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Advice needed

2K views 18 replies 8 participants last post by  chip18 
#1 ·
Hi everyone I have posted a few days ago about a growling 12 week old pup . I got quite shocked and scared tonight when Max growled and lunged to snap at my 6 year old daughters face. It seemed to be aggressive rather than playing or attention. We have been pushing him off the furniture and saying No , all she did was pushed him down as we have done many times before, but this time he reacted. We have started to let her feed and train him but for some reason he is still trying to control her. He doesn't start puppy training till Feb any advice would really help thanks
 
#2 ·
Your pup probably thinks of your 6 year old as more of a sibling / playmate vs. a leader in the house.
I would not push the pup off the furniture. I recommend giving a command such as "off" and pick the pup up and place Max down. This should probably be done by the adults in the house until Max has a bit more training and respects / listen to your child.
Never let anyone play with the pup using their hands - always use a toy. (not sure if you were doing this or not - just tossing that info out there)
There's a lot of training you can start at home before obedience class begins. Involve your child in the training with you being present.
It will get better.
I don't think your pup is aggressive - at 12 weeks old they are playing and pushing buttons.

:)
 
#3 ·
Personally I think its difficult for a 6 year old to try and handle the dog other than maybe feeding him and letting her walk him around the yard some, under supervision, but thats me. She definitely needs to be involved though maybe have her tell him to sit or lie down then praise him. At 12 weeks he is a baby, he needs his crate time. I also wouldn't push on the dog he might feel some pain in that. I would crate him more and give less "free time" until he earns his freedom.
 
#4 ·
Ok ... well your 6 year old daughter "violated" one of my basic principles ... "don't lay hands on the dog!" But ... in as much as I doubt she is a member??? "This" must be on you???

You are quickly falling into the "My puppy is going to go to training classes soooo...I'm good" trap! :)

I went to a "puppy training class" more than a decade ago with my first Band Dawg Gunther, lots of puppies people and group play, chaos and craziness. I did not learn much there and when I left I did not realize I had a "Dog Aggressive" breed on my hands?? He was fine at the time, I figured it out later, my point ... you can't expect "puppy classes to solve all your problems. :)

Puppies need exercise and play time, and they need to know rules, boundaries and limitations. All of that is on you not your daughter.

"You" put "her" in a position for this to happen. "This" is "not" aggression and it is not a "Boxer" thing it is a "Dog" thing. And dogs need to be trained! As long as you "understand that" we got your back.

If you'd like to know what "real" aggression is ...have a look here at "our" x-mas day melt down!:

Please help- Male 20 month GSD bite the dog walker! - German Shepherd Dog Forums

Just saying "every" objection to a "correction" by a "puppy" is not "aggression."

Moving on ... either the "puppy" is allowed on the furniture or he is not?? If he is then yes he needs to be taught when it's time to get "Off."

And sigh ...much as it "pains" me to say one way to teach off is with the use of a "spray bottle" filled with water. You say off and if he does not move spray him in the face with water.

Not my thing but it's not about me. Took me two years to get that. :)

That said ... what "I" would do is train the puppy in "Place" if you want him off the couch ... send him to "Place" you can find that here:

http://www.boxerforums.com/training/183298-fearful-anxious-flat-crazy-place-command.html

So I would train that instead of "Off" accomplishes the same thing and will come in handy down the line. :)
 
#17 ·
And sigh ...much as it "pains" me to say one way to teach off is with the use of a "spray bottle" filled with water. You say off and if he does not move spray him in the face with water.
Oh, Chip, I'm so proud! :clap2:

Just kidding, mostly.

To the OP: I'm glad the new technique is working! He's a baby and I agree with the others that he's not "aggressive" but he probably is developing a good case of "brat".

When Uhtred was that age we were working on crate training, and the rule was that his toys had to stay in the crate. He wanted a toy out of the crate, and we went through this episode where he would bring the toy out, I would take it away and throw it back in, he would bring it out, etc.

Well, on the umpteenth cycle of this, I took the toy away from him and he growled and snapped at me. Luckily I had the spray bottle (my tool of choice) handy and almost by reflex I gave him an immediate spray in the face. That was the last time that ever happened.

The discipline tool of choice (spray bottle, shake can, air blast, bonker) differs for everyone, but I think one constant is that you need to find some kind of negative reinforcer for the bad behavior.

Good luck!
 
#5 ·
So many do's and dont's but the pushing down isn't working . Glad to know its training. so if the dog is growling at my child should she try to discipline him or do I step in straight away, or do we ignore it ? He's totally trying it on. He gets plenty of attention and walks do it's def not a boredom thing . Thanks for your help
 
#6 ·
A six year can't train or discipline a dog. That's going to be your job. But first is the dog ever "allowed" on the furniture?? Some people do some people don't but whatever the rule is it needs to be clear to the dog.

But if you're "struggling" already ... at 16 weeks he will be a handful unless you start now! So consider if you're willing to put the work into raising a "Dog" because that is what you have.
 
#10 ·
Hi thanks seems like we are doing everything right apart from the pushing down off the furniture. He has never been allowed to jump up or onto the furniture so this has always been corrected with a no then moved off. I have started saying off and pointing down which seems to be working.
He also gets lots of intelligence training he can sit, down, roll over, stay , fetch, wait etc looking for more challenging things for him.
And can I just make one thing clear I am very willing to put the work in or would not have got a boxer or any dog.The advice I need is because I never thought a pup could be so strong willed. Knew boxers were dominant but we chose him as every web site I read said they are Amazing with kids. Sure if we are consistent he will know his place. Apart from the growling and odd snapping he is a very loving dog.
 
#12 ·
A lot of good advice has been given already.

I just wanted to add that Boxers tend to be very vocal when they are playing. At age 3, Duke sounds like a cross between Chewbacca and a rabid dog when he's playing rough with hubby. It would actually be kind of scary if we didn't know that he's playing.

Here's a video of him at about 16 weeks playing with hubby. As you can see, he was already quite loud and "aggressive". lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk7FnX7GmpE

So be sure to monitor interactions between the pup and your child. If the pup is treating your child as a littermate (which is what it sounds like) he may try to engage in rough play, as he would with his siblings - and that's when you should step in and correct him. Consistency and patience and your pup will learn his place in your "pack".
 
#13 ·
Hi guys,
Just an update on Max we are still doing everything that you all recommend and I also emailed my breeder and he recommend us to stop Max sitting on out lap as its his way of dominating us. The change in him is amazing. Thanks for everyone's help x
 
#15 ·
Hmm, OK the freak out mode seems to be gone. :)

So time for stuff I think you should know:
http://www.boxerforums.com/training/171489-training-management-leadership.html

and I'll give you a break from me and say you'll find a lot of useful information here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/DogerciseLA/playlists

Bethany has a lot of puppy videos training puppies and "The Place Command" being one of them.

And of course Jeff Gellman:
Solid K9 Training - Rehabilitation and Family Dog Training

His videos are easier to access here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/SolidK9Training/playlists

Pretty much everything you need to know is there!

And everyone should download the "Periscope App" to their smartphone and you can see him work with dogs pretty much daily.

Keep us updated and ask questions. :)
 
#16 ·
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Our pup isn't here yet but we have kids and I also have a 6year old. Our dog now is very obedient but does not listen to our 6 year old either so I can imagine that a pup wouldn't listen to a "playmate". I always make my son feed our dog and make him sit before we feed him and I am there and he will listen when I supervise. Good luck and enjoy your new pup.
 
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