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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Behaviour/dominance theory etc

90 replies

Strawberryshortcake40 · 18/03/2018 08:17

Have 6 year old dog.
Got puppy 7 weeks ago.
Expected no issues. Has been horrendous ever since.
Finally bit that bullet and had behaviourist in last week. V expensive but I was desperate for help.

I've been told problem is my dog who thinks she is pack leader. That if she gets chance she will kill the puppy so i must keep them separate. That she's dangerous to have around my children. That all the things I thought were her being affectionate are dominance and need to be stopped.

I'm so upset. Am trying to put all the suggestions into place and teach her to behave better but she's so unhappy. She has barely got out of her bed every day. When we go for a walk it's such a palaver to go out "correctly" that it's half hour till we get out of the door. Doing mealtimes "properly" means me getting the kids up at 6am so they are fed before the animals and the puppy is hysterical by the time she gets some food.

I feel I have been doing everything "wrong", yet never realised. I thought I just had a happy, bouncy dog who loved us all. But now I have a house of shut doors, a puppy I can't housetrain because she can't get to the garden, and my children terrified to go near the dog :(

OP posts:

GooodMythicalMorning · 18/03/2018 19:33

Yes playpen for the pup is fab. Bet they'll be friends in a few weeks

LemonadeWithACherry · 18/03/2018 19:57

I'm so angry reading that bullshit the 'behaviourist' charged you for If she is indeed a member of any organisations I would contact them and tell them everything she advised you, that she told you not to give treats, the dominance bunkum and poking the dog if it growls. Punishing a dog for growling is dangerous in itself ffs!

I feel sorry for the other dogs this woman had visited

Original poster

Strawberryshortcake40 · 18/03/2018 20:00

Dog currently asleep on my feet (this is supposed to be a bad dominance sign??), puppy asleep on my lap. I really should get up and put the children to bed but it's the nearest they've ever been to each other in a calm way!!

OP posts:

noitsnotteatimeyet · 18/03/2018 20:13

Please ignore everything you’ve been told about dominance - it’s complete bollocks - your dog falling asleep on your feet does not mean she’s trying to take over - how could it???? It’s just that she loves you and wants to be near you and it’s great that she’s ignoring the puppy on your lap

Original poster

Strawberryshortcake40 · 18/03/2018 20:16

She's on my feet apparently as a way of showing she's in charge and so I cant move? I always thought she wanted to warm my feet up!!

OP posts:

noitsnotteatimeyet · 18/03/2018 20:28

Honestly? That’s absolute nonsense.., I know you’ve paid for this so-called advice so think you need to give it some credence but it’s complete and utter crap - she’s asleep on your feet because she wants to be near you because she loves you - the only way that would be a problem is if you didn’t like it

Veterinari · 18/03/2018 22:29

She's on my feet apparently as a way of showing she's in charge and so I cant move? I always thought she wanted to warm my feet up!!

No she wants to be near you. And when you get off the sofa she sits in your spot because it carries your smell so it’s a safe space.

She’s anxious and your trainer (no way are they an APBC behaviourist) is talking bollocks. Not sure if you saw my previous post at lunchtime but feel free to PM

TatterdemalionAspie · 18/03/2018 22:32

So what do you think now about the advice that you were given by the behaviourist, Strawberry? What are you planning to do now?

Original poster

Strawberryshortcake40 · 18/03/2018 22:40

I feel utterly pissed off tbh that I've probably made things worse. I do think that Ddog has got a few behaviour issues but I'm not sure now is the best time to sort it.

I had been advised by my vet to muzzle her which really distressed her and I still don't think that's the right thing to do. I think I will just continue letting them interact a bit and whisk pup away as soon as she's a nuisance. And I will be letting dog have treats and sniff on walks and generally be herself.

I always thought dogs growling was a good thing, a warning. But pup doesn't seem in the slightest worried by the growling. So maybe it's not that scary to her?

OP posts:

Ginger1982 · 18/03/2018 22:59

I have a JRT with many similar issues (though no second dog). He will go mental if people come into the house, will sit on me on couch and then growl if I try to move, will steal my seat if I move, will growl if told to get off couch etc. Some of these issues do need to be resolved especially as I have 11 month old DS and I do have to watch them carefully. I had one trainer tell me much of what you've been told and a second trainer tell me it was all nonsense. Do what works for you.

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 19/03/2018 08:28

This is a very good article to read, Why won’t dominance die?

tabulahrasa · 19/03/2018 08:45

“I had been advised by my vet to muzzle her which really distressed her and I still don't think that's the right thing to do”

Well muzzle training would take you a couple of weeks usually... which is time you could spend dealing with the actual issue instead.

usainbolt · 19/03/2018 08:54

How to muzzle train without any stress

I think all dogs should be taught as puppies to be muzzled trained for various reasons - it is a good skill for them to have and also helps to build confidence. However I would also try to avoid situations where a dog would need to be muzzled!

tabulahrasa · 19/03/2018 10:19

It’s not that I think muzzle training is a bad idea, just not a top priority right now.

Nesssie · 19/03/2018 11:34

I think ignore all the behaviourists advice and listen to the advice given here! Stop poking your dog when she growls, look closely at what specific behaviour she is growling at, as she is telling you she is not happy with it- i.e. the puppy is too 'in your face' - and try to solve the situation - remove the puppy until it has calmed down.

And if she has never gone for your children before, then I wouldn't be scared of her now. The growling on the sofa isn't great, but like has been suggested above, using a treat and an 'off' command, then praise when she is on the floor will work.

She is sitting on you/on your spot because it smells of you and she loves you! And she's probably a bit insecure at the moment.

When you are taking the puppy out to the toilet, instead of carrying him, can you pop a lead on and quickly walk him past the older dog? So that the older dog gets use to the puppy moving around.

Apart from that, lots of treats and praise whenever the two dogs are near or interact. Don't let the puppy be too annoying. Let the older dog warn him (a growl for example), and then if the puppy continues, remove him.

Continue to separate when not supervised. Walks together.

And stop forcing everyone to eat breakfast, the dog doesn't give a hoot who is eating what/when.

My dog HATED my new dog for quite a while, so they are best friends!

Stick with it, it sounds like it is already improving.

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