baby.

Look at the stickies in the puppy development forum for some good techniques. Read "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With"...it has some great tips. Start looking for a good puppy class to get her into, as well. It will help tremendously.

Best of luck with this little girl!

[rottcrazed]

Are you really planning on raising 3 puppies? Are you planning on working with and placing the female?

All I have to say is, OH BOY .....

You sound like your heart is in the right place, but really, 2 puppies is way more than the average person can handle (heck, experienced people don't often take on 2 puppies at a time), so the third is going to suffer ....

To address the female pup's issues:

How old is she?

How old was she when she was sold?

Why do you feel the need to put your face up to hers and hold her down?

Raising dogs, Rottweilers especially, needs to be done fairly and consistently. Pinning a pup and/or staring at them will most certainly cause a reaction, she is acting normally. Fair handling is holding her paws for a second for her to get used to it for nails, petting her head, chin, belly, rear end, etc... all help with vet visits. No pinning, staring etc... is needed, nor is it fair.

Please read all you can and consider finding at least one of these pups a good, experienced home.

Kristi

[sweetlee]

The OP states that the puppy woule not be a candidate for adoption with this behavior, so I am hoping she is going to rehome her, as there is NO WAY three puppies should be raised together. Two is unthinkable for me. But there are some brave souls who do so.
Read the puppy forums stickies, there is so much information there. This is the best advice given here. Also, you will find you are not the only one who has a growling and snappy baby if you read further down in the puppy forum.
Eight week old puppies do in fact growl and try to snap at faces, watch them with their littermates sometime and you will see that is normal behavior. And having been around enough puppies in my lifetime, it isn't just rotties that do it.
I commend you for trying to train and rehome this little girl. I probably in the same situation would have done the same thing.
It takes lots of work to raise a baby pup, that is why I chose to adopt a one year old.
Keep reading here, the advice is invaluable, and it's free too.
Good luck and keep us posted.

Sharon

[rottcrazed]

A 10 week old puppy acting like what the OP is describing is NORMAL - the fact that the original owner thought it was flat out aggression against his bulldog coming from an 8 week old puppy shows how little the original owner knows about dogs, never mind Rottweilers.

I am hoping that the OP reads, learns, and places this pup with GOOD, new, forever owners.

Kristi

[Janus'sMom]

I agree about having 3 pups, but I also would have taken her under these conditions.

Especially as you stated that the reason why the original owner wanted her was for her looks. That upsets me beyond belief. Rotti's or any other breed is not something to have for their looks. They're living, breathing, loving creatures. Great companions, not novolty items. I'd be giving him a piece of my mind or two if I knew who that person was personally. I hope you find a great home for this lil lady. Good luck with all three of your pups.

[AngelBunny]

Goodrich, I don't know how much Rottie experience you have so I don't know if you really understand how much work you've taken on and what your future could be like with two male Rotties.

Two puppies at the same time--and same sex puppies at that--is not something many experienced Rottie owners would recommend or do themselves. I know I wouldn't and I've had Rotties as my only breed of dog since 1984, I train and performance show the dogs with talent, and I've been active in Rottie rescue for 10 years.

My recommendation is that you contact your local Rottie rescue group and surrender the bitch puppy.

I also suggest you read thru the postings in Breeding. Doing so will almost certainly put the actions of the breeder of your two puppies into perspective.

[Obelix]

Once again this post shows that people wants to own a dog without understanding and speaking a little bit of their language.When this dog then is a Rottweiler it is a tricky situation.Even the most normal puppy behavior is not understood or wrong interpreted.Giving 1 Rottweiler a good education and training is a lot of daily work,even for people used to handle them,let alone 2 at the time.Bringing number 3 in, is setting up a situation where they all must fail.I should call it:deliberatly preparing a disaster.I can not give any recommandations in this situationonly this:keep one pup(hard to make the choice) and rehome the others.If you can't make this choice ,I am sure that in the very near future you will be forced to make harder one's.

[kschmi1721]

I Have The Same Issue With My 6 Month Old Rott. He Has Been Doing This Since He Was 8 Wks Old. He Is About 85% Better But Still Has His Moments. He Is Better With My Husband Than With Me. I Also Don't Know How Much Longer I Can Deal With This. The Breeder Has Agreed To Take Him Back If We Can Not Resolve The Issues We Are Having. We Have Him In Training Now And He Is Getting Better But There Are Times When I Can't Pet Him Either. There Are Some People Who Tell Me This Is Normal Puppy Behavior But I Know This Isn't. Snarling And Growl Is Not Normal. I Am Going To Take Some Of The Advice You Were Giving And Try It With My Boy.

I Know This Really Didn't Help You Much But Its Nice To Know Your Not The Only One Out There With This Problem.

Good Luck I Hope Everything Works Out For You.

Kschmi

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by kschmi1721

I Have The Same Issue With My 6 Month Old Rott. He Has Been Doing This Since He Was 8 Wks Old. He Is About 85% Better But Still Has His Moments. He Is Better With My Husband Than With Me. I Also Don't Know How Much Longer I Can Deal With This. The Breeder Has Agreed To Take Him Back If We Can Not Resolve The Issues We Are Having. We Have Him In Training Now And He Is Getting Better But There Are Times When I Can't Pet Him Either. There Are Some People Who Tell Me This Is Normal Puppy Behavior But I Know This Isn't. Snarling And Growl Is Not Normal. I Am Going To Take Some Of The Advice You Were Giving And Try It With My Boy.

I Know This Really Didn't Help You Much But Its Nice To Know Your Not The Only One Out There With This Problem.

Good Luck I Hope Everything Works Out For You.

Kschmi

Your dogs behavior is normal...although it is lasting a little longer than normal. This is because of lack of training...what techniques have you been using? Are you redirecting her biting...giving her DAILY training (45 minutes at least)...and exercise? Do you take her out of the house (park, walks, petsmart)? Without doing all of these things you are sure to have a harder time with your pup.

You WILL get past this stage...it takes work. It is not a rottie thing, it is a puppy thing. It is the reason so many 4-8 month dogs are available at the shelter. People do not want to put forth the effort, so they give up .

Oh, and I am not trying to be rude...but can you please stop capitalizing every word? It is completely unnecessary and extremely hard to read. Capitals belong at the beginning of sentences, names, or cities.

[kschmi1721]

Thanks for the advise and I'm not trying to be rude but I didn't capitalize the letters, I actually capitlized the whole thing and when I submitted the thread it change the typing. I am a teacher and I know what words start with a capital and which don't.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by kschmi1721

... I actually capitlized the whole thing...

Another thing you want to avoid because in the cyber world this means you're shouting.

[KarenSasha]

I agree with the comment to not put your face in the pups face like that. you have not had her long, she is probably not adjusted to you yet. she has also already had 3 homes. positive play time and affection is needed. You are already discussing possibly putting her down? My sister does Rott Rescue and even some aggressive dogs can be handled and taught otherwise. She needs a class as soon as possible. she is just a baby
It was nice that you rescued her from being tied her whole life. good luck

[KarenSasha]

I also agree that you should not have 3 pups at once. you should consider Rott Rescue for this 3rd pup.

[kschmi1721]

I know this isn't the place for this but I really don't understand some of the people on this site. ..............To all those people out there that did give me good advice I thank you and this will be my last post.

kschmi

Since this "isn't the place" - I deleted the remainder of your post.

Thank You

Scout - Moderator