My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

6 month old puppy ?aggression?

4 replies

Mairyhinge · 09/11/2017 15:28

Hi, so Trigger will be 6 months on 21/11... he's fab with training, very clever. The problem we are seeing right now isn't this. If anyone is eating or drinking ( from a water bottle), he wants it, and he barks and sits right at your face to get it. He would literally take the food out of your mouth!
Then he's snappy at times, his favourite thing to do is watch out of the window Andrew my son (15) came up to say hello and Trigger snapped at him ( although I think it was shock/suprise)
Finally, every morning my hubby gets up at 5 for work and lets Trigger out, but he usually has to be made to go out, doesn't like getting up, and this morning he tried to bite him.
So I'm wondering if he should just leave him if he doesn't want to go out until I'm up at 7?
What's normal? His last toilet visit is at 10pm, then he's crated all night til 5. 6 on Sundays.
Would it be best to leave him if he's not showing signs of needing to go at 5am?
Every time we conquer an issue, along comes something new!!
Advice or ideas welcomed thanks Thanks

OP posts:
missbattenburg · 09/11/2017 21:26

He is a teenager testing the limits of what he can get away with and then repeating what works (for him). Don't let him get away with it. That doesn't mean you have to be stern or punish him.

For example... if he jumps up when someone is eating then put him in a crate/another room when eating. When you can, practise eating and tossing him his own treat every few seconds so long as he is sitting and quiet. You might need to do this almost constantly while eating at first but soon you can reduce the number of treats down until you are treating just once or twice for a nice, long, quiet sit.

If he argues about going out first thing, throw a tasty treat out to get him out there. On this - my pup is 15 weeks and easily goes from 10pm to 7.30am in a crate without needing to go out.

If he snaps when someone surprises him then show him surprises can be nice: interrupt him looking out the window by popping up to him and tossing a treat. Do this enough and he will look forward to being interrupted at the window.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 09/11/2017 21:55

When was the last time he went to the vet? If a dog is suddenly displaying aggressive signs, particularly when being moved or touched, I would say your first port of call is the vet to make sure that he's not in pain.

Mairyhinge · 10/11/2017 08:46

Thank you missbattenburg some really helpful info there.
I think it's time we started leaving him til 7/7.30. He got up today at 5, but he's always very reluctant ( can't blame him!)
We are going to the vets Monday, but I do think it's behavioural, as you say he's a teenager pushing his luck. 90% of the time he's absolutely fine, and he's never snappy or barks with me.
Someone else said to put him in his crate for time out when he starts barking so I'll do that.
I also like the idea of treats when we are eating, thanks.

OP posts:
missbattenburg · 10/11/2017 18:07

I also saw this last night and thought of you:

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.