Help Needed on Puppy Agression

[Hemlock]

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You are doing really well. It's never easy with baby anythings, but you WILL get there.

 

[BlueBear]

I suppose the reason I'm a bit neurotic over Blue is because of a past experience that left my family devastated about 14 years ago. Before I met Bev, my family had a German Shepherd which we rescued and he was brilliant. He lived for a good 8 or 9 years with us and when he got sick and was too ill to survive more operations, we had to let him go. It broke my heart and I still think about him every day. I don't think I'll ever get over him.

My eldest son has downs syndrome and autism so after the long time getting back on track without the GSD we decided on a dog again. He had to be large breed and not intimidating to look at, so I brought home an Old English Sheepdog puppy who, although quiet at first, bit, barked and was super aggressive to my wife and kids. So much, there were several injuries to the hands, face and legs which required medical treatment. The house eventually ended up in a state of fear. The last straw was when he attacked a 6 year old cousin of my kids, biting him in the face so hard he needed to be taken to hospital. The day after, I took him straight down the vets and after a long discussion, we had him destroyed at the advice of the vet. When we finally got the KC Registration certificates, the vet commented that the mother and father were only one digit away from each other in their registration numbers, indicating that the puppy didn't have enough separation of the parents blood lines (and more likely brother and sister).

So when Blue started biting all those fears came rushing back, especially with Bev too frightened to come out of the bedroom for a whole day. I now know Blue is just a normal puppy (thanks to you guys helping me so much), and we needed a few lessons on how to control the behaviour (thank you !) but I just thought I would try and justify my (maybe) over-worrying in case you think I'm a bit crazy.

He still bites but it's mostly around 19:00 when he gets tired, hungry and cranky. He has a "mad hour" of whizzing around and then at 10pm he goes to sleep on his bed. We then wake him up quickly for a toilet visit before settling him in his crate. Being able to predict his behaviour is a god-send because we are prepared for him. When he starts to bite, we exclude him from the room and close the door on him for 10 seconds or so. He then comes back in calmer so we fuss him a bit until he does it again, then its rinse, lather, repeat so to speak.

 

[JudyN]

I'm not surprised that the experience with your previous OES meant you were really worried about Blue's behaviour. And even without that sort of experience, the wild bitey behaviour of some pups really can look and feel like aggression if you haven't been through it before. You and Bev have done really well to adjust your behaviour and see him in a different light.

 

[JoanneF]

I agree, your concerns are very understandable.

As a separate point, I wanted to suggest that you - and, importantly, your partner - consider a good puppy training class. Some are pretty poor, but if you have a Dogs Trust centre near you, their classes have a great reputation and are very reasonably priced. It would teach both of you good practice and also to handle Blue consistently which makes it easier for him to learn. If you don't have a Dogs Trust or would prefer another training class for any reason, if you would like us to check the credentials on their website, please do ask.

 

[BlueBear]

I agree, your concerns are very understandable.

As a separate point, I wanted to suggest that you - and, importantly, your partner - consider a good puppy training class. Some are pretty poor, but if you have a Dogs Trust centre near you, their classes have a great reputation and are very reasonably priced. It would teach both of you good practice and also to handle Blue consistently which makes it easier for him to learn. If you don't have a Dogs Trust or would prefer another training class for any reason, if you would like us to check the credentials on their website, please do ask.

Thank you.

We are enrolling him in a local training course but he needs his second vaccination first. With Bev being at home all day its a project she is really excited about.

I'll post the details when we have more details.

Thanks again

 

[Hemlock]

I strongly recommend you both go and watch the training class (or better yet, several different ones) without your puppy. While you are watching, ask yourselves: "Do we want our puppy to do these things? Do we want our puppy to look like these others when being trained? Does anything bother us about the methods used?" and similar. Not all training classes are good, nor all trainers. If ever they use words/phrases such as "dominant" "pack leader" or "stubborn", run for the hills.

 

[BlueBear]

I strongly recommend you both go and watch the training class (or better yet, several different ones) without your puppy. While you are watching, ask yourselves: "Do we want our puppy to do these things? Do we want our puppy to look like these others when being trained? Does anything bother us about the methods used?" and similar. Not all training classes are good, nor all trainers. If ever they use words/phrases such as "dominant" "pack leader" or "stubborn", run for the hills.

Thank you for the advice I'll definately go and see a few then.

 

[JudyN]

And please don't judge Blue in comparison to the other pups there (or elsewhere). We took our dog to a Pets@Home 'puppy party' when he was 12 weeks old. The pups didn't mingle - they sat calmly on their owners' laps or on the floor next to us while we were lectured about food, healthcare, and so on. All apart from ours, who was like a powerball on the end of elastic, overwhelmed with the smells of all the dogfood and RABBITS!!!

Proper training classes were interesting too... in retrospect I should have taken him home after the first half-hour because his brain was well and truly fried by then.

 

[BlueBear]

And please don't judge Blue in comparison to the other pups there (or elsewhere). We took our dog to a Pets@Home 'puppy party' when he was 12 weeks old. The pups didn't mingle - they sat calmly on their owners' laps or on the floor next to us while we were lectured about food, healthcare, and so on. All apart from ours, who was like a powerball on the end of elastic, overwhelmed with the smells of all the dogfood and RABBITS!!!

Proper training classes were interesting too... in retrospect I should have taken him home after the first half-hour because his brain was well and truly fried by then.

It's only a week and Blue has become Bevs shadow. To think she wouldn't come out of her room before and now they get on great. He still bites but he responds well to "BAD DOG !" If he gets to lairy. He gets excluded if he goes to far abd behaves well when he is reintroduced. Treats are working well too as he can sit, give his paw and can stay for short periods of time. He is good with toileting although has relapsed in recent days but I think this is normal?

We get his next jabs on Tuesday and then he can go for short walks which will be a god send.

Thanks again !

 

[JoanneF]

If you can, take him out now in your arms or in a sling, or tucked into your jacket. It will start his exposure to all the things that are out there, from a nice safe place.

We have a guide to socialisation here too - Socialising your puppy

 

[JudyN]

I'd be careful about using 'BAD BOY!!' It adds stress to the situation, and stress can make it harder for him to learn. If it's working for you, great, just be aware that it can backfire.

 

[Tinytom]

We want our pups to bite but they have to know when to stop ...saying Ouch rather than bad boy ...bite inhibition is priceless for adult life

 

[BlueBear]

Ok ill change the wording.

Thank you

 

[BlueBear]

I'm away on a business trip, back tomorrow

The dogs gone mental again. He's bitten Bevs mum making her hand bleed and then bitten our 14 year old boy, making his foot bleed. He snapping barking and biting all the time tonight. He's been fed, exercised and he has had 2 long sleeps.

Is this normal ?

 

[JoanneF]

If he is overexcited or overwhelmed, yes. Tell everyone to turn down the 'volume' of their behaviour. Calm everything down.

Turn down the lights, I don't remember if he is okay in a crate but if he is, pop him in there. Not as a punishment but rather as a 'hush, quiet time now'.

 

[BlueBear]

If he is overexcited or overwhelmed, yes. Tell everyone to turn down the 'volume' of their behaviour. Calm everything down.

Turn down the lights, I don't remember if he is okay in a crate but if he is, pop him in there. Not as a punishment but rather as a 'hush, quiet time now'.

Ok we will try that. We have a dig behaviourist coming over soon.

 

[JoanneF]

Just be careful with behaviourists. It's an unregulated industry, so my 90 year old neighbour who has never owned a dog in her life could legitimately set herself up in business doing this.

Please post the website of the person you want to use and let us make sure they are okay.

 

[BlueBear]

Just be careful with behaviourists. It's an unregulated industry, so my 90 year old neighbour who has never owned a dog in her life could legitimately set herself up in business doing this.

Please post the website of the person you want to use and let us make sure they are okay.

Will do Joanne.

I sure there is a good dog waiting to get out but the more I think about it the more I'm thinking the problem is on our side not his. Maybe we are giving him too much exercise and freedom. We give him 30 mins in the morning and 30mins in the afternoon with him, throwing balls and frisbees etc. We have a big garden for him to run around in.

 

[Tinytom]

Don't forget he is just a baby ...
Exercise and freedom is essential for puppies and dogs ...its taking away both that causes problems....or limiting them ....have you spoken to the breeder for advice ...

 

[BlueBear]

Don't forget he is just a baby ...
Exercise and freedom is essential for puppies and dogs ...its taking away both that causes problems....or limiting them ....have you spoken to the breeder for advice ...

I'll text the breeder today and see what she says.