Dog training methods have changed significantly over the last few years. One big change has been in our understanding and use of dominance in dogs. Other Threads You May Find Helpful The Forum RecommendsDominance In Dogs If you are worried that your puppy or older dog is showing signs of dominance, please read the article above. It should help to put your mind at rest but do let us know if you have any questions.
Pippa, I just read your article on dog dominance. I have a 4 month old pup. I’ve been told by my trainer he’s very dominant. 5 weeks of puppy classes and also to my home. I was given various things to do with him to show I’m the boss, not him. My head is spinning now. Apparently no one that lives by me, including my vet, has adopted these new ideas stated in your article. I’m at my wits end trying to understand my pup with so much conflicting advise. I’m sure other people feel this way too. My dog bites, a lot. He bites me in the back of the legs when I walk. He also bites me in my recliner, I can almost never sit down. A trainer told me walk at him or get up and walk at him until he turns away. This worked for a few days. Now he must have decided he’s not having any of that. Now he comes at me biting the front of my legs. No backing down. I tell him no to no avail. He’s only 4 months old and I’m starting to become afraid of him. What will I do at 5 and 6 months? I’m afraid it’s aggression? He won’t stop, so I have to put him in kennel to settle down. Does anyone else have this problem? Will he outgrow this? He is teething. His biting seems to be attention seeking but quickly escalates.
Hi Debbie, I have a 4-month old that likes to bite also. My hands, arms, feet, clothing. This is how they play with their littermates. The more you scream or yell at them the more excited they get because they think you are playing with them. I've taught my pup the command "leave it" and "enough" and she usually will obey. Not 100% but it is better. She responds to leave it better than enough. I hope this gives you some help. Sound like your pup is just being a pup. Mine is already starting to outgrow some earlier behaviors. Good luck, Cindy
Hi Debbie, what part of the world are you in? Modern training ideas are being adopted internationally now, but in some regions there are still many old school trainers (and vets) still practicing. Depending on where you are there are various organisations that can put you in touch with up to date trainers and behaviourists. You may also find this thread helpful: Biting Puppies: Help for New Puppy Parents
Hi, I am completely new to all of this but I wondered if you had any thoughts. I have a 16month old male lab called Rupert, from day one he has been a bundle of happiness loving everybody and everything. This last week however when meeting other dogs on walks, he has been his usual playful self with some dogs however some he has been pinning them down and quite aggressively growling at them. I think I have pin pointed this to submissive dogs but I am trying to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand. All I have been able to do until now is drag him off the dog he's pinned down but does anyone have any ideas? I have not noticed any other behaviour changes. Sorry for the essay, I will look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks!
I feel you. My puppy is also about 4 months old and I have been investigating about how to best treat him and raise him. I thought he was dominant because if I don’t do what he wants me to do he bites at my ankles or my hands or thighs (I can’t even think where he hasn’t biten me yet). He did it even more so when I picked him off the couch, for example. In my culture, it is acceptable to hit your dog to correct him but I refuse to do so. I tried the alpha dog training but it just isn’t me and honestly I don’t know how to control him other than having him in his room.
