Change in dog's behaviour - advice please!

[Haribojoe]

Hoping some wise mumsnetters can help me with my doggy dilemma.

We have a lovely 2.5 yr old dalmation cross, have had her since she was 4 months old and she is a wonderful dog, loving, brilliant temperament, never any problems.

When we got her our children were 4 and 2, we have since had a third who is now 16 months old, had never been any issue with the kids, she has always been good with her and they love her to bits.

She does have a crate which she sleeps in at night and goes into when we are out. I work nights so the most time she is ever on her own for is a couple of hours if I pop to the shops, most days though it's half an hour either end of the day for the school run.

We never used to let her get up on the sofas but recently we have been allowing her on the sofas without any problem. But since just before Christmas she has started (maybe once a week) growling at me when I tell her to get down to go in her crate for the night. Last night when I told her to get down the growl was a more of a snarl with a bark and sharp turn of the head (as if she was going to nip/bite me IYSWIM).

Been racking my brain about this change in her, she has never done this to my husband (who's sofa she sits on ) and I wondered if this is because she is starting to view the sofa as her territory?

Anyone got any suggestions about what has caused this change, and what I should do to resolve it. I have not let her on the sofa today as am thinking that maybe this is the problem.

TIA

I would strongly recommend that you rule out any neurological problems first. My sisters dog had a similar change in behaviour an this turned out to be a brain tumour, the sooner this is caught the better. Any strong change in behaviour is more likely to be physiological than behavioural. Of there are not any underlying causes, then the vet could suggest behavioural treatment, poss. linked to the sofa/territory issues. Make sure that when you feed the dog you use the wait com and for three seconds before the dog is allowed to eat, this ascents dominance over him. There are lots of over simple methods of asserting dominance, or showing the dog who is boss!

Thanks train will sort out appt with vet for next week.

Always worth ruling out physical problems but if all is well I would say that she is testing you a bit perhaps because she was allowed on the sofa and has become a bit possessive (nothing wrong with having dogs on the sofa as such, just as long as they don't think they own it and it sounds like she does). The best thing would be to get a good trainer to come help you out, I would look here for someone:
www.apdt.co.uk/

In the meantime see if you can try stoping her from getting on the sofa altogether. When she jumps on ask her to get off, if she does reward her, if she doesn't tip the sofa so that she falls off (gently!) and then reward her.

This really is no big problem at all and she is NOT trying to dominate you at all. She is just comfy on the sofa and would really prefer to stay there than go to her crate.

Very Very very simple to change this behaviour. It is up to you if you want her on the sofa - if you do when you want her to get down just throw a yummy treat on the floor and give your off comand - she will jump down immediately no growling and a happy dog.

When you want her to go into her crate just throw in a yummy treat and give the treat command - sorted

Do this every time for a while - then over the next few weeks treat her sometimes and randomly she will still work hard to get the treat, so you may see her rushing to her crate or getting off the sofa when she sees you coming.

If this is the only change in her behaviour I don't think a vet visit is necessary however you are on the ground with her in RL and only you can say if there are other changes. But just showing she does not want to leave a comfy sofa is not really major cause for concern

Minimu speaks sense (as is always the case!) :)

if only

THanks for all the advice. Have been keeping her off sofas for several days now and no problems at all.

Have not noticed any other changes in her.

She does like being cosy though (hence the fact she has duvet and blankets in her crate) might try getting her a soft dog bed to snuggle up in so that she can be in the lounge with us.