I am having a problem with the puppy and I don't know how to correct him. The problem is he wants to do what he wants to do and NOW! One example is I was holding him and he wanted to get on the bed and he was trying to jump out of my arms. I told him no a few times (he gets mad at the word no) and he started growling and biting my hand he was really mad. This happened the other night when the big dogs were playing and I was holding him and he went like he was crazy biting and growling at me to get down. I am at a total loss I have never experienced anything like this with a puppy. How do I correct him? I don't know what is going on is it that he can't control his emotions yet? Everything else with him is perfect. He goes to the potty like he should and I can take food away from him with no problem. This attitude has me worried.
Puppy troubles
- Thread starter goldiefur
- Start date
I don't know how to work with that exact situation but some self control things you can do is tossing a treat and holding him back on the leash. He might throw a hissy fit but as soon as he calms down say "go get it" or "release" and let him have the treat. Repeat until he start calming immediately. You can do the same with toys or squirrels that look like they are fun to chase. You can add a command to it that you use once he starts to calm down so he learns it means to settle. I don't know if it would work for the wanting to get down though. For that you may just want to start by not holding him long enough that he does that or see if the command works for that and then let him go as soon as he settles. You'll have to see if the command will work for that situation.
YOU will have to work with teaching him patience. I would start by taking him to another room when the dogs are playing if he can't join them and engage him in an activity that would be a game like the one suggested. PUtting him in the crate when they play is only going to frustrate him all the more. Imo. Keep your games short and as my old boss said always leave him wanting more. T-touch massage was so valuable in helping VIctor when i first got him, he was so frantic. Just get the focus off the other dogs and onto you.
Okay I feel a little better. ALL of the dogs I ever owned let us hold them when they were puppies. This is the fist time a situation like this has ever happened so I was starting to think something might be wrong with him. What if we were at the vet and I had to hold him and he went nutty like this? He starts thrashing around like a maniac I did not let him go because I thought it would be letting him know he was boss so every time I he did this I put him in the bathroom.
Another thing that is going on is he HATES the crate and I gave into him the second day and never put him back in. All of our other dogs were okay with the crate they did not love it but the would not go crazy if they were put in.
Our vet said not to bring him anywhere until he gets all the shots for Parvo. It is really really bad here the worst they have ever seen. I almost did not even want to get a puppy because of how bad it is but you can't stop living because of it. So as soon as he gets his third set I will feel better about it and he will go to classes then.
Instead of the crate I think the bed is his safety zone. He goes crazy to get on it. He tries to climb and he can't do it so then he comes to me all sweetness and light
to get me to pick him up so he can jump to the bed. So what do I do? Let him in the bed or not? When he got mad I did not want him on the bed so I held him so he would not start barking and jumping that is when he got mad and started growling and biting. As soon as he is in the bed he goes to sleep and I don't worry about pee because I take him out a lot. I guess I created this problem by giving into him. Should the bed be off limits?
Another thing that is going on is he HATES the crate and I gave into him the second day and never put him back in. All of our other dogs were okay with the crate they did not love it but the would not go crazy if they were put in.
Our vet said not to bring him anywhere until he gets all the shots for Parvo. It is really really bad here the worst they have ever seen. I almost did not even want to get a puppy because of how bad it is but you can't stop living because of it. So as soon as he gets his third set I will feel better about it and he will go to classes then.
Instead of the crate I think the bed is his safety zone. He goes crazy to get on it. He tries to climb and he can't do it so then he comes to me all sweetness and light
to get me to pick him up so he can jump to the bed. So what do I do? Let him in the bed or not? When he got mad I did not want him on the bed so I held him so he would not start barking and jumping that is when he got mad and started growling and biting. As soon as he is in the bed he goes to sleep and I don't worry about pee because I take him out a lot. I guess I created this problem by giving into him. Should the bed be off limits?
I would first go back to crate training. Even if you decide not to use it now, there WILL come a time in his life when you will be very happy he's comfortable in a crate - when you're sick and he has to stay at someone else's house, when you have to board him in a kennel, when the vet has to keep him overnight, when you do agility trials and he needs to go rest, etc. I think it's a very important thing for all dogs to learn, to rest quietly in their crates. At this age, and with a little patience and determination on your part, the training should go relatively quickly - probably just a couple of days. Do some searches in the training and puppy forums and you should be able to find some good advice about crate training.
When he starts biting you while you're holding, be sure to NEVER let him out of your hands until he's calm. So hold him with both hands on his chest, facing away from you, keeping his feet off the ground (or your lap, whatever) if you need to, and just hold him until he calms down. Even putting him down in the bathroom is a reward to him. As soon as he's calm and still, then let him down.
I think it's fine to let him on the bed, but you should definately think of it as a resource that you control - you tell him when he can get on the bed, and if you want him off he needs to get off. If he does any bad behavior while he's on the bed, he needs to get off.
When he starts biting you while you're holding, be sure to NEVER let him out of your hands until he's calm. So hold him with both hands on his chest, facing away from you, keeping his feet off the ground (or your lap, whatever) if you need to, and just hold him until he calms down. Even putting him down in the bathroom is a reward to him. As soon as he's calm and still, then let him down.
I think it's fine to let him on the bed, but you should definately think of it as a resource that you control - you tell him when he can get on the bed, and if you want him off he needs to get off. If he does any bad behavior while he's on the bed, he needs to get off.
Just wanted to put in I have seldom had a puppy actually bite me for wanting to NOT be restrained. That to me is kinda bothering me...how old is the pup? I know little of the backgroud so is this a rescue or? Good long time with mom or? Breed?
Serious growling or biting in a young pup would concern me. I would put the puppy on a table where he is slightly uncomfortable and less confident, and simply put both hands on the puppy gently talk nicely and offer treats. Seconds at a time...in different locations...kitchen table...dryer...grooming table...end table. No predictability. Extend the time and the firmness with which you place your hands on the pup...keep those treats coming. You'll feel the tenseness before the growling or flailing starts and at that moment release the pup....so it is release for being calm and allowing handling.
It might work might not but I'd certainly try. To me...even a bossy pup should not be growling...biting...and meaning it.
Mind you...all my Beagle pups are taught by Mom that they must accept her ministrations...if they sass her she will growl right back and smack them down with her paw and continue what she was about...when they go limp then she allows them to move away...not before. Not saying that is at all what a person should do...but just letting you know...even another dog, would not consider that normal, acceptable puppy behavior LOL.
Serious growling or biting in a young pup would concern me. I would put the puppy on a table where he is slightly uncomfortable and less confident, and simply put both hands on the puppy gently talk nicely and offer treats. Seconds at a time...in different locations...kitchen table...dryer...grooming table...end table. No predictability. Extend the time and the firmness with which you place your hands on the pup...keep those treats coming. You'll feel the tenseness before the growling or flailing starts and at that moment release the pup....so it is release for being calm and allowing handling.
It might work might not but I'd certainly try. To me...even a bossy pup should not be growling...biting...and meaning it.
Mind you...all my Beagle pups are taught by Mom that they must accept her ministrations...if they sass her she will growl right back and smack them down with her paw and continue what she was about...when they go limp then she allows them to move away...not before. Not saying that is at all what a person should do...but just letting you know...even another dog, would not consider that normal, acceptable puppy behavior LOL.
Yeah she is a great breeder been around since 1972. This is my third dog from her and this is the first time I have experienced this with any dog. I will say this he is very hot and he gets aggravated I noticed this today. We are in Louisiana and we have the air conditioner running full blast and it is still hot in here. He sits in front of the fan all the time. He is very feisty that is what made me get him in the first place. I think he is just going to be a different type of dog then I am used to.
I'm going to get him back into the crate I opened it up a little while ago and he walked in and laid down on his own. I am going to put a fan in front of it since he loves air blowing in his face. He was play biting earlier and I yelped every time he did it then I ignored him and I think he is understanding he is being a lot less aggressive when I play with him. He is so sweet about everything else. I just want to make sure I am correcting right. He is 9 weeks now and I am going to start some training with him and get him on the leash.
I agree with you houndedbythehounds I have never had a puppy get mad like this ever and we had so many different breeds of dog including German Shepherds. Of course the biting did not hurt but it will when he is 100 pounds So I want to nip this in the bud now. The weird thing is he will fall asleep with me holding him but if he gets something in his head that he wants to do that is when he gets mad as hell then I start correcting him by telling him no sternly while holding him then he starts wiiggling and really growling and biting at me. He is almost fake biting just putting his mouth on my arm and growling.I don't want to put him in the crate as punishment because he already hates the crate enough. If he does it again I will put him on his back and see what happens.
This is Gunner a Golden Retriever and the infamous bed, fan, and air conditioner he is obsessed with.:lol-sign: He sits with his face right in front of the portable a/c
I'm going to get him back into the crate I opened it up a little while ago and he walked in and laid down on his own. I am going to put a fan in front of it since he loves air blowing in his face. He was play biting earlier and I yelped every time he did it then I ignored him and I think he is understanding he is being a lot less aggressive when I play with him. He is so sweet about everything else. I just want to make sure I am correcting right. He is 9 weeks now and I am going to start some training with him and get him on the leash.
I agree with you houndedbythehounds I have never had a puppy get mad like this ever and we had so many different breeds of dog including German Shepherds. Of course the biting did not hurt but it will when he is 100 pounds So I want to nip this in the bud now. The weird thing is he will fall asleep with me holding him but if he gets something in his head that he wants to do that is when he gets mad as hell then I start correcting him by telling him no sternly while holding him then he starts wiiggling and really growling and biting at me. He is almost fake biting just putting his mouth on my arm and growling.I don't want to put him in the crate as punishment because he already hates the crate enough. If he does it again I will put him on his back and see what happens.
This is Gunner a Golden Retriever and the infamous bed, fan, and air conditioner he is obsessed with.:lol-sign: He sits with his face right in front of the portable a/c
what you might try...is allowing him to calm himself before setting him down...I mean maybe try to ride out the tantrum...sing a happy tune...dance around a bit, whistle or something to distract once he starts...and then as soon as you feel him calm even a bit...place him on the floor. He might catch on that tantrum's just lead to weird behavior from you...lol...but calmness leads to being released?
Sounds like a good idea! I kind of think he sensed me freaking out and it made it worse. He had a bath today and got blow dried and he did great. He also gives me no trouble at all when I clean his ears and I'm holding him when I do it. I have always had trouble ear cleaning with the dogs but he is great about it.
Fozzie used to throw similar tantrums, when he was being held. He used to be all squirmy and desperate to do his own thing when I first adopted him.
I spent a lot of time teaching him that being held was a positive experience, with treats and petting, and that squirming got him nothing... no attention, and definitely no freedom. Teaching that helped tremendously and still helps with nail clipping, ear cleaning, brushing, etc. He knows that holding still while I'm handling him is always a must.
Also, if the word No isn't working for you, a stern "ah-ah" or growly "wrong", or even a "shh", can be much more effective... especially if No has been over-used.
I spent a lot of time teaching him that being held was a positive experience, with treats and petting, and that squirming got him nothing... no attention, and definitely no freedom. Teaching that helped tremendously and still helps with nail clipping, ear cleaning, brushing, etc. He knows that holding still while I'm handling him is always a must.
Also, if the word No isn't working for you, a stern "ah-ah" or growly "wrong", or even a "shh", can be much more effective... especially if No has been over-used.
Forcing him to stay on you at this point could either help (he'll calm down after the extinctions burst type tantrum) or hurt (he'll escalate until he finds out what makes you put him down) the situation. Can you see the signs that he is about to have a tantrum? I mean before he growls or mouths you? Try to put him down before or right as you see those signs. I agree with those who said to get him used to handling and make being held an awesome experience. He's simply a pup who wants something and does not understand why he's being held back, he's trying to tell you something, you are not listening so he throws a tantrum. If you think he will eventually calm down then you can hold him until he does. If not I would put him down before he spazzes and slowly increase length of holding. You can even start popping treats (hide them though, in a pocket or something, so he does not need to see them to be happy on your lap) but again do it before he starts freaking. Or if he has a toy he likes use that as a distraction as soon as you see the signs he's unhappy but before he growls or mouths or squirms. When he shows a sign squeak it or wiggle it so he focuses on it and praise him, let him bite it/chew it if he wants. Then put him down if he is not flipping out (but keep the toy).
He sounds normal to me, just more of an explorer less of a cuddler.
He sounds normal to me, just more of an explorer less of a cuddler.
Post #9:
DO NOT "put him on his back and see what happens" - this will make him MORE uncomfortable, and probably less trusting of you. That's why no one here has suggested it. Also DON"T put him in the crate for punishment for this behavior - putting him DOWN is REWARDING the behaivor, no matter where you put him. Plus he's already uncomfortable in the crate so you have to make crate time a very rewarding experience every time until he gets more comfortable.
DO NOT "put him on his back and see what happens" - this will make him MORE uncomfortable, and probably less trusting of you. That's why no one here has suggested it. Also DON"T put him in the crate for punishment for this behavior - putting him DOWN is REWARDING the behaivor, no matter where you put him. Plus he's already uncomfortable in the crate so you have to make crate time a very rewarding experience every time until he gets more comfortable.
Oh I misunderstood your post. So you mean hold him in the air facing away from me? I was reading another site where they said to get him where he can not see me and hold him down until he is calm. I guess I got that mixed up with what you were saying.
I have toys in his crate now and I am letting him walk in and out of it while I am here. I will put him in tonight to sleep.
I have toys in his crate now and I am letting him walk in and out of it while I am here. I will put him in tonight to sleep.