Puppy, dominant, shaking?

Question

My dad is saying to show dominance of my very dominant 12 week old puppy he is supposed to shake her when she growls or something at him. I'm suggesting spraying her with water or air when she does that, but he is saying that won't do anything. I KNOW that a dog will start to be afraid of you if you just shake it. Tell me which is right, me or my dad? What do you suggest doing when she doesn't know who the boss is and she thinks she is the boss. We already feed her after us.

Answer 1

Your dad is old and he nows nothing of the new ways to teach puppies faster.Unfortunately,my dad is the same.Before you feed her,take a pice of her food and act like you are eating it and make sure she sees you.I have a lot of ways to help but please just email me.

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I need to do something right now so just tell me what she does,sit on couch and guards it,growls at you when you come by her food bowl,etc..

Answer 2

shaking is bad. spraying water or air in its face will make it mad, and when your dog has enough she just might growl or bark or possible bite. so show your the boss is not that hard just eat before her and when you give her the food pretend your eating from it then give it to her. and she wants to play make her do something for you make her sit then play, if she doesn't sit then you dont play. and training her will also show that your in charge. and if she is growling at you, thats a warning sign so what ever your doing she doesn't like. and if you dont stop whether she thinks your in charge or not she just might bite

Answer 3

If shaking a human child can kill it it cannot be good for a dog.  Spraying it with water is not a show of dominance.  

Time to spend some video time with Cesar Millan and Victoria Stillwell.  These are two dog trainers on T.V. that teach owners how to be the master in their own house.

Fear is not the same as respect and trust.  This puppy is well on the way to being a fear biter or aggressive biter.  There are many more signs of dominance other than feeding the dog after you.  

Alpha dogs come and go as they want, they do not come when called.

Alpha dogs do not excitedly greet subordinates on their return, subordinates are real glad to see you.

Alpha dogs walk in the front and lead, stop, sniff and pee where they want.

Alpha dogs sleep in the best spot, wherever they like, subordinates must move.

Alpha dogs get what they want when they want it, no-body says NO to the alpha.

Alpha dogs do not give up their food once they get it, subordinates must step away from the bowl when the Alpha steps in the way.

Answer 4

Both ways are effective, but a mother dog shakes her pup by the scruff of the neck to punish it, so that would be easier for the puppy to understand. She won't be afraid of you.

Answer 5

If your puppy is only 12 weeks old, then YOU need to revert to momma dog mode.  It sounds ridiculous but, this totally worked with my pup I had from 16 weeks (this particular pup I lost in the divorce three years ago and I'm still sad).  Make yourself one of the "pack".  If your pup is nipping/biting you, yelp like a puppy would instead of yelling of popping him on the nose.  When you REALLY need to assert your dominance, (silly but...) take him by his scruff with YOUR teeth and shake him.  Depending on his size, obviously...  You'll most likely get some dog fur in your teeth but, it works wonders.  Even if all you have to do is place your neck over his and he submits to you, is a huge break through.  

People think it's silly but, if you act like one of the dogs when the pup is that young, you'll get a much better response.  

Answer 6

I think a lot of people worry too much about being dominant over their dogs.

I allow my dog to sleep on my couches, on my bed, I feed them tidbits while I eat, I let them walk through the door before me, and I have never been dominated by my dog.  EVER.

If you want to train your dog by spraying her with a squirt bottle, then that's your right, but I'm not sure what shaking a dog will do, I've never even HEARD of that.

Answer 7

I think your Dad may be forgetting that this is a 12 week old puppy.

When she growls and mucks about she is playing.

It's not like a 1 year old dog growling at you.

There will be lots of time for discipline.

Lighten up and just enjoy your pup.