Quote: angela burrell

I read this thread with interest and I have a question.

Her dog is only 4 months old.

I do not have an aggressive dog but from what I have read on this site, a 4-month-old is really young for aggressive behaviour.

Should Stephanie be doing "adult groundwork" with this dog - since he's only a puppy?

Absolutely.
Right now I am working with a 4 mo old English Bull Terrier who just last week gave his owner 18 stitches in his hand. His aggression and dominance has been an ongoing growing problem since 3 months of age - which was the first time he seriously bit someone. He was also humping the legs of people, growling at someone for leaving/entering the room - all kinds of things like that. My first reaction was to ask Connie if she had heard of the food the pup was on causing aggression (no) because it just seemed to young to be that aggressive! Bottom line, if the pup is that mature to be responding and reacting that way, it needs to be handled the same way you would with an adult. Now, I have noticed (I've worked with it 3 times now) that once addressed, the pup is surprisingly docile and normal. But everytime we have begun a session, there has been some sort of immediate "scrap" when the pup is corrected for lunging, but the reaction to the correction is less and less every time.
This pup alert barks at every noise, lunges at any loud sound, tries to attack anyone it has never met before, tries to attack anyone that reaches down (even across the room) to pick up anything, snarls at the phone for ringing...
If they had wanted a working dog they would be overjoyed. Since they wanted a couch potato they are not as happy right now.
I also want to add that these people had done a LOT of the right things, and with a pup who was a little less than this one, they would probably never had a problem. This pup was crate trained from day 1, food was controlled from day 1, knows the commands sit, down, stay, leave it. They have a maze of puppy gates all over the house, the pup is not out unless supervised, and they exercise it 3 times a day. (they alternate who looses their lunch break to come home and walk the pup). After the first bite they started to make the pup earn everything it got - from toys to food to going through doors. They also started to play with toys more, and got better toys to leave in the crate (some they freeze first) in case it was simply a teething issue. And yet, they still had a puppy that thought it was ok to lunge at people and bite them in the face.

 Quote: Stephanie St Julian

Also another question for tomorrow
He is not going to my regular vet for his nuter.
What should I do what can i tell them.
Should I take a mussel.
Like I said he is ok with people he already knows which includes my regular vet.
He will bite someone I think especialy if I am not there.
I have full trust in where he is going they did phoenix also

The vet will have a muzzle for the short time that the dog is not yet anesthetized, and then he will be either under anesthesia or in a post-op cage.

I would definitely tell them that he's bitey.

 Quote: angela burrell

Should Stephanie be doing "adult groundwork" with this dog - since he's only a puppy?

Or is there a modified version of groundwork she should be doing with such a young puppy.

Good question.

At http://www.leerburg.com/dogtrainingpodcasts.htm

scroll to The Groundwork to Becoming Your Puppy's Pack Leader.

To cameron
That is the xact rpoblem with bruiser you decribed him to a tee.
What are you doing witht hat dog to help the situation.
Please I will pay your air fare for 3 weeks LOL

Hi everyone! I work at an animal shelter, and we get A LOT of chihuahuas and pitbulls. Your chi sounds so much alike to the chi's that we normally get (insecure and very easily stressed). I've actually had two or three 5 and 4 month old chi puppies growl at me before. In fact, I once had an 11 month old chi puppy attack my work boot because I got too close. Most of them run away from me while the rest of the dogs are dying for attention. Sorry, I don't mean to bash the chi breed, but what I'm describing is what I see at our shelter. Many have already said that your dog will benefit from the Groundwork to Becoming Your Puppy's Pack Leader, and I agree with them. In my humble opinion, and from what you've described to us, it sounds to me like your puppy is merely insecure and needs someone to take over the Pack Leader role. If you still find yourself stuck, email Ed. My .02 cents.

Edited by Julio Martinez (06/07/2008 12:08 AM)
Edit reason: Spelling error

Stephanie - I think you should start by reviewing the groundwork to becoming your puppy's leader link Connie posted, and watch that Cesar clip link that was posted. That is where I would start.

Ok I have been trying to get on the link my computer wont load it for what ever reason.
Can someone give the exact link like laod it up then copy and paste that.
My computer is weird sometimes.
I really want to watch this.

ok here you go. You have to clickon the season one button, and it's the second clip - meet Nunu the demon chihuahua.

sorry the link didn't copy.
second time...
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/videoplayer/
click on the season one button, then click on meet Nunu the demon chi...

No I meant the one for the pod cast.
I did watch the demon chi bruiser is not like that