I was just wondering what the early signs of a pup that is going to be handler agressive are? Anything special to look for, and at what age does it start?

Also, if the dam (or sire) of the litter is handler agressive, is it very likely the pups will be as well?

By handler agression, maybe I should be calling it rank agression, but, for example, if the dog is corrected, it will go after the handler.

If the parents are handler aggressive, I'd say hell yes, there is a chance that the pups can be handler aggressive.

I've never really seen a female, or heard of one, that I would call rank (or very handler aggressive and dominate).


I have one now that comes close, but she is an isolated case. So if you are looking at a litter with those types of issues, IMO you can get a female if you want to avoid them.

Early signs include, but are not limited to, food aggression, toy aggression, dominate behavior, pushy behavior, etc.


If I have a pup that starts to protect his toy early, by posturing and then biting without verbalizing a threat, who isn't "playing", AND who continues to do so after having been corrected strongly on different occasions. . .I start to worry.

If I have a youth that will lean against you, pushing against you, then bites you (not just a play bite either) if you push back or throw thim off. . .I start to worry.

If I correct a young dog and she rumbles and jumps up into my chest to eat my manboob. . .I start to worry.

If I correct a young dog with an e-collar for aggressing to another dog and she comes after me leaving bruses in my thigh. . .and continues to come after me even after the inicial pain induced response. . .I start to worry.

Gee VC,
You wouldn't be talking about the innocent little Emma now, would you? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I think Vancamp is right. I have a young GSD and at times she seems to be rank in isolated situations. Then there are other times I can give a strong verbal correction and she will lay her ears back. I am pretty sure my bitch is not rank driven because the only time she will get that way is after she has been isolated from me for a period of time. I think her getting vocal and dirty with me is out of frustation. If on the other hand your dog is constantly challengeing you then you may have a rank dog.

DD

Emma? Nooooooooooo. . .


<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I was just wondering what the early signs of a pup that is going to be handler agressive are? Anything special to look for, and at what age does it start?

Also, if the dam (or sire) of the litter is handler agressive, is it very likely the pups will be as well?

By handler agression, maybe I should be calling it rank agression, but, for example, if the dog is corrected, it will go after the handler.

Well... I have a 5-6 month old male JoeFarm Mal - he was SO p!ssed with me last week for physically outing him off my jacket, that he went for my bare arm.. held on so damn tight my husnabd had to choke him off me.

Fun fun fun !

The time has come for corrections baby! I don't see it as a worry at all, although I do see it as something that requires more structured training, and earlier training than I would normally like to do.

I didn't stop this behavior earlier, as I am very much of the mind that if you own a working dog and you get bitten, then you just didn't move fast enough ! I don't like to correct early and smush drive.

Get an OB command on the dog - doesn't matter what it is... (this is assuming you are having problems) - for me it is the 'sit' command, when I see him becoming unclear, and I know I am about to get snacked on, I will put him in a sit.. let him think for a couple of minutes. This is working for me, and I prefer it to stringing him up. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Is it genetic? I have no idea LOL.. I would imagine so..

Good luck!