I have a 12 week old adorable well behaved pup so far apart from I got her at 9 weeks and at 11 weeks she has started growling (with no wag she does mean it) at people who have visited our home not when they get here but when they pick her up after playing and cuddles with no real pattern apart from been picked up, I have asked the vet which I had concerns about her leg and her knee cap is rubbing up and down which is a concern but the vet says her growling is a behavior issues, Today I went to work and left Roxy with the baby sitter who she met in her first week and she growled at the baby sitter today and the youngest child, babysitter had picked her up and the toddler had sat on the sofa and just moved her up a bit I have tonight stopped her from been on the sofa because I have been reading about the Alpha! and I am missing cuddles already, is this the only problem? or what should I be doing? Only 12 weeks?? Please help?
Growling Puppy???
- Thread starter lucycc
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Based on what you describe, I would strongly disagree with your vet on this. It doesn't sound like a behaviour problem at all - it sounds like a fear response (and a perfectly reasonable one at that!).
You said she's growling when people pick her up... don't let them pick her up! She's telling you loud and clear that she doesn't like it.
One thing you've got to realise about dogs is that they're not people. We primates view hugs, cuddles, picking up babies, etc as affectionate actions. Well they're NOT affectionate actions to a dog - they're a threat. Yes, really
It doesn't mean that dogs can't be taught that this sort of thing from people is not the threatening gesture it would be if it came from another dog. Of course they can, and most will come to accept (some even enjoy) those sorts of huggs (or anything else involving wrapping your arms around them) from people. But this doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen just naturally.
I would suggest a few things:
1. Don't let the puppy on the couch - not if you've got a baby and are going to end with child and puppy competing for the same space. The pup will be perfectly happy with a bed of her own (which should be a people-free space) on the floor if the rules on who sits where are clear from the outset.
2. Don't let people pick your puppy up - she's clearly not comfortable with it, and being forced will increase the fear and her response to it. If someone picks her up anyway and she growls, MAKE THEM PUT HER DOWN.
3. Start teching the puppy that this sort of thing from people is not threatening. Forget about picking her up for a bit, but instead let her gzet used to being petted on the body. Then the head. Then sitting with an arm over her shoulders. Then move up to a loose hug. And so on. Actually, you may well find that by the time she's comfortable with all that, she's too big for being picked up anyway It is, however, vitally important that she does learn that this sort of stuff from people is not threatening behaviour, especially with kids in the house. It's not in the least important that you ever get round to picking her up though, so go as slowly as she seems to need/is comfortable with and you'll get there in the end.
You said she's growling when people pick her up... don't let them pick her up! She's telling you loud and clear that she doesn't like it.
One thing you've got to realise about dogs is that they're not people. We primates view hugs, cuddles, picking up babies, etc as affectionate actions. Well they're NOT affectionate actions to a dog - they're a threat. Yes, really
It doesn't mean that dogs can't be taught that this sort of thing from people is not the threatening gesture it would be if it came from another dog. Of course they can, and most will come to accept (some even enjoy) those sorts of huggs (or anything else involving wrapping your arms around them) from people. But this doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen just naturally.
I would suggest a few things:
1. Don't let the puppy on the couch - not if you've got a baby and are going to end with child and puppy competing for the same space. The pup will be perfectly happy with a bed of her own (which should be a people-free space) on the floor if the rules on who sits where are clear from the outset.
2. Don't let people pick your puppy up - she's clearly not comfortable with it, and being forced will increase the fear and her response to it. If someone picks her up anyway and she growls, MAKE THEM PUT HER DOWN.
3. Start teching the puppy that this sort of thing from people is not threatening. Forget about picking her up for a bit, but instead let her gzet used to being petted on the body. Then the head. Then sitting with an arm over her shoulders. Then move up to a loose hug. And so on. Actually, you may well find that by the time she's comfortable with all that, she's too big for being picked up anyway
It is, however, vitally important that she does learn that this sort of stuff from people is not threatening behaviour, especially with kids in the house. It's not in the least important that you ever get round to picking her up though, so go as slowly as she seems to need/is comfortable with and you'll get there in the end.
Cami
Boxer Insane
Boxers are a VERY vocal breed including growling. At her age she isn't being aggressive and there is nothing dominant in her growls. She IS certainly capable of voicing her opinion though! More along the lines of she might not want to be picked up and it could be from any number of reasons. She was doing something more FUN at the time or she doesn't like to be contained, doesn't like heights, is fearful of "whatever" like the new person she is encountering, etc...
As you spend more time with her you will learn what all her different noises mean. Anytime you don't like something you can ignore it or redirect her to something else, including her behavior but this isn't anything BAD whatsoever! You know for sure she doesn't like to be picked up so stop that from happening. You can easily desensitize her to this as she grows. It won't happen overnight but eventually she won't mind it so much and eventually people won't be able to pick her up so it will be a moot point!
People that have not personally lived with Boxers have no clue, IMO about their "behaviors"....including most vets! They are just "different" and that is one of the greatest things about them.
As you spend more time with her you will learn what all her different noises mean. Anytime you don't like something you can ignore it or redirect her to something else, including her behavior but this isn't anything BAD whatsoever! You know for sure she doesn't like to be picked up so stop that from happening. You can easily desensitize her to this as she grows. It won't happen overnight but eventually she won't mind it so much and eventually people won't be able to pick her up so it will be a moot point!
People that have not personally lived with Boxers have no clue, IMO about their "behaviors"....including most vets! They are just "different" and that is one of the greatest things about them.
Thank you so much both of you for your advice, she never minds me picking her up but I strongly agree with you they are different and she will have come to trust me unlike strangers which now you have said I can see that its to teach her people mean no harm! Thankyou and I have put a stop to her coming on the sofa which I hate but I have 3 children and I do not want them all fighting over it!
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