Aggressive and dominante pups!

[damp]

Recently there have been many threads about very young (6 -10 –16- 20 weeks old) “aggressive and dominate” pups.

Very, very few pups are by nature aggressive BUT just pups, which means they bite, chew and chase and it would be an abnormal pup if it didn’t, just as an aggressive pup is abnormal. In the new “human pack”, it takes time and repetitions to teach the pup, what we like and what we don’t accept, besides that lot of patience and consistence.

Regarding dominance, you maybe have heard the breeder say: "This pup is the dominant and that one is more timid." However, that will refer to it's siblings and the pup’s “personality” in that pack. All is relative and the most timid pup in one litter, can very well be more dominant than the toughest pup in other litters, but never to the dam or older dogs in the same household at that age.

Pups very well know their rank or otherwise they will be told, where their place is, in a language it understands.

If we prepare and educate ourselves (just a bit), before we take the big responsibility to bring a pup into our home, then we will understand and respect a pup is NOT a human being and it ONLY talks “dog language” (very well I should add).

Threat a pup as A PUP and takes care of it's needs, which is much more than food, water, shots, vet care, a safe environment and hugs. It’s also socialization, keeping it mental stimulated, communication in a language it understands and lot of worries and wrong assumptions about aggressive and dominate PUPS will be a myth and an exception to the rule.

(In most cases) we buy a piece of “clay” and we have all the possibilities and it's up to us...the owner to form that little “lump” to a wonderful tractable Rottweiler.

There are tons of threads and good advices in the Puppy Forum how to deal with NORMAL puppy behavior.

Good luck with your PUP!!!

[Judi W]

Thanks Damp. My eyebrows always go up a bit when someone declares their pup "dominant". Someone recently stated that their puppy was too dominant to attend puppy classes! I have to ask dominant to whom? It doesn't take much to be dominant over a weakling however, that is not a role a pup relishes but will accept if necessary.

If someone believes their little pup is dominant to them I personally would like to see that pup returned before it is ruined beyond redemption. If someone does not believe they can manage a baby puppy, then they are certainly not going to be able to manage an adult dog. A bold and strong pup should be a joy filled with nothing but potential.

[dogsbestfriend]

Originally Posted by damp

Recently there have been many threads about very young (6 -10 –16- 20 weeks old) “aggressive and dominate” pups.

Very, very few pups are by nature aggressive BUT just pups, which means they bite, chew and chase and it would be an abnormal pup if it didn’t, just as an aggressive pup is abnormal. In the new “human pack”, it takes time and repetitions to teach the pup, what we like and what we don’t accept, besides that lot of patience and consistence.

Regarding dominance, you maybe have heard the breeder say: "This pup is the dominant and that one is more timid." However, that will refer to it's siblings and the pup’s “personality” in that pack. All is relative and the most timid pup in one litter, can very well be more dominant than the toughest pup in other litters, but never to the dam or older dogs in the same household at that age.

Pups very well know their rank or otherwise they will be told, where their place is, in a language it understands.

If we prepare and educate ourselves (just a bit), before we take the big responsibility to bring a pup into our home, then we will understand and respect a pup is NOT a human being and it ONLY talks “dog language” (very well I should add).

Threat a pup as A PUP and takes care of it's needs, which is much more than food, water, shots, vet care, a safe environment and hugs. It’s also socialization, keeping it mental stimulated, communication in a language it understands and lot of worries and wrong assumptions about aggressive and dominate PUPS will be a myth and an exception to the rule.

(In most cases) we buy a piece of “clay” and we have all the possibilities and it's up to us...the owner to form that little “lump” to a wonderful tractable Rottweiler.

There are tons of threads and good advices in the Puppy Forum how to deal with NORMAL puppy behavior.

Good luck with your PUP!!!

I was told by someone who owns 3 rotts that a pup jumping on you all the time can be consider as a dominant behavior... I have noticed that my male doesn't jump up on me as much as he does my fiance.. I am not sure if it's cause he is happy to see her more or not, but the other day, she was bent over rubbing him and he just jumped up towards her face and hit her in the eye with his head... I put him in his kennel... Would you consider these types of actions as showing aggression towards her and not me.. We have to nip this in the bud asap.. He jumps on her ENTIRELY too much, as far as I am concerned...

I am the one that MOSTLY keeps him check so I am wondering if that has alot to do with it...

[Judi W]

How would you think that over-enthusiasm and jumping around might be aggression? Again I believe that is mistaking bad manners and enthusiasm from a youngster with dominance. Ascribing all actions to dominance or submission I think is over-thinking behaviors that often have no such meaning at all. He indulges in bad manners with her because he can. Education and maturity takes time.

[scooterjohansen]

In its most primal form it is dominance. You are the leader. Your fiance is 'according to him' not above him. She also smells better than you.

[dogsbestfriend]

Originally Posted by Judi W

How would you think that over-enthusiasm and jumping around might be aggression? Again I believe that is mistaking bad manners and enthusiasm from a youngster with dominance. Ascribing all actions to dominance or submission I think is over-thinking behaviors that often have no such meaning at all. He indulges in bad manners with her because he can. Education and maturity takes time.

I don't know, Like I said, someone told me this.. I understand and agree with what your saying... Simply stop him from doing things that we feel are "inappropriate" and/or bad manners and forget about the "Is this dominant behavior" stuff...

[damp]

My point was:

It’s beyond my mind, that a pup is bossing around adult humans and “the problem” is referred to as dealing with an aggressive and/or dominant pup”.

That’s why we teach our pups manners and we don’t allow them to develop dominance tendencies and being a bully, rude brat.

Posts like, my 12 - 16 weeks old pup is very obedient and it knows sit/stay and down/stay etc. never impress me, when I in the next sentence read: But it jumps on people, humps my kids, tries to mate with the cushion, growls when my kids walk by it and it bit and barked when my wife just told it to get of the couch… etc. etc. etc. but it knows I am the Boss!!!

As already said, it only does this because it can and because it is allowed and eventually, in the dogs mind, it thinks it has the right.

[JeanT]

Thank you so much damp! It seems to me that so much normal puppy behavior is being labled "aggression" or "dominence" simply because the puppy is a Rottweiler. People who get upset by the "labeling" of Rottweilers, wake up! It is happening right here, by the Rottweiler puppy's owner. There is alrady a bias against/fear of the breed in the very people who have chosen to get a Rottweiler puppy. People who would feel foolish labelling the same behavior in a Lab puppy dominence or aggression (because it's such a nice and family friendly breed ) seem to have no problem labelling their own Rottweiler puppy dominent or aggressive. What a sorry start for the Rottweiler puppy.

[dogsbestfriend]

Originally Posted by JeanT

Thank you so much damp! It seems to me that so much normal puppy behavior is being labled "aggression" or "dominence" simply because the puppy is a Rottweiler. People who get upset by the "labeling" of Rottweilers, wake up! It is happening right here, by the Rottweiler puppy's owner. There is alrady a bias against/fear of the breed in the very people who have chosen to get a Rottweiler puppy. People who would feel foolish labelling the same behavior in a Lab puppy dominence or aggression (because it's such a nice and family friendly breed ) seem to have no problem labelling their own Rottweiler puppy dominent or aggressive. What a sorry start for the Rottweiler puppy.

I personally never thought it was aggression or considered it as him being "aggressive" until, as I said in my previous post, a gentleman that lives in my area who I know whom owns 3 rotts told me this was considered agression, I never thought so, and niether me nor my fiance have disciplined him in any manner for him jumping on me or her other than using the "off" command so that he knows when it is NOT okay to jump on people... I only put him in the kennel THIS TIME so that I could tend to my fiance standing there holding her eye in pain.. I never yelled, never showed him that I was upset at him... I simply gave him the command I always give for kenneling and he happily went in his kennel...it never hurts to ask you all's opinions.. Please don't assume that I was attempting to put any type of label on my puppy... All that aside, I definitely understand where you are coming from...

[Judi W]

Please consider, not correcting or disciplining misbehavior is not a virtue, but rather a case of lying to the dog by letting the little bugger think everything it does it just fine and dandy. The idea here is not to mislable things. That doesn't mean ignoring rude and offensive behavior.

[mook1620]

In a situation like the one being discussed, is it better for him or the fiance to do the correcting, or a combination of both? If they don't already live together, they soon will if they're getting married, and she should be regarded as an alpha also, right?

[damp]

It is the owner’s responsibility to teach and train his/her pup. Consistence and patience will teach the pup that those bad manners are not actable to ANY human (or any dog for that matter.)

My point is, you can’t expect all… neighbors, kids, people you meet on the streets etc. to do your job (teach/correct) but an adult family member should never accept rude behavior and of course correct the pup.

That said, when I meet people, who want to socialize their pup/dogs with me, I tell the pup/dog to KNOCK it of, if it nips, jumps or humps on me, IF the owner doesn’t (even it NOT my job)

Many are very impressed, that the pup/dog listened, and those who get mad about I dare to correct their Sweet Baby, I tell: You asked for socialization, please find another person, who will accept that crap.