So, I'm having a tough time with this...?

Question

so my puppy stewie (11 wk mastiff/doberman/apbt) had a temperament test done a few weeks ago.

she said that he is a "gray area puppy. He shows mild signs of aggression and is overly mouthy which is not normal"

and we cant start obedience JUST yet.

so what should I do in the mean time? to help train him? and keep him from sliding in to being aggressive. does anyone have any tips? I will do anything.

I just cant get in to obedience yet. and nuetering will come asap also...

thank you!!

Answer 1

Well let me correct you there you CAN start training at that age...just work on correcting him when he gets overly aggressive by saying no in a dominate manner! Show him your the leader and show him that acting that way isn't the way you want him to be acting and it will take some time but he will catch on!

Best of Luck

xx

Answer 2

Watch the dog whisperer, and learn tips to make sure your dog does not grow up to be aggressive, possessive, dominant, or overly energetic. The Dog Whisperer is a great show, and Cesar Milan is a really smart guy. I've used his tips and my vet and groomer say, "Your dog is very well behaved. He is not agressive, he listens to you, he is submissive to you, keep up the good work, he is a great dog." I couldnt do it without the show, so try it.

Answer 3

Enroll in a puppy class if there is one available.  The socialization to other people and dogs will be invaluable.  In the meantime, get him out and get him to meet lots of people, have lots of positive experiences.  If he gets to go lots of places with you and gains confidence, he won't be fearful or aggressive in new situations.  The worst thing you can do is to keep him isolated at home.  You can do early obedience at home also.  Puppies his age can learn anything, but you have to keep training sessions short and very positive.  Check out this website:

http://www.siriuspup.com/behavior_proble...

Answer 4

Socion is right on the mark! i train a bit and I have done this with aggressive behavior it works! It is what a mother dog does..Good Luck

Answer 5

You probably cannot attend a formal obedience class, but that does not mean you cannot start obedience training with your dog.  Start with the simple sit.  Start with doing things that shows your dog understand that you are the alpha.  Get into routines that will make the dog feel more comfortable and above all... socialize, socialize, socialize.

The more and sooner the dog understands what kinds of behaviors are expected in various situations, the better you off you will be as your combo is going to get big and strong VERY soon.  These actions must happen now while you can still control!

Answer 6

I would say find a family member or friend who can take him to puppy school so he can be socialized...if he is in the gray area, why wait to do something until he enters the red?

Don't mess around, he is going to be a big boy real fast and then will be even harder to handle.

Answer 7

Obedience classes will help socialize him and expose him to other dogs interacting with their owners in a positive way. But you CAN start obedience training. He could already be sitting on command by now. Use treats or dry food with the technique below. Also make a habit now of not putting a food bowl down for him until he sits. He may wag his tail and wiggle around but if you just stand there he will eventually sit down waiting. Then you say "sit" and give the food. This will help send the message that nothing in life is free, help avoid food aggression problems later, and best of all he won't be knocking food bowls out of your hand spilling food all over.

"...To teach the sit command, hold a small piece of treat at the level of the puppy’s nose. Your puppy will smell the treat and move his head toward it. When he sniffs the food, slowly move the hand holding the food back and slightly over the top of his head. As he stretches his neck to reach for the food, continue moving the treat over the top of his back toward his rump and repeat the command “sit” several times. Most puppies will drop into a sit position in order to reach the food. If you raise the treat too high over the puppy’s head, he will likely raise up on his back legs to reach the treat and not sit. As soon as the puppy sits, give him the treat, act very excited and lavish him with praise saying “good puppy”. Continue short training sessions until your puppy sits automatically when given the “sit” command. You will be surprised how quickly most puppies will learn this technique, often in just a few minutes..." http://www.canismajor.com/dog/puptrain.h...

Bite Inhibition

"...The next time your puppy bites you, scream "OW!" in a high-pitched voice. Exaggerate a little. Then refuse to play with him or pay attention to him for a few minutes. If he doesn't get the message, give him a little scruff shake and scold him in a low-toned, threatening voice. You can exaggerate a little on that, too! Sound meaner than you really are..." http://www.canismajor.com/dog/bite2.html

The following is a good article about establishing your "alpha" position. Your whole family should apply these principles. He should see each of you as a leader in relation to himself:

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/alpha1.htm...

There will be a pecking order among the dogs themselves as well. He might not turn out to be aggressive to your other dogs since they are female, and furthermore he already knows that they "belong" there. But even the friendliest dogs might fight over food or treats, and the earlier such problems are addressed, the better"

"...Most fights, though, occur in the presence of the owner and are a result of competition over attention, food, toys and of course, pack status. You can help prevent these disagreements by recognizing the highest ranking dog in your pack and favoring it with your attention. This is the dog you should pet first, feed first and let out the door first. Giving alpha privileges to a lower ranking dog, even if it might be your personal favorite, confuses the others and can lead to fighting. All the dogs will be more secure and comfortable with each other when they're clear on where they stand in the pack..." http://www.canismajor.com/dog/feisty.htm...

Take your dog for daily walks. Wild dogs walk first thing upon arising in the morning. It is their instinct. Living creatures also have the instinct to escape, to resist confinement. A dog who can count on being taken out for a daily walk is much less likely to ever try to escape the home/yard on his own.

Start small and gradually increase the distance. If he ever begins to display aggressive reactions to approaching people or other dogs, immediately turn around and walk the other way. This helps in two ways: reduces the emotional factor of the situation, and shows him that his behavior isn't going to get him anywhere but back the way he came.

I have a pit and they like to play rough. Don't play games that he can win, such as tug-of-war or "wrestling" with him. If he jumps on you stop the play, command "off", and turn your back on him. Refuse attention for ten minutes or so.