Please help with Jaws/Lola

Debs1 · #1 09-11-11, 09:16 PM

Hi everyone, I am really hoping that someone can give me some advice as I am really upset tonight. I can no longer keep ignoring this problem in the hope that it will go away as increasingly I'm not sure it will.
Lola is now 15 weeks old and is doing really well, I do some training with her everyday and she is really responsive. On walks she is not too bad until we meet people and other dogs when she will bark like mad at them. I think this is just nerves as when I walk over to said person/ dog she calms down and wags her tail although she can be a bit rough. I have been advised to turn in the opposite direction when the barking starts.
We have also started dog training classes and she is making good progress here and the socialisation with other pups and dogs is great.
Now for the problem.. My husband!! Lola really does seem to see him as a big fish whom she has to bite whenever he enters the room but especially when we are all sat down at night watching tv. She always goes for his legs and
telling her no very firmly only makes her worse. He has also tried to shake her by her scruff like her mother but as soon as he moves his hand she goes back at him again. We have tried pushing her away but again she always, always come back with even more determination and all the time she is making like a high pitched growling noise?? I have been advised to try and make her go into a down stay but while I can get her to do this when training she Is way too hyper to do this while in this mood. This happens at least 3 or 4 times a day.
The latest plan has been to take her out the room or put her outside when she starts for a few minutes and then let her back in when she has calmed down.
This brings me to tonight, I get home to find her in the kitchen, she has been nipping husband and my mum and showing her teeth so she had been banished from the room. I let her back in and although she plays with toys for a minute she soon goes back to husband getting down low and setting him then pouncing, after a few tellings off it's back to the kitchen but she is trying to bite him and crying all the time he is leading her by the collar out of the room, even though he is not hurting her as I would kill him!
I am worried as if this is normal then ok we will get through it but her hackles are up and the noises she makes can be quite aggressive.
Maybe I am just being naive, I am used to large puppies, we have always has Newfoundlands and Bernese which I know are very different dogs to shepherds and although my sister has always had shepherds I know its not like living with one.
Phew!! Sorry to go on but I am so concerned that I'm doing it all wrong, she is a wonderful dog and she is great with my 3 young kids and not nearly as rough as she is with husband, although I don't think she dislikes him as when he gets home she makes a big fuss and he walks her no problem, anyway any help here would be much appreciated

BusyBee · #2 09-11-11, 09:27 PM

Oh

sorry your experiencing problems, it sounds like she's playing to me but I'll leave this one to the more experienced members. I'm sure someone will be along soon. Good luck

Sally & Sam

sams mum · #3 09-11-11, 09:38 PM

pushing her away when she does this it is your way of saying you dont want her to do it but to her it is a game and shell just keep coming back... by making a noise and responding to her hyperactivity in a physical way you are saying 'come on then' im up for a game...if you are worried or uncomfortable when she acts up like this she may be able to pick up on this making her more hyper.

sounds to me like shes trying to push the boundries and be the boss..just got to be consistent in how you deal with it so as not to confuse her... try to find one method and stick with it ...taking her out one day, scruffing her the next,making her lay down the next and pushing her away the next will just confuse her and work you up and youll be going round in circles..any attention shes getting ,even a telling off while she plays up will just make her want all the more attention.

Sam has never pushed me or small boy but got very hyper and OTT with my 2 teenage girls for a few days although he has never showed his teeth at any human in the house.. Not playing nicely, biting too hard, being very vocal and not listening. calling him away fell on deaf ears so i decided to bring him away. as soon as he would get ott or start mouthing too hard i removed him silently from the room and shut him away. after 10 mins i let him in again and he would start. id immediately remove him again.no words, just take him out and shut the door.then 10 mins let him back in. i think he soon figured it out as eventually when i let him back in he would run up to daughter to carry it on, look at me looking at him and lay down with a big Huffing noise....
dont know if this is the way but it worked for us.. i think he knows now if he does it he will be taken out..

wildmoor · #4 09-11-11, 09:40 PM

whats her bloodlines?
What age did she leave the litter, was it before 8 weeks? if so firmer and prolonged training will be required to teach bite inhibition - I do not allow after the age of 13 weeks - they must learn not to use pressure when biting
What is your husbands reaction when she bites?

claire_88 · #5 09-11-11, 09:42 PM

I was going to suggest playing, perhaps she is too excited, however the bearing of the teeth is a little excessive for play i would have thought......hmm never experienced this and it sounds like you have taken the correct measures by removing her from the room.......

Would you class your husband as a strong leader when it comes to Lola?

I'l be following this thread closely as i'm intrigued to others suggestions and the final outcome of the behaviour being rectified.

Debs1 · #6 09-11-11, 10:00 PM

Thanks for the replies, in terms of bloodlines does that mean who are her mum and dad? Sorry for not knowing what bloodlines mean but if this is it will post, We got her at 9 weeks from a very reputable breeder.
In terms of husband, his reaction to her is a bit soft really with lots of " ouch ouch Lola" and then " right I've had enough now" but unfortunately he doesn't seem to possess a oh dear he means business voice.

sams mum · #7 09-11-11, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debs1

Thanks for the replies, in terms of bloodlines does that mean who are her mum and dad? Sorry for not knowing what bloodlines mean but if this is it will post, We got her at 9 weeks from a very reputable breeder.
In terms of husband, his reaction to her is a bit soft really with lots of " ouch ouch Lola" and then " right I've had enough now" but unfortunately he doesn't seem to possess a oh dear he means business voice.

i think your latest plan is good and how i would carry on.i will yell OUCH if sam is rough but thats all. i would be silent after that. no telling off, just remove without words. be silent when you let her back in as well and still ignore her only praising her verbally when she is playing or laying nicely...if you and hubby are talking and she bites again dont even look at her just remove again calmly and silently... i think they can really respond to silent discipline if the action is consistent.. i know sam does but all dogs are different..

Debs1 · #8 09-11-11, 10:18 PM

I can see now that I haven't been consistent with my methods you are right. Have just told my husband that this is what we are doing from now on and have already done it once as she has just decided it's mad half hour time so just led her gently and calmly to kitchen without saying a word, oh apart from "ouch", she looked a bit deflated so fingers crossed

sams mum · #9 09-11-11, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debs1

I can see now that I haven't been consistent with my methods you are right. Have just told my husband that this is what we are doing from now on and have already done it once as she has just decided it's mad half hour time so just led her gently and calmly to kitchen without saying a word, oh apart from "ouch", she looked a bit deflated so fingers crossed

i think i put sam out about 10 times in one evening just because his manners were not acceptable.....when eventually he came in and was kind and calm to everyone and sat on command he got big praise and a treat.. . dont give up....if your pup gets the drift you wont give up, she will.

kita · #10 09-11-11, 10:44 PM

It sounds like she has got used to playing rough with your husband. Has he ever played games like tug with her (on her instigation)? Often we start playing rough when the pup first comes home, as the new pup looks so cute and we cannot see what harm it will do.

I would stop grabbing her by the collar, try instead leaving a line on her (a longish lead attached to her collar). That way you can get hold of it and walk her out of the room without having to grab at her. Grabbing her collar or shaking her by the scruff is only making her think you are joining in her game.

Also if you take her out of the room rather than your husband it may help, she seems to see any reaction from him as positive - even if he is leading her out he is still reacting to her! It will be better if he can completely ignore her when she behaves like this - not even looking at her.

My Anatolian was like this from day one. If you tried pushing him away he would come right back at you barking! The first day I took him to a trainer friends house and her husband started playing rough with him, when he got a bit fed up and wanted to end the game he gently pushed Sultan away, Sultan came right back at him barking his head off - my friend looked at me in horror! For the first few months he always wore a lead round the house - grabbing his collar just wound him up, but you could get hold of the lead easily, then you could either lead him out or make him lie down quietly until he was calm.

Sue