LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Comments

Hi Sammy,

No, I don't think the original writer had any special agenda in the gender language. However, as the editor of this channel, I don't agree with the personification of the dog, so I have removed that section.

Thanks for your input, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the site. :)

Kelly Roper, Group Editor with LoveToKnow

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Is there a reason why you characterized your bad human example as a female and why your good doggie as a male?

-- Contributed by: Sammy

i think the views were a bit bias.... i view the "holding a dog LIGHTLY from its chest (not actually its neck to choke), making it immovable, without hurting it" as a part of play, not a technique created to be used on dogs to train them..... , i used to play like that with my dog... not because i had the intention to train him and correct him.... for me, it was only a part of a game like of playing hide & seek with my friends.... we played a lot, and ran around chasing, and i would catch him down and then his turn would come and he would catch me too.. with his fangs of course, but when dog knows its a play he can never hurt anybody...... i would hold him down on his back sometimes if i had to get my socks from his mouth.....hold him with a little more strength when he was reluctant to go to the vetâ€¦ i was never hurtâ€¦ we had the trust between us â€¦â€¦.i'm not saying that i used "alpha roll" to build the trust, but i would play with him a lot... because he was the only dog in my house, i would try to play like a dog with him, to try to act like his dog play mate and to understand him... and i would hold him down from his chest or tickle him as a part of our playâ€¦ sometimes, whole of my wrist would be in his mouth but i never got a bruiseâ€¦ i think that is how dogs love to play, showing off their skills, strength and cunningness..â€¦.we never played the ball fetching gameâ€¦.... i know it sounds weird but i don't think there's anything wrong with playing with a dog in a a dog's way, and as his playmate, not just as a human owner... therefore, i don't view "alpha roll" as a bad thing.....as i think that that's the way dogs play, understand, learn and start rethinking, having new opinions..... if an example is needed, then we can look at any dog moms... they don't always groom their pups out of love, to show their worth or so that they can teach them things easily.... when time comes to discipline their pups, they can do anything from, growling, yanking or biting legs or holding other from their neck or chest..... this isn't necessarily a bad thing just because we, humans don't act that way to our children......... it's just the way dogs communicate, from the BODY LANGUAGE, not always the words........ only thing is that it should not be taken as a TECHNIQUE created for a human..... and use just because you think its a technique to train/ tame your dog...... the way i view it is as a part of how you communicate with your dog...... not as a technique or a punishment for dogs.... and i don't think it necessarily means to choke dogs with killing intent whether it's to communicate or correct or train... i don't think it is necessarily an attackâ€¦â€¦. it's a good thing that "alpha roll" is called dangerous because otherwise, people would just try to do it calling it a technique and would just create a lot of casualties.... but i couldn't really understand some of the points you made............ maybe i'm just totally wrong or stupid or just childish...

-- Contributed by: ikchha

You make an error on your explanation. You say "Your Dog's View" and you give a human emotional description of events. Do not confuse your assumption of an event with a dogs. I can't say I agree with an alpha roll, but do not humanize the event.

-- Contributed by: Will

Hi Angie,

Biting is a serious problem. This could be a bigger issue than your dog just wanting to assert her dominance over you. I recommend you have your dog temperament tested by a canine behaviorist to determine whether the problem can be corrected. If you can't locate a behaviorist, ask your vet to perform the evaluation.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I do hope there is a way to rehabilitate this dog.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We have a 4 month old female whipppet puppy, Lizzy. We recieved her at 8 weeks. She has been biting since we received her. In the beginning we would louldly yelp and stop playing with her. She is worse with our 14 year old daughter. Because of this,we enrolled her in puppy school (at 3 months) with our daughter doing the training. Lizzy continues to bite and growl. Just recently, when my daughter "attempted" to move the dog while she was sleeping the dog growled and bite her. I told the dog "no", corrected her with the collar (she was growling at me and trying to bite me also), and place her in the crate. Our dog's aggressive behavior tends to be getting worse. In dog training she follows commands but when she doesn't want to do something, she starts biting and barking. Of course we correct this but it takes a few minutes before she stops. She is not aggressive with other dogs or people (of course these people do not correct her for her to protest) Please Help us with ideas on how to stop this aggressiveness! Thanks

-- Contributed by: angie

Hi, I have an 8 year old boxer male, very placid and easy going, i recently acquired a 7 month old boxer ... not spayed, and they get on really well sharing water bowls and blankets etc, however when I give the older on some attention the young one comes in and snaps at him, this has also happened while we out and they were running of the leash, I guess she is trying to be top dog, how can i stop this behaviour, the older dog just growls at her.

Hi Moira,

It sounds as though your older dog is dealing with the problem from her end. The younger dog is trying to establish her place in the pack and is seeing if the older dog will become subordinate to her. As the true pack leader, you must also let your new dog know that her aggressive overtures are not welcome. Give her a very firm "NO" command when she snaps. this should send a very clear message, and if you are consistent, she will eventually get the message and take her proper place in the pack. Be aware that this could mean she does become dominant over your older dog, but without the snapping.

Thanks for your question, and I'm sure the three of you will work things out in time.

-- Contributed by: moira

I have a 7 month old mixed puppy (hound / pointer...I think pit bull also). I have had dogs my entire life and my little Marley's behaviors are new to me...and worrisome. When I got her at 8 weeks she was the quivering fearful puppy of the litter (and one of the smallest ones). These past four months I have become exhausted with her stubbornness. Although she readily learned to sit, down, etc. (and very quickly)and responds to the commands in my home, she also works very hard to assert dominance. She is now biting me when she is frustrated or angry when I tell her do something she doesn't want to do...like get off the sofa. Since day 1 I have sought much council and worked every day with her...using perhaps all the strategies that I could find...I always walk out the door and enter through the door first; she must sit or "kiss" me before any treat or dinner is provided; she is firmly reprimanded for biting and misbehaviors (usually with a timeout). Honestly, I don't know what else to do to establish my role as pack leader...She has never been an affectionate puppy (she doesn't want to sit next to me and she really doesn't like to be pet). The only time she seems glad to see me and takes on a sweet submissive persona is when I wake up in the morning to take her out and when I come home from work. After that...the competition begins...I say competition because we have the same issues today that we had 4 months ago... I don't see any improvement..she is so intense...With all her boldness, she is still quite fearful...we can't even go around the block anymore...she just wants to walk up and down the road (over and over...). Can you sense the frustration I am feeling? I want her to be a happy dog...but she seems to unhappy with me. Can you help...

Hi Mary,

Has your vet had a chance to thoroughly evaluate your dog? It's unusaual for an eight-week-old puppy to be so fearful, and coupled with the fact that she was a runt, I'm wondering if she went a tad too long without oxygen during the birth. This is one avenue to explore regarding why she is so difficult to work with. She may not be operating at a fully functional level.

If the vet gives the all clear, I recommend that you consult with a canine behaviorist. This professional will come to your home to observe your dog in action. A behaviorist is trained to pick up on behavior cues that cause your dog to act the way it does, and then he/she will offer suggestions on training that will modify the unwanted behaviors.

Hopefully, these suggestions will help set you on a course for success. Please let us know what you find out.

-- Contributed by: mary

my dog has be come very aggressive about food within the last few days and i want to know what to do to make him stop

Expert Reply

Hi Angela,

You're going to have to do a dominance exercise with your dog.

First, prepare your dog's food, and set it on the floor, but position yourself between him and the bowl.

When your dog tries to approach the bowl, tell him no, and keep yourself between your dog and the food.

Repeat this procedure until your dog accepts the fact that you are the boss, and the food comes from you. When he relaxes and waits for your lead, you can let him have the food.

Follow this procedure every day for a week and his food aggression should be cured.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this suggestion helpful.

-- Contributed by: angela

Hi Alip,

Right now your dogs are trying to work out their pack order. You need to make sure that both dogs see you as the leader. When one dog steals from the other, give that dog a firm "NO" in a very stern voice so she knows you mean business. Take the toy away and leave it out of reach until things simmer down.

As for the "biting". Are they drawing blood? Does the fighting seem viscious? If the answer to both of these questions is no, then try to let them work it out on their own as much as possible. One of these girls is going to come out top dog, and that is the natural order of things.

If the fighting is truly serious, I would advise hiring a canine behaviorist to come observe them both in their home environment and devise a plan of action to help them live together. If all else fails, you may need to find a new home for one of the girls where she will be an only dog.

I truly hope your situation works out. Best of luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi there! I just adopted a new dog and now I have two, one is a labrador and the newly adopted is a dalmation. Both are female. I've noticed that they are both constantly "arguing". They bite at each other and all and i'm getting pretty worried. The dalmation doesn't wanna share and she constantly takes toys away from the lab. What do i do? I thought of crating them if they get into fights and try to teach them into not to do so anymore. Would that help?

-- Contributed by: Alip

Hi Marianne,

You need to establish loving dominance over her yourself so that she will not even consider nipping you a possibility.

First, take her for her walk without bringing your other dog along. As you begin to head home, walk with a purpose and do not give her attention for the barking. Do keep control of her by the leash. If she attemps to nip you then stop walking, give her a firm but short upward tug on the leash and yell "NO". Your tug should only be hard enough to startle her and disrupt the behavior. It shouldn't be hard enough to lift her off the ground at all.

Practice this with her for several days until she gets the message that you are in charge. Then add your other dog back into the walks. Repeat the same corrections if she attempts to nip your other dog.

I hope you find this advice helpful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I have a four month old puppy, that when I take her for walks, on the way home she starts barking and nipping at me or our other 5 year old dog. I had tried the alpha roll - but it never worked, and now reading your article I understand why. Can you please tell me what to do to stop this behavior. Thank you

-- Contributed by: Marianne
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