Help! I've spoiled my dog

[dontdoodlewithapoodle]

Inadvertently.

She used to be super well behaved, but
I think I over compensated for the arrival of my dd, worried that she would feel left out, and she's super spoiled and demanding now.

Has the run of the house and literally pushes me about!

Last straw was when she started growling at me when I dared move her slightly as I went to get off the sofa.

What do I do?? Any advice from people who lay down the law would be so appreciated. I'm fed up and ready to make a change.

I think we would all be happier

What breed is she?

I have a pampered retriever, well used to be pampered. I think you'll get a mix of answers but personally I take a balanced approach to training now. She gets lots of praise, fuss and treats for behaviours I like and usually a very firm no if it's something I don't like. But she responds well to a change of tone and a look to be honest so doesn't need much else. If I'm confident she knows a command and chooses to ignore me I will enforce it and stop her from self rewarding. Never give a command you can't enforce, so if I blow a stop whistle she has to be on her long line so that I can actually stop her if she ignores it, same for recall. If I ask her to stay and she moves, I move her back and repeat.

However my dog has never growled at us or shown aggression to other dogs either, might be a good idea to get a behaviourist. IMO, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer these days, I've seen it already as we're coming into the summer months, all the puppy classes being advertised by 'trainers', only positive reinforcement and feeding sausages constantly helped us with some really good behaviours but it didn't help when our dog was a teenager and being a diva.

This is just my opinion and advice based on my experience with a dog who didn't have any aggression or guarding issues. If you're worried about anything like that I would seek advice from a behaviourist.

If she is starting to growl at you for just moving off the sofa, I would recommend getting a behaviourist in as you don't want to take (well meaning) advice from someone online, get it wrong and end up with a bite.

I say that as someone who works with dogs. You need to get someone who can come and visit you, see your set-up and scenario and give you tailored advice.

Good luck.

@abeanbaked she's a mini poodle

Thanks to you both for your replies, I'll take that on board.

The growling has been for a few months now, started when she was on the bed and I moved my leg (I thought I'd just startled her). But carried on at these sort of times, usually when she's resting

I would seek professional help from a dog behaviourist (a proper one!) especially with a child in the house.