This past week Eric's behaviour is changing slightly and he is becoming snappy. It's mainly when he's over tired and just won't settle. He wanders from room to room, comes over and either sits in front of me or just stands but if i go to stroke him he snaps at me. Not aggressively but in a 'get lost!' sort of way! He really is a daddy's boy and if hubbie isn't here he cries for him. He really is like an over tired baby. He loves his crate but has stopped willingly taking himself there. I've put him in tonight after a snap and he was snoring within 30 seconds! I don't want this to become a habit :/
Hello there, How old is Eric now? This seems a bit strange, to be honest. I would start looking at whether he is reacting to your hand - perhaps he is shy of hands around his head, or approaching him in some way. It can be a very easy thing to overlook, the way your dog prefers to be approached. My dog really prefers being petted by having the top of his tail scratched, to the extent he'll spin round and offer his bottom when people go to pet him!
He's 8 months. He has never done this before and although he isn't a very cuddly boy (rarely wants to lay his head or anything else on you) he does like to lay next to you and be stroked. Loves his belly rubs etc. His favourite are chest rubs Now you've said it yes.. it may well be because i've been stroking his head, I don't know. I will be more aware of where/when tomorrow if this happens again. In between these 'moments' he's fine I love the bottom offering
I find that a bit concerning. He actually snaps at your hand? He is a teenager and they can be just as bad as children but I wonder if his vision is off? He has a hurt somewhere? His thyroid needs checking? His ears hurt? A tooth hurts?Maybe my experience is limited but when mine have been overtired I've only seen an inability to settle and do what they're told. Me, I'd be pro-active and Vet I think.
He moves his head and does a mouthy snap. No teeth snapping. It's a definite 'get off' I do tend to rub his head and ears. I will get his ears checked
Yes, get him checked out, and work out if he dislikes hands approaching certain parts of him. My dog will mouth hands in a 'get off' way if parts of him are painful. If, after you get him checked out, there is nothing wrong and it's just a preference, then I'd work on getting him to think hands approaching his head (or whatever bit of him causes him to do this) by associating that movement with treats (just in case someone else does it, and you want your dog to be happy about hands reaching for him) but also just pet him in a way he prefers. My dog really does not like to be petted around his head (he tolerates it, but he doesn't like it very much).
It could just be a cheeky teenage snappiness - both Gypsy and Twiglet have done this from time to time when excited/over tired. Rather like the snaps they do with each other when playing.
We had snapping at this ago too! Usually when over excited or over tired. I just ignored it and stopped all play/attention.
thank you all today has been much better. We've had a long run on the beach and a visit to my mums. He was absolutely fine and let anyone touch him, as he usually does. Once home he was very obviously tired but not giving in. I kept away from his face when he came over for hugs and he had a LONG chest and belly rub before I suggested it was 'crate time' No snapping at all today, even when over tired and I'm sure its because we have kept away from his face When he's not too tired he is more than happy to have ears and head rubbed
Ripple has never put himself to bed without being asked, but he's quite happy to go there when I tell him it's time. We've had a big return of the snappy biting behaviour over the last few weeks in lots of situations but we also have days when he's fine, today has been bad again but I don't know why. It seems from discussions on the forum that it is just adolescent behaviour. However, I feel in your situation with it being specific to getting near his face I would be looking at some of the suggestions on here, in case it is either a pain issue or a problem with hands approaching. These boys are a constant source of worry .
I second the others when they say investigate if there's an issue with him having hands approaching his head/face. A lot of dogs can find this quite intimidating. If you're sure there's nothing wrong with him this way and that it is simply due to being over tired it's possible it's the way he has developed of telling you enough is enough and he want some quiet time, not to be fussed etc. Penny was a lot younger than your pup is now when we did this but we used to have to give her evening 'time out' sessions every night as she would just get soooo wound up and frustrated. She, too, would never willingly take herself off to bed so we had to enforce an evening nap. Once in her crate she would conk out for at least an hour and then be much better when she came out again.
He's been checked and he is in full health. I've really been watching him this week and it is a definite 'approach and touch' thing. He is great through the day but on an evening, when over tired, he just doesn't want to be touched. However sometimes he may need to be touched so we've been using the clicker to touch and click. I do think this is having a little bit of effect already, coupled with being more aware of how we approach him. I watched the boys approach him from the front with both hands going down his side. He really didn't like it. Whole body went stiff. we're all getting better at reading his body language!
Is it only I he's over tired or just generally in the evening? His whole body going stiff is not a good sign. When approaching, even from the front, is it standing up or crouching down to his level. Standing above a dog cam be threatening, hence the rigid body response.
It seems to Be when he's over tired. If he has a snooze for 30 mins or so when we eat he is happy until he starts to settle at around 8pm. If he misses this he is unsettled going from his chair to fireplace to under the table and if 'fussed' over backs off. my older boy is very big and loud ALL of the time. He has autism and ADHD. Eric is really good with him until he's in this tired state. He tends to stand above him and rub both his sides. Fine through the day but not at night when he needs to settle. Maybe I need to discourage thus more during the day? Eric does allow him to 'ruff and tumble' and seems to love it but maybe it's having a knock on effect later in the day? I really don't know
It's sometimes easier to ignore him if he's unsettled and let him find his spot to relax and have a snooze. He's not much more than a pup and we all know what over tired pups can be like. With your son it sounds as if it could be the standing over Eric that's a problem followed by the attention of stroking down the sides. Could you encourage him to be at Eric's level to stroke and perhaps to allow Eric some quiet time? I know how difficult Autism and ADHD can be but I'm worried that Eric's freezing body language is being overlooked and could escalate to growling to warn off etc.
Does Eric love it? Maybe you should look at this - it does sound like at some point Eric is saying "I've had enough".
hmmmmm maybe he doesn't. He probably 'puts up with it' to a point Have discussed with son (again) today (who is 18 by the way so not a little one) We've had a really good day today. He came for cuddles this morning and lots of touching/belly rubs etc. He's had two lovely walks with contact throughout and cuddles back at car. And he's been allowed to wander at will and be left alone at home. He then approached son - who was sitting on floor at time- and they had gentle play (I know son found this hard lol but he did it with lots of praise - i'm definitely training them both!) He's now took himself to crate and is merrily snoring.
Ah, sounds good. I'm sure you'll get it sorted, and you have noticed this before it has escalated into anything, that's a really good thing.
