Growling 9week old female rottie

[SERRANOS]

Hi all....we have a 9week old rottie who is adorable.....but she has been growling a lot when we approach her to pet her or play with her....she has even bit my wife and daughter a few times......we have a 9 month old ddb that in contrast is the total oposite of her...we got her from a very reputable breeder and have meet her parents and they are very gentle and nice.....we are getting a little worrried....some tips and ideas will be great....

[LunaBelle]

Ok lets start with some more info. What were the circumstances when she growled, or bit your wife and daughter? Could you perhaps describe what happened? Was there food or a treat like a bone or toy involved?

When you say "growl", is she showing teeth, hackles up, or just making GrrrGrrr noises? I ask, because some rotties can be very vocal when playing or being touched. Our young male "talks" all the time while we touch/play with him, it surprised us at first cause our female is a very quiet dog, but it has a different tone than when he's defensive.

Also, the biting, is it mouthing, i.e. grabbing an arm or foot too hard, while trying to get attention (this is normal for pups), or did she actually snap at your wife and daugter, aggressively?

Also, have you spoken to your breeder? Has he been able to give you some insight?

[SERRANOS]

Hi, thanks for your reply...there was actually no bone or toy involved...she just snapped at them when they were trying to pet her or play with her. We spoke to the breeder and she said it could be because she feels my wife is the dominant female of the house and she just challenged her instictively....and yes she growled and showed teeth...she doesn't do it to me though and I spend maybe less time with her than my wife does...this past week we haven't had any issues and were hoping that it was just a face of her finding her place in the home..afterall we have 1 9month old DDB, a 6 year old cat and 3 girls (2 10yr and 1 8yr old)....we're going to start with obedience school soon but she's already learned sit and down....very food motivated but if you put your hand in her bowl of food, she eats anyways with no problems or growling....like I said I feel it was her trying to find her place in the pack...and she is at the bottom now....

[brunie's mom]

Call your breeder up...they should be your first source of information.
I'm wondering why you would get a puppy, when you have a 9 month old puppy already?? It's not a good idea to have two puppies at the same time. Rottweilers need alot of training and attention....this is not a breed that can raise itself.

Gina

[JoJo]

How old was this pup when you got her?

Did you tell your "reputable breeder" that you already had a pup at home?

[SERRANOS]

She actually never has growled at the other pup...they get along and play and eat together and even them he's very protective of her.......the growling has been at the humans and even then the other has never been present..

[knut]

For sure talk to the breeder.

Also try giving her a treat when approaching, petting, or handling for a spell. Make it high value like a piece of chicken or freeze dried liver.
Have everyone in the family approach, treat, pet, treat, handle, treat many times a day.

I see no problem with having a 9 mo. old pup in the mix, what's done is done.

Keep up the teaching of the basics and really concentrate on the handling by family and as many people as you can have come by. Whenever a person comes by, have them pet and treat liberally. When she is past the growling stage have as many children come by to treat and pet as well. Keep everything fun. Have a blast with your pup and good luck.

BTW, don't treat while the pup is actually growling, biting etc. All or None works well with a young pup as well.