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So my little puppy (just over three months, collie-lab-shep mix) is really assertive.
She is an amazing puppy. Potty training has been a breeze. She is super eager to please, so training has been great. But she is really independent and assertive. That is really just a nice way of saying that when she does not get her way she gets frustrated, snarly, lunges, and bites (I don't mean cute puppy nips). When she gets into one of these moods it is almost frightening. It takes a fair bit to snap her out of it. The vet has not been much help, and books say very little, our puppy trainer has seen it in action - found it very concerning but has not actually provided much in the way of how to curb this.
I was wondering if anyone else has gone through this, and if so any tips?
More info:
Situations that make her freak out - getting picked up when she doesn't feel like it. Being approached while under something. On the leash, she bites and pulls on it when we do not let her go where she wants to go. If she is in the middle of doing something, (like digging a hole in my lawn) and we pull her away from it to try and distract her.
What we are currently doing
With picking her up, trying make it a positive experience. Picking her up for no reason at all and give her tons of treats. Walking away and leaving her alone (I think this one is back firing). We do the same thing when she is under things. Make it positive by treating her when she is under things, getting her used to use touching her or coming near her.
When on the leash we are attempting to not move when she gets like that. And only start walking again when her teeth get off the leash. Sometimes though, she will come at us. (We then will turn away from her)
So our system is one of puppy good = rewards, puppy bad = Ignored...mostly. Some behaviour is impossible to ignore.
Hope this is enough info. I find that you get a lot more useful advice talking to normal people who have dogs and have gone through a variety of things.
Thanks!
She is an amazing puppy. Potty training has been a breeze. She is super eager to please, so training has been great. But she is really independent and assertive. That is really just a nice way of saying that when she does not get her way she gets frustrated, snarly, lunges, and bites (I don't mean cute puppy nips). When she gets into one of these moods it is almost frightening. It takes a fair bit to snap her out of it. The vet has not been much help, and books say very little, our puppy trainer has seen it in action - found it very concerning but has not actually provided much in the way of how to curb this.
I was wondering if anyone else has gone through this, and if so any tips?
More info:
Situations that make her freak out - getting picked up when she doesn't feel like it. Being approached while under something. On the leash, she bites and pulls on it when we do not let her go where she wants to go. If she is in the middle of doing something, (like digging a hole in my lawn) and we pull her away from it to try and distract her.
What we are currently doing
With picking her up, trying make it a positive experience. Picking her up for no reason at all and give her tons of treats. Walking away and leaving her alone (I think this one is back firing). We do the same thing when she is under things. Make it positive by treating her when she is under things, getting her used to use touching her or coming near her.
When on the leash we are attempting to not move when she gets like that. And only start walking again when her teeth get off the leash. Sometimes though, she will come at us. (We then will turn away from her)
So our system is one of puppy good = rewards, puppy bad = Ignored...mostly. Some behaviour is impossible to ignore.
Hope this is enough info. I find that you get a lot more useful advice talking to normal people who have dogs and have gone through a variety of things.
Thanks!