Okay, Theo has been doing fine. He is social, loyal, and wants to please. Lately, he has gone back to his big, bad male attitude. He attacked Kerra at feeding time again today. I broke them up and he wouldn't listen to me. He was even growling at me!
I raised Theo. So it's so hard to see my parents not liking him so much. I have tried all I can. He knows all the basic commands and extra. I let the dogs out to play everyday. I go running with them too.
Anyhow, he attacked Kerra today. I don't know what to do!!! My dad wants to get rid of him but I can't do that! He's my baby boy. At 11 months he is a hefty thing. I am trying to decide whether or not to raise the bar and possibly go on to a shock collar....? :-(
He is outside barking. All alone. Mom made me pen him up and keep Kerra inside. He whines and cries when he's away from Kerra but he always seems to man handle her. I am so frustrated and sad!
I am planning on scheduling checkups for them both and neutering for Theo. I really hope that calms him down. He is just like his mom when she was a pup. Rambunctious, Outgoing, Playful, Energetic, and Loving.
We just can't afford misbehavior. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't want Theo barking all night and having to sleep alone. There is six inches of snow outside and my parents won't let him inside. He is fine besides his hyper side. I also don't want him and Kerra to fight.
Have you tried seperatin there bowls at feedin time? Yes i would consider gettin Theo neutered, back in the day my dad would hit the dog whenever that dog growled at him..and i dont mean that he punched him, but he sure as hell got the dogs attention. I dunno, but i would suggest not lettin that behavior go unpunished.
This is just my opinion.. I don't know if its the right way to approach it, thats for you to decide, but it seemed to work when my step-dad did it.
How much exercise does he get a day? Is he neutered?
If he was growling at you, that was serious disrespect, and him showing that he does not see you as the dominant one in the group.
If the attack occurred at feeding time, you may want to start feeding them farther away, and watch them carefully.
I would suggest going to an obedience class(not saying you can't do it on your own). It is super fun, plus your dog gets considerable exercise, you get handling instruction and experience, and he gets some better socialization(again, not saying his is bad. I don't know). More exercise will help with his hyperness.
Plus, it would show your mom and dad that you are really wanting to help your buddy. Look through your local 4h group to see if they offer public dog obedience classes. That is what I did. Even though I was too old to be enrolled in 4h(so was everyone in my class), all I had to do was give a donation to the local animal shelter to participate. It was SO much fun, and my basil is so much better than he would be without it.
Their bowls are separated. Not like room to room but like ten feet. lol. He's just a jerk sometimes. He is generally well behaved.
He does get wopped in the head when he does something. (Not hard, I would never). But he is disciplined. He is up at the doghouse crying. :-(
We won't be able to get him neutered for about a month. I asked my 'twin'...who owns Theo's mom...if I could borrow the shock collar sometime. Her dad said it was ok. I love their family like my own. lol.
I hate this....
Thank you so much Brandon! lol. It is greatly appreciated.
No problem Blu 8) I hope it all works out for you. Maybe you should try the obedience class that LadyDreamer suggested, but in my opinion I don't like spendin money on somethin i would try to do myself, but that is up to you if you want to do that. Just try to be as consistent as possible when you punish Theo, treat him like a horse lol! Don't send your dog mixed signals.
ya and make sure your dog knows who the boss is. Just like ownin a horse, make sure YOU are the BIG DOG DADDY.
I agree with what a lot of people are saying and that is to feed in another room. I also think that getting him neutered will definitely calm him down. I know when I had male dogs, that as soon as they got neutered, they just kind of mellowed out. And, the dog is still young, so of course he is going to act like a juvenile... he is one! But, he is just trying to test the limits with everyone to see if he can get away with things. Like Brandon said, you have to show them who's boss doggy! ^_^
What i would do is when feeding time comes around, feed Theo last. In wolf packs, the last one to get fed is lowest ranked. Making him sit and wait for the food is also a great idea.
I think you should keep the food dishes where they are, just so he can see that he's being fed last. Is there a way you can tie them up? Like if you put the leash on them and then tie it to something near by? That would also stop Theo from trying to steal food from someone else.
Another thing to do, is whenever Theo does something bad, turn him on his back. This is a very submissive state for dogs. After a while he will know he is not the dominant one. I would also discipline Kerra too, but its not really a discipline, its more along the lines of that what happened is not acceptable by any means.
As for exercise, I'd say exercise him a few times a day. Give him a job to do, even if its just a game of fetch, make it into his job to go and retrieve the ball (or any activity he likes to do) Going on walks is also a great way to get rid of excess energy.
Don't get fooled by his puppy behavior. Change things now because the growling and being food aggressivion will only get worse if you don't do something now.
While neutering him is a good idea, don't think that will solve everything. It will definitely bring his testosterone levels down, but other behaviors may still be there.
I know this is going to sound really bad but, when my kids were puppys and they did something bad I would pick them up by the scruff of the neck and give them a little shake and a spin like their moms would do to them. I have one male who always rushed the door to come inside when he was a pup. One time I picked him up by the scruff and butt spun around 3 times and set him on the ground with a firm "no". To this day he waits for me to ask him to come in the house and he is 8 years old now. That is the only hand laying on that I do to my dogs and I have 6 of them :shock: I have never hit any of my dogs with my hand or they will fear your hand. Always find something else, a rolled up newpaper or fly swatter works for me and growl at them when they step out of line. I have taken several to dog obediance class it is invaluable if you can find one in your area. I have 4 that eat in the house and 2 that have to eat outside because they will push the other off their food. Don't make food an issue with them or they will become territorial over it and cause more problems. Feed in seperate areas one inside and one outside if need be. And get your male neutered ASAP, that should calm him down some, but remember he is still a puppy and will still be full of energy. I have lots of doggy experience so let me know if you have any problems. I know way more about dogs then I do horses :lol:
Theo is a Rottweiler and Golden Retriever Cross. (male - 11months)
Kerra is a purebred Boxer. (female - approx. 4 -5yrs.)
I have recently started this new tactic: If the dogs are being fed in their pen...of course Theo rushes out when I open the gate but then I block him out and feed Kerra first. Theo atomatically sits down and waits. lol. Then I feed him. I think he is getting the memo. :wink:
I don't think I could pick Theo up without all my strength, Vida! lol.
I've never had to 'make' him submit for bad behavior. I can just say "Theo!" in a really stern voice and he lowers himself. I think he knows I'm the boss he is just being a puppy and testing me for what he can get away with.
This weekend I am going to take Theo out for a walk. Just me and him and I am going to watch how he behaves. He is very interested in his surroundings, BTW. I need to work on his leash training about though.
Another thing, I have often caught myself grasping Theo's scruff when he growls at Kerra. That's when I hold his head and make him look at me and not her. I think he takes it as though I am nipping him because he normally straightens up.
I'm hoping to get him into more retrieving and agility. He's one big boy with lots of muscle but he is very agile as well.
Yes, I would say he is a little big to take for a "spin" Conner is a Scottie and only weighed about 10 lbs when I did that. The grabbing by the scruff is stilll a good way to get their attention and let them know they have done something wrong. Be sure to get a good choke collar when you do the leash training.
I have a Rottie mix too, Here is miss Daisy I think she is around 4 yo. She likes to grin at you.
i hope everything goes well with you, Theo and Kerra. Let us know how it all goes!
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