Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:07 am Post subject: HELP!! advice needed!
Hi,
I really do need some advice re Cadbury and his agression/ dominance towards puppies!
Cadbury is a fab dog and has no aggression to anything other than puppies!! I really don't why he is like this and would really like to resolve the problem
On walks his recall is very good and if I see a pup I always call him back and put him on the lead just incase! This morning however we turned a corner and there was a young dog right in front of us! Cadbury was on him before i had a chance to say anything!
He basically growls and pins the dog to the floor - it sounds absolutely terrible and I am sure the owner of the other dog would quite understandbly felt their dog was under attack! That said, Cadbury never ever bites it is purely alot of noise. The owner was fine about it but I felt awful.
I really need some advice as this problem is not going away and I would hate to end up having to keep him on the lead all the time.
It is so frustrating because he plays really well with adult dogs of all sizes and has such a gentle nature .
I would try him on a long line 26ft so that he can still run around but you still have control and correct him when this behaviour starts.
Most of us like our dogs off lead I am one but I had to long line Majic as her recall became appalling and not acceptable so for 2 months she was put on a long line so she could be corrected immdately
She is now back off leading and doing well so for that short amount of time of long line work she has turned a corner
I was right next to him today when it happened so grabbed his collar told him "No" in very cross voice but this does not stop him doing it the next time!
He's recall is very good so most times I see situation and call him back.
What I really am trying to understand is what is the root cause of this behaviour in a hope that this may help me find away to overcome it.
One friend suggested I took him to a puppy class thinking that over exposure may help!
He has been well socialized, attended puppy and training classes . This behaviour did not start till he was about 1 year old ( now 20 months)
In all other aspects he is a fab dog, great with the children etc. I guess they all have to have some little quirk to their nature to keep us on our toes?!!
I have no advice and I am sure a much more experienced person will be along soon Linda.
I just want to say that my Max was pinned to the floor, upside down with a lot of noise, growling and nipping by a GS when he was a little pup.
Max poo'd and pee'd himself in fear.
HOWEVER - there was no noticable long term harm done (except a very healthy respect of GS who were given a very wide berth) and Max wasn't scarred for life or anything.
I understand you wanting to get to the bottom of this behaviour, but don't beat yourself up too much.
Are you sure its aggression? It just that just before Doobs and Gracie (my pup) start to play, Doobs makes this growly sound - but I know its all play. The pinning down is also what they do in play. What sort of noise does he make?
My other thought is that you calling him back is surely reinforcing that pups are not to be trusted (if that is why he is growling). Pity you don't live near me coz Gracie would make an excellent stooge pup and she doesn't get put off easily by big grumbly dogs!
Hope I made sense, but I am now way an expert - its just the way I see it.
Hopefully one of the more experienced Lab owners can help.
I'm thinking the same, pity you don't live near me as Simba still jumps around alot near adult dogs and could do with being put off! We have a Cadbury choc lab round the corner 18 months old and he jumps on her and growls at her but she is not deterred at all.
Also alot of the time when adult dogs growl at her the owners say it is a play growl and that their dogs are enjoying all the jumping around. I always keep Simba on the lead so I can pull her away if I feel they have had enough of the mad pup! The only dog that she has ever had a problem with was a westie (off-lead) and it grabbed her round the throat. I had to pick Simba up (she was smaller then) and this westie was still hanging off her throat off the ground.
This happened on two separate occasions and now the old lady puts the westie on the lead when it sees us. But Simba still cowers as they go past and the westie growls.
Maybe it is just a play growl that Cadbury is exhibiting and maybe she is trying to teach the pups acceptable behaviour!!
I wish you were all nearer too!! I think a chance to expose him to lots of pups may be a good way to break the cycle!
I am no expert but i do not think it is agrression as such, he is a very placid dog most of the time - a big softie really.
With regard to pups he never bites , but his fur goes up along his back and he makes a really loud growl ( not a play rumble growl)
A dog trainer once told me that pups have a different smell and can be exciting to other dogs?!! I wonder if he picks up on this an just over reacts some how?!!
We sometimes meet another choc lab that is just over a year old, Cadbury does the same to this dog but soon gets over it and they play nicely together.
Luckily the chap with this dog is easy going and as soon as he realised it was all noise was happy to let them get on with it, other however quite understandably other owners are very protective of their pups!!
I would really like to find away to train him out of this behaviour.
Keep the ideas coming! and thanks for all your support
Hi Linney
I know it is scarey as Twigs "big Brother" a Golden Retriever did this with her he is 18mths and she is 9 mths and at first I was terrifeid but my sis-in-law told me it was play growling and that I should ignore it so I did (kind of.. Fingers in ears etc....) but now they play beautifully and I think soon Twigs will be the dominant one!!!
West Sussex is not too far ... I would be more than happy to meet somewhere in between and let Cadbury have a play with Twigs if she is not too old (9 Months - but a big girl) - feel free to PM me or reply to this
Cheers
D
Sorry for not replying sooner. We have had a awful weekend as my son ran into a glass door which shattered!! consequently we have been at hospital on and off over the last few days so I have not been checking forum.
It would be great to meet up , where abouts are you? I have spoken to a dog behavourist who recommends exposing Cadbury to as many pups as possible, so i am sure it would help.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
