Hi all, been a lurker but now have a reason to post. Any help appreciated..
We have a 15 week Golden Retriever taken from litter at 13 weeks. Not neutered and in good health according to recent vet visit. We have only had him 3 weeks and he has adapted well to surroundings, is friendly to everyone and every thing. Well socialized with people and animals. He is taken out 4-6 times a day for a walk and is pretty much housebroken as long as you pay a bit of attention. Crated in the morning for several hours and again in the afternoon (I work next door and come home for lunch/play) He has a good variety of toys of which we control so he has access to 2-3 at a time. Kongs and a rawhide for the most part (one rawhide at a time). Anyone can play, rub, move food, put hand in food, etc. Absolutely no sign of aggression to anything..until last night.
I was playing with him while he was laying down chewing his rawhide. When I went to take it from him he growled, bared teeth and bit me. Not puppy mouthing, a real nasty attempt at biting. It didn't break the skin but I was shocked and corrected him. Nothing physical though. Just sternly told him no. Tried to take it again, same response, same correction. I thought maybe it was a one time blip and tried the same thing this morning and he didn't do it the first few times and I felt relieved. Then I guess I did it one time too many and he responded with the same growling and baring teeth although no bite. Interestinly, he doesn't seem to do it with my wife, just me. She played and did the same thing with him but nothing. One last note on it, he only seems to mind when he is laying down. Standing up with it in his mouth, no problem. We got this puppy to be a therapy dog so this does not bode well for that happening. I have had two Goldens before and never seen this in any manner and am concerned. Honestly, I can't say I have ever even heard of an agressive Golden. Any hints? I would like to think it is something he would outgrow but my reading tells me that this is probably wishful thinking. Should I take the rawhides from his world? He is a typical Golden in every way beyond this one toy.....
Thanks in advance...
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Your wife can take anything from the dog but not you?? Sounds like the puppy thinks you are being pushy......are you just reaching and taking? Most dogs would not like that and would often react with some type of objection. Are you letting the dog know you are going to take the bone? You might want to back off a bit and wait. This is still very much a baby and needs to be treated as such no matter what he or her future plans are.... Your wife may simply come across a lot less threatening than you do! Not unusual really. Many men do not realize how big and loud they seem to a puppy! Women usually are smaller and have soften voices which are soothing to the pup.... watch your wife's approach and compare it to yours......then we will go from there!
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Up until last night anyone could take anything from him at anytime! Me, my wife, the cat... It is just me and his rawhide toy! I can mess with food, take Kongs, tennis ball. There really hasn't been much time for my wife to have the same event happen so I shouldn't count that out at this point. She played with him last night a couple of times when he had the rawhide with no aggression but didn't really take it from him. I guess I am just surprised at this reaction in a Golden at this age. If it is a problem then now is the time to correct. Am I wrong in thinking that I should be able to do this with a Golden at 15 weeks?
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I really think time will be the answer here. Apparently the rawhide is "his" and not yours to give but he is still very much the baby and I really think he will grow out of it. but you never know. Just a little side note....rawhides aren't really the best chew toy for him because they can be swallowed and do some damage to the intestinal tract. I know you are with him while he is allowed the rawhide, just be careful he doesn't sneak a swallow on you. Good luck. (I love Goldens almost as much as I love my pekes and German Shepherd - just can't have any more dogs. boo hoo)
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Golden Fan,
Welcome to here!
When he becomes aggressive over a toy, or anything else for that matter... you need to take the toy away. When he growls and you let him keep the toy, he is learning that he wins and is the boss. You can give thetoy back to him later, but repeat removing it if heacts aggressive again. He needs to learn that nothing is really his and you are the alpha/boss.
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I hate to be a prude but just like humans, dogs have favorite toys and don't want others to take or touch it. I can understand you testing the dog to see if its gonna have a problem with food and showing agression, but your dog is laying down trying to chew his bone. Leave him be and allow him to enjoy his bone. If I was laying down watching tv I wouldn't like it if someone kept trying to steal the remote control from me, but if I was up and about the room it probably wouldn't matter.
The short of it, and this is only my opinion, give the dog his time. Allow him to chew his rawhide in peace. When he is done I am sure he will come running to you for the attention that the both of you are looking for.
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Sorry ... have to disagree here as most of the folks on this board will too I think.
However, I did train our dog to know that if I take something away that he really likes or wants and doesn't act out, he'll get it back quickly and get to keep it. Lots of "drop it" and "take it" training happened and still happens.
I really think anyone should be able to take anything away from their dogs without fear of getting bit or getting growled at. Some dogs are just easy going this way and some need to be trained.
Good luck!
Erika
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Sorry Mohawk, have to agree with Tate there! ALL dogs must be submissive to their owners...we are the alphas of the pack and if I say give it up, they better give it up right now...no matter how much they want it! They will get the toy or food or whatever back much faster if they give it up quickly and with no fuss... This is pack behavior! Alpha rules......and I am alpha.... They give it to me when I say so.......
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You do need to be able to take whatever you want away from the dog. Some day your dog may want to be chewing on some heirloom or may want to chew on rat poison and not let you take it away. There are all kinds of reasons to train the dog to be submissive in this respect. The problem usually is that during training the take away stuff can go overboard in the dog's eyes. I'm not saying that what you were doing was outrageous or anything like that but puppies do have a short attention span. What you might try doing is trading a toy or whatever for a small treat. You can also train the dog to "leave it" with a treat. That way the dog associates leaving the toy or letting you take it away with something positive. No dog should be aggressive towards its owners (or any other non-threatening humans). You are right to want to correct this now.
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Thanks for the comments every one. Let me share the lastest....My wife told me that the puppy has now growled at her as well while she was taking away the same rawhide from her. No bite however, just a growl. I have noticed a change in his attitude when we play with him while we are on the ground very low, on knees, laying down, next to him. He is much more aggressive when we do so. Aggressive is probably too strong a word, fiestier would be better. It's almost like he sees us as other puppies or animals on his level and starts to mouth our hands and feet and play more rough and tumble so to speak. The only other dominant sign was trying to hump a friend who was visiting. Don't know if that is of any significance but thought I'd throw it in here...
When we are standing up he shows every sign of being submissive. Petting/rubbing stomach, taking of other toys, playing in and moving food, everything. Literally no other sign. I don't know if it is a correct attitude but I feel like a 15 week old puppy, especially a golden retriever, should NEVER bite its owner unless faced with some sort of infliction of pain.
I am at a loss as to what to do. Some say take the toy away permanently, some say take it away but give it back later, no physical correction, grab it by the skin on the back of the neck and give him a reasonable shake, etc. I have to do something though. It cannot go unnoticed. Like I said he is so adorable in every other way it would be so easy to say "he will outgrow it" but I know this is a very dangerous approach....
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Please google NILIF for some help in how to become the alph with this dog. Be consistent with it. It is really a way of life more than training.
You need to get him uder control before he gets any older
In another month or so, after his last series of shots, get him into some good obedience classes.
Yes, get rid of the rawhides, but not for the reasons you gave. They can splinter & perforate the stomach, intestines etc. They are also processed by using lead & arsnic
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Just my opinion...
He is growling because he feels threatened. If you take the rawhide after he growls you are only proving that you are indeed a threat to his prized possessions. You need to teach him that you are not a threat. While you might be successful in supressing the growl, this may lead up to a bite without warning.
For the time being, I would avoid giving him treats that are of high value to him. Teach him to "drop it" and "leave it" starting with low value items, gradually working your way up to higher value items.
I suggest picking up a copy of Jean Donaldson's book "Mine!". It is a step by step book and I think you would find it very helpful in solving this issue.
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Right now this little guy is a bit of a bully! He is a more dominant guy and wants to continue to be so NILIF is going to be a real help! He needs to learn right now that he is NOT the boss, you guys are. Don't come down to his level. Always remain above him... The alpha dog will "play" with the others but it does not come down, it always stands above... So don't bring your eyes down below his.... Do keep in mind that just because he is a Golden does not mean he will be a passive dog... There are Goldens that are bullies and dominant and pushy... They were not trained right so be sure to give your little guy what he needs to be so he will be a great dog in the best position!
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Yep, I know exactly what ur going through or were going through....Even though it may seem mean, you need to establish ur role in the household as the leader/Alpha. I'm not knocking Jean Donaldson, I think her books are very enlightnening, however it doesn't take frm the fact that the "lil man" is testing you. 15 weeks is young, but it doesn't take long for them to want to take control or take on that role of "alpha" if he doesn't feel it coming from someone else. You're wife as well needs to do the same. She needs to be consistent with the training, and he will eventually get the point that "The rawhide or any other toy for that" is yours, but you are letting him play with it. Nothing belongs to him!
Don't lose sight, that these are animals, and not children...(listen to me talking, I call my Labs my kids all the time ) we need to stay assertive with this. He'll get the point eventually, and you'll have a better relationship because of it.
Like others have already stated...(on both sides) If he's enjoying the raw hide let him have it, not that you are, but don't deliberatly upset him or test him, but when (for whatever reason) you "need" or "decide" to take it from him, he shouldn't be growling or bitting. And if he does, ur right, it needs to be corrected now, and not put off. You'd only be re-enforcing his behavior and it will not stop him from taking interest in something else later, and preventing you from correcting him then.
Good luck man...