21 week old growling and lunging

[hittinndquitin]

Hi my girl is 5 months old and playful as ever until these mishaps, tonight when i came home my gf told me that our puppy was attacking her lunging and biting her where ever her mouth landed i didnt see any of this when i came in the door she was happy and playful but 3 hrs later she was playing with my other dog and started to get out of hand with growling and biting my shar peis wrinkles and when my shar pei would give a warning growl shed back off for a moment and then it began again, now i thought it had gone too far so i seperated them. She then started growling and biting my arm as i held her away by the collar. I tried walking out of the room and taking my other dog with me to leave her alone and again it began when i returned in a minute or 2. Both times i seperated her and got the same reaction both times. The second time i put her in her crate to calm her down. I need suggestions on how to control the situation. i have a trainer comming to my home on saturday to help with things like this and obidience training as well. Do all rotti pups go through a phase of like this? she was acting in aggression in my eyes. The closest thing i could find as an explanation is shes trying to be dominant over my other dog and my gf and I as well. all suggestions are welcomed and will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[AngelBunny]

How long have you had your puppy?

Your youngster sounds undertrained and underexercised to me. She's burning off energy by engaging in naughty behavior.

You say you have a trainer coming to your home? Is there a reason you're going this route vs. taking your puppy to class?

[hittinndquitin]

We've had her since 11 weeks old and nothing like this has occured b4 considering we take her on atleast 8 short walks(10-15min) a day and have 2 to 3 play sessions in the yard with myself and my other dog so the under exercised explanation doesnt make sense to me but there is always a chance she is getting more energy as she starts bigger.

We have a trainer comming into our home to help break her of bad manners that she only has in her comfort zone (my home) and also to work mainly with my other dogs on leash aggression. We begin obedience class on the 29th. We already take her everywhere with us to socialize her including dog parks and some local stores and even a few bars where other dogs are.

[morgAtory]

I am no a way an expert like some on here, as I have only had my Rotti "Elvis" now for just about 4 weeks.

Elvis is 4 months old and has (slowly becoming had) that same problem when finding something new, that he is really excited to chew on... Before I did some extensive research on here and other places, I was mislead by a friend of my mothers (who was supposedly a dog trainer) to roll him on his back with a firm grip on his chest... Man, after doing my due diligence on here and with my Vet I have found out this is the absolute worst way to solve a behavior issue!!!!

Elvis has just began walking on his leash consistently (for about 2 weeks now) and he is enrolled in a puppy kindergarten class for big breed dogs (personally reccomended from my vet who is the owner of 2 Dobermans) and since that he has slowed down his defensive behavior (also be use of the redirection, and trading techniques)

Best of luck and I am sure the well educated folks on these forums will provide much more insight for you on your situation...

[FilosFolks]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

How long have you had your puppy?

Your youngster sounds undertrained and underexercised to me. She's burning off energy by engaging in naughty behavior.

You say you have a trainer coming to your home? Is there a reason you're going this route vs. taking your puppy to class?

You've had your dog long enough to know if there is truly a bad attitude present or if this is just boredom. They will ALWAYS test you, and your dog is still a puppy! She may have just needed the crate & a nap.

I have to agree with AngelBunny. IMO your short walks are not nearly enough to have her tripping over her tongue and truly tired. You may be better off with a good hour at least a day instead of short walks that barely get her heart moving.

Mental stimulus is essential as well. My dogs get real naughty when they're bored. Keeps me off the couch!

Ailee

[hittinndquitin]

Thanks for your inputs. I'm going to try doing longer walks to try to get her tired out and stimulated. I talked to the trainer comming to my house this weekend and he suggested a shaker can (soda can with some pennies) to shake when she is acting improperly and it seems to work she stops what she is doing and sits nicely and quiet but i dont like it because it seems to send her cowering. Does anyone else use a shaker can or does anyone reccomend i not use the shaker can and can suggest another tactic.

I took her to the dog park today and she walks up and plays with the biggest dogs in the park and stopped complying with the come command and i know that theres alot of distractions but she even lost all her leash manners. Should i be taking her there and keeping her on the leash until she walks nice and then reward her with some off leash play time or should i bring my 30 foot leash and make sure she complies with my recall and other commands b4 giving her off leash play time?

[Tihanna]

I am currently using the shaker can. I am a receptionist at an animal clinic that has MANY rotti clients as well as one of our main clients runs a rotti rescue here in the city.

Either way, every person I have spoken to suggested I use a shaker can to direct Tihanna's barking and it worked like a charm.

In terms of the biting, I used a not so conventional manner, one again suggested by MANY EXPERIENCED, EDUCATED people and docs. Everytime Ti would play bite/mouth I put my full fist in her mouth and enabled her to clampse down. After 2-3 tries, she got the point and her biting/mouthing has nearly vanished!! :D By no means and I suggesting you try this as I am lucky and have a fairly submissive dog, one who is a go-getter, food motivated and very laid back, but for somebody w/ a alpha, beware.

I got my dog as a rescue from the pound at 4 mths and after having her a month we taught her sit, lay down, roll over, paw (other paw), bang (play dead), high 5 (other high 5), sit pretty and many more. Many docs at my work are blown away by her progress already and cannot believe how easily trainable she is. Anyways, point of megoing into this about mydog, I am a strong believer that a well stimulated dog = a tired dog = a happy dog. Working on training from the get go is of utmost importance with a dog with the strength, stubborness, intelligence and dominance a rotti tends to have.