Hi, everyone
I desperately need some training help with my puppy.
My husband and I adopted a German Shepherd/Lab/Husky/We-don't-know-what in December when he was about two months old. He is now five months-old and neutered. He is our first puppy, but not our first dog. We live in the Canadian Arctic and adopted him here. He was born and kept outside, but now lives inside with us. We know the litter was attacked more than once by stray dogs. When we first met him, his brother was quite aggressive and our dog was very timid. He seemed comfortable with me, though, and "laid back". I now realise he is not laid-back, and is, actually, fearful aggressive, showing behaviors like submissive peeing and .
In late February, I fell and had a concussion. I have been mostly off work since then. I feel that is important info
I have noticed in the past month that he has hit a "terrible twos" phase. He has become more pushy and demanding, sometimes barking and "growling" to get what he wants. I am using quotation marks for "growling", because it is a growling sound, but no pursed lips or other aggressive signs, so it's more like vocalising. I am using time-outs in the bathroom for this behavior, as well as having him "work" for everything: food, treats, opening a door, etc.
He has always been quite mouthy, and for a while this behavior was managed well using "Bitter Apple." This leads me to my asking for help:
About a week ago, I ordered a 30 foot leash so he could run around more freely on walks and I could start working on "come". I was struggling to control him on walks due to my injury, so I thought this was a way to maintain some control and continue training, as well as have him burn off some energy.
Everything was going great, until I squatted down to tie my boot near him. Suddenly, he started jumping on me and mouthing my arms, hands, legs, anything he could. It feels more like a bite than mouthing, and he is usually baring his teeth while he clamps down. I now have several scratches and bruises, which he has done through my thick jacket. In trying to work on the behavior, I have squatted down at random while outside, and most of the time, the behavior continues. I have tried ignoring him, which doesn't work and today, he clamped down on my hand very hard. I have tried distracting him with a command like "sit" and rewarding that. Sometimes that works, mostly it doesn't. Today, he sat, but then bared his teeth. I have tried making a loud noise to startle him out of it, and this worked once. I have tried "pinning" him on his side, which works until I think he's calm and then when I let go, he's on me again.
He has "bitten" someone once. My husband hauled him out of his crate after he vomitted, and when he reached for him after hauling him out, the puppy bit him. This was early this week. However, I feel we handled the dog incorrectly and he reacted out of fear and/or discomfort.
There are no dog trainers up here and a vet only comes to the area once a year, unless I fly him out, which is very costly. I feel I am doing everything I can to be the dominant one.
I would appreciate any help. I am not OK with criticism, as I am reaching out for help and acknowledging I am struggling.
Thank you!
I desperately need some training help with my puppy.
My husband and I adopted a German Shepherd/Lab/Husky/We-don't-know-what in December when he was about two months old. He is now five months-old and neutered. He is our first puppy, but not our first dog. We live in the Canadian Arctic and adopted him here. He was born and kept outside, but now lives inside with us. We know the litter was attacked more than once by stray dogs. When we first met him, his brother was quite aggressive and our dog was very timid. He seemed comfortable with me, though, and "laid back". I now realise he is not laid-back, and is, actually, fearful aggressive, showing behaviors like submissive peeing and .
In late February, I fell and had a concussion. I have been mostly off work since then. I feel that is important info
I have noticed in the past month that he has hit a "terrible twos" phase. He has become more pushy and demanding, sometimes barking and "growling" to get what he wants. I am using quotation marks for "growling", because it is a growling sound, but no pursed lips or other aggressive signs, so it's more like vocalising. I am using time-outs in the bathroom for this behavior, as well as having him "work" for everything: food, treats, opening a door, etc.
He has always been quite mouthy, and for a while this behavior was managed well using "Bitter Apple." This leads me to my asking for help:
About a week ago, I ordered a 30 foot leash so he could run around more freely on walks and I could start working on "come". I was struggling to control him on walks due to my injury, so I thought this was a way to maintain some control and continue training, as well as have him burn off some energy.
Everything was going great, until I squatted down to tie my boot near him. Suddenly, he started jumping on me and mouthing my arms, hands, legs, anything he could. It feels more like a bite than mouthing, and he is usually baring his teeth while he clamps down. I now have several scratches and bruises, which he has done through my thick jacket. In trying to work on the behavior, I have squatted down at random while outside, and most of the time, the behavior continues. I have tried ignoring him, which doesn't work and today, he clamped down on my hand very hard. I have tried distracting him with a command like "sit" and rewarding that. Sometimes that works, mostly it doesn't. Today, he sat, but then bared his teeth. I have tried making a loud noise to startle him out of it, and this worked once. I have tried "pinning" him on his side, which works until I think he's calm and then when I let go, he's on me again.
He has "bitten" someone once. My husband hauled him out of his crate after he vomitted, and when he reached for him after hauling him out, the puppy bit him. This was early this week. However, I feel we handled the dog incorrectly and he reacted out of fear and/or discomfort.
There are no dog trainers up here and a vet only comes to the area once a year, unless I fly him out, which is very costly. I feel I am doing everything I can to be the dominant one.
I would appreciate any help. I am not OK with criticism, as I am reaching out for help and acknowledging I am struggling.
Thank you!