Hi,

I have been lurking for about six months now and have found this site very helpful. I have a one year old standard poodle whom I've have very little problems with. She has her CGC and is doing rally at this time.

I am writing for my daughter who has a 13 week old Cavalier King Charles spaniel pup. She got him from a breeder when he was 8 weeks old. She met both his both the parents and they were friendly and easygoing. He has been a great puppy as far as housebreaking and crate training go. The problem is that for the last two weeks he will sometimes growl if we pick him up when he is tired. At first we weren't sure that he was growling because we didn't expect that from a Cavalier. When he does it we speak sharply to him but oftentimes he growl again, maybe three or four times. Does anybody have a better idea about what my daughter should do? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Patsy

Well we have a king Charles too( my 11 year old sons) he is 5 months old now and he growled too, not at me but my kids! So I would set him up and have my son pick him up from his crate to put him outside and he would growl and try biting!Short explanation, I had my son hold him down on his back and hold him firmly with my son telling him "foui" until he stopped growling and we repeated that everytime but with my little girls I simply get involve and make sure he does not even try to bite them (I let him know it would be a bad decision on his part)He sees me as the pack leader so he does not try that with me, and in my presence he does not do it to the kids either ,but if I am in the other room he will, so when I hear it I rush to him and put him in his place,I just have to be quick and catch him in the act.He is getting the point now.But I had heard that King Charles are honery.Must be true

Is the puppy being picked up correctly? If he's not growling in any other scenarios, it could be he's being hurt when being picked up. Puppies should not be picked up under their armpits. Does your daughter know how to pick up a puppy?

Offering a different opinion than Angelique, I don't think the puppy should be held down on his back.

Sandy,

The puppy is being picked up correctly. My daughter is 25 years old, I guess I should have specified that! He has growled at me, my daughter and her fiance. It has only happened when he seems tired and we want to move him from one place to another. One other time I saw him trying to climb the stairs and I took him off them and he growled 3 or 4 times before my scolding made him stop.

The puppy seems very sure of himself and is not at all afraid of anything new. He is kind of quiet and calm, which is nice. I just want to nip this in the bud while he is still young and not set in his ways. I have had dogs all my life and have never had one growl at me. I appreciate the comments and any advice you may have.

Thanks,
Patsy

If he's growling when being picked up, there may be some pain somewhere. Maybe a vet could check him over and do whatever tests may seem necessary. I don't really know what could be causing pain if in fact it is pain. Maybe something inside, maybe outside. But I'd want him medically checked before determining that he's grumpy

Patsy,

I'm just thinking out loud here, but Cavies are quickly becoming increasingly popular & that can predispose them to over-production by sometimes less than scrupulous breeders -- So I'm wondering if you know how "tightly" bred your puppy is (how many immediate relatives its sire & dam have in common) because too close inbreeding can cause faulty temperament...

Growling in a 2-3 month old pup MAY be an early sign of dominance related handler aggression that could become a big problem as he matures (yes, it CAN show up at that young age) -- Are you already managing this dog's life according to Ed Frawley's article on "alpha leader" rules http://www.leerburg.com/puppygroundwork.htm for a non-confrontational means of establishing ALL family members as pack leaders over this little whipper-snapper ?

I highly recommend ordering the DVD "Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months" http://www.leerburg.com/120.htm AND getting a thorough check up from the Vet <:-)

Sorry guys I have to disagree here, their are no medical problems, simply a dominance issue which we delt with, rather you agree or not putting him on his back at 5 months did work for him.I don't deal with dogs the same way but our King Charles is a honery little guy and he would growl without being touched, just by seing the kids come towards his toys or when he would be tired.All the kids would do is pet him when he would be sleeping or looking as if he was getting tired no picking up and he still would growl.My kids know how to pick him up properly and they really don't pick him often only when I ask them to to take him outside or put him in his crate.If mine had medical issues he would cry when ANYONE would pick him up and not just the kids.Because the way they pick him up is the same way I do, I taught them how.He does not growl as much and shows more respect towards the kids.I ws warned by a trainer here that has trained dogs for 35 years to watch out for King Charles that they were a bit dominant and very honery, I think he's right.And I think Patsy has the same issued as I do, simply a honery pup that has to be taught who's the boss often.

Bologne! Can you explain what you mean by needing to be moved? Why don't you make the dog move, instead of moving it? That's what I would do. If the dog is growling at you because you are disturbing its' sleeping, then either teach it a command to move or don't disturb the dog. Alpha rolling dogs is soooooo yesterday. It shouldn't be done by kids and is really not neccesary. Most problems that little dogs have are due to owners that think they need to constantly carry the dogs or hold them all the time. The dog has legs and can move if taught to, on its' own. Get out of the habit of the picking the dog up all the time and start getting into the habit of having the dog do your bidding. I would bet a ton of money this will help with your issues. Good luck.