PROS-My girl is launcing at my head-HELP

[cdbeez]

During play my beautiful little 11 1/2 week old girl launches at my head, arm, hair,etc and bites like a banshee. She's springs up like a jack rabbitt... I'd swear she's practicing her bitework for Schutzhund http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif Now I correct her for it but at the same time, from reading some of the threads in the working rotts section, I'm afraid of killing her spirit if I should indeed begin training her for sport later on. Any suggestions- I've already gotten a busted lip but I know I can't let her think she's dominant. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/confused.gif Thanks

[blazer]

I wouldn't woory about breaking her spirit by telling her "NO" or "EASY", I have done my 1 yr old rott that way when he was little and now if we play he goes real easy. Don't let people tell you not to let your dog play a little rough. Every one nowadays want to tell everyone if you let them play rough that they will be dominant, Bull cr_ _!. Everyone is always trying to make out that a rott should be done this way or that way. I listen to a lot of physcho babble all the time. I have mine to where if I tell him to "Get something to eat" he will go eat. The only thing that is really more noticeable about a rott is that thay are alittle more hard headed.

[WorkinDogz]

Sorry Blazer, but some of that "psycho-babble" has a great deal of merit attached. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

Wresting (if that's the type of playing you're doing) creates unsureness and lends to mouthiness.

Nothing says that a dog that will be a top competitor in SchH has to be a blithering idiot and never told "NO"; but there are games that lend to positive drive building and then there are games that create an unsureness regardless of what stands behind the dog pedigree wise. It's EASY to ruin a puppy -- just wrestle with him...make him hand shy and mouthy http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

The "you can do whatever you want; it's a ROTTIE" thing is not only untrue; it's harmful http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[Carol Burke]

Workindogz is right. It is not good to over stimulate a puppy this age. Let her chase a ball. She should not be put in a position where she can lunge at your head and connect.

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Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[German Vanegas]

Your puppy is being a high energy driven doggie... I like it! If he bothers you too much, would you please send him to me? I would pay the shipping charges, of course!... JUST KIDDING!!!! Now seriously, be patient and start teaching the meaning of the word "NO" by gently stopping the pup's unnacepted behavior. No hitting, no screaming, just a firm "NO!" while putting to an end the action that bothers you. Consistency and firmness are the key along with a good spririted patience http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

[cdbeez]

Thanks German for the advice. If I didn't love her so very much, I may let her come and visit you. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif Perhaps you'll see her someday in the ring or the field, I think she has amazing potential. I'll have to post a picture someday and you can tell me what you think. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif By the way, she's already improved in the last few days. We play at a very high energy pace still, but no more high speed jumps at my face...and not a moment too soon because those little jaws of hers are getting stronger by the second. I would never hit her or scream either because that kind of correction can't ever really be counted on to work, I'd rather she respond to me out of a mutual desire to please-she's my baby!
Oh yeah, GERMAN, my best friend lives in Houston so maybe someday when we come to visit you can check out my little bundle of dynamite in person.
One other thing, just to clarify, we're not wrestling with her because I had been advised against it but she really seems to like to tug at things...would a tug toy add to any potential later aggression? http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/confused.gif


[This message has been edited by cdbeez (edited September 15, 2000).]

[franlofter]

Is that all you do to correct puppy is say no?? I have read so many times about grabing it by scruff and a little shake when you say no is this wrong info?? my puppy is really in the bites all the time grabs my pantleg and does the puppy shake with it wont let go. He cried the first night i got him most the night after that he been sleeping all night till i get up at 430 am I was very suprised by this.

[Terri's Rotti]

Originally posted by franlofter:
Is that all you do to correct puppy is say no?? I have read so many times about grabing it by scruff and a little shake when you say no is this wrong info??

The pitfalls to using this method would be that you can sometimes find yourself using it more and more, until it becomes meaningless to the dog. Many times a person will use this method, and either break the dogs spirit, or the dog will just wait until it's big enough to take you on.

I personally like to redirect my dogs attention, without rewarding any bad behavior. Depending on the situation their is not always just one set thing I do to redirect.