Puppy aggression, growls at kids at park and adults?
Question by Ashlyn: Puppy aggression, growls at kids at park and adults?
I was trying to train this dog I had previously posted about. We have been on the fritz with her. She is a Mini-Poodle that the lady down the street gifted to my son for his birthday. We didn’t want the dog but she insisted we have it. Well its been several weeks now of this dog peeing on my floors, pooping, chewing kids toys, jumping on my 9 month old daughter and knocking her down when she tries to stand, whining and yowling, and being a complete menace. We started trying some at home dog training these past few days. I got her eating dog food because I refuse to let it bully me into human food, which is what it was doing. So that was a plus. We have began better walking training too.
Today we were walking her at the park. Kids think she is cute. She growled at them and tried snapping! She won’t walk on a leash for my husband either just me. She hates men, which is just terrible because if any male comes next to her she barks, growls, and makes it known. But now she is doing it to kids and trying to bite them. She started growling, shuffled back in a weird stance and then began barking loudly and trying to get at them!
She is only 13 weeks old. I am afraid now she could try to hurt kids and we have 2 of them and then their friends.
Is this type of behavior normal in a dog of her age? My husband said we should re-home her and pick out a good dog and not something just dropped on us because the lady couldn’t sell her and gave her to my son. I was thinking of trying craigslist or something to give her away to a good home. I just don’t even know if that is a good idea because of her aggression towards kids. I am very lost on what to do now.
Best answer:
Answer by Cathryn Wilson
Never tolerate growling. This is a threat and it means your dog sees you as a subordinate meant to be dominated by him. Tell him No! Let him know it is not acceptable to EVER growl at you or your children. Make it clear that your children are the offspring of his Alpha leader (you) and that they are to be treated as Alpha “pups.”
Do not let your dog walk through the door first. If your dog always goes ahead of you, you need to get your leash and open the door.
What do you think? Answer below!
JVZoo Product Feed
Kill it, cut it up, and sell the meat on the black market. If that isn’t plausible for you, just try abandoning it somewhere where it won’t hurt anyone or anything, like in the middle of a desert, or in a hole in the wall. Or if that also doesn’t appeal to you, just get a bigger (but friendly) family dog that will scare it silent and behave itself.
If you want to rehome her, use puppyfind.com, or place an ad in your local newspaper. Charge some money to make sure she is not purchased by an animal broker that would sell her for testing.
Now, thirteen weeks is very young for you to expect so much from her. She is about as ready for trainng as an eighteen month old baby. Consistency is the key.
As far as your husband, have him hide treats in his shirt pocket, or have them in his hand. When the puppy sits with him, he can offer the treats. She should be able to figure out that “Hey, this guy is ok”.
She is too young for the dog park and will react with biting and growling out of fear. The best place for her is in puppy kindergarden classes. Many pet stores offer them, and you should be able to find some. She would be around other puppies her own age and it would build up her confidence and she will be less likely to be so fearful and growl and snap.
Have you used the kennel method? It is the best way to house train a puppy/dog. Have a crate that is appropiate for her size. Put her in there for about two hours. You can cover the crate with a lightweight blanket or towel. That makes the space feel more secure for her. Expect crying and fussing. She is learning, so be patient. After two hours, pick her up and immediately take her outside to do her business. When she does it, praise her a lot and she may not connect it right away, but she will. After going potty, take her inside and she can have water, and a good playtime. After which, she should go back in the crate for a nap, and start over again.
Poodles can have an attitude But, if you are willing to put in some work and be very consistent, then you can help her learn to be a great dog. Poodles are pretty smart. If you try this for a while and still don’t feel like she’s right for you and your family, you can place ads, but you can also google poodle clubs near you. These clubs are for support and for sharing experiences and information. It’s possible someone may be interested in your poodle, or may be able to help rehome her.
Best of luck!