snapping and growling

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deewolflvr

Forums Regular
I have a problem i have been trying to deal with and it just got worse tonight. bubbles will growl and snap at my other dog lulu when lulu tries to be near me. well tonight bubbles laid with my daughter and my daughter didnt want her so i went to gently push her off my daughter and bubbles growled and snapped at my hand. and just a minute ago she did it again when i tried to move her from behind my back. is this normal sheltie behavior or what????

if she keeps this up i am going to have to find a new home for her since she will be unable to be around my daughter, other animals or use as a SD.


D
 
deewolflvr said:
I have a problem i have been trying to deal with and it just got worse tonight. bubbles will growl and snap at my other dog lulu when lulu tries to be near me. well tonight bubbles laid with my daughter and my daughter didnt want her so i went to gently push her off my daughter and bubbles growled and snapped at my hand. and just a minute ago she did it again when i tried to move her from behind my back. is this normal sheltie behavior or what????

if she keeps this up i am going to have to find a new home for her since she will be unable to be around my daughter, other animals or use as a SD.


D
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1. "bubbles will growl and snap at my other dog lulu when lulu tries to be near me."

Immediately get up and gently push Bubbles off with a firm (not angry) "off." If she hops back up, do it again. I would do this when lulu is coming close (say at your feet) and Bubbles begins to growl.

2. How old is she?
 
It sounds like you have run into the adolescent angst stage. She is doing the normal teenage thing of finding her place in the family, but that's not to say you have to put up with it. I would start with 'Nothing in Life is Free' (NILF) program - there are a few threads on this (and quite a bit on the internet) but basically she has to do something whenever she gets something - so sitting or dropping for food, doing a few obedience commands or simple tricks before she gets access to your daughter.

Does she do dog training, because it might be time to enrol in some obedience training, to keep her focused if nothing else. Or if you cant get to classes, do some regular obedience training at home (it will also give her some one-to-one time with family members which may satisfy her need to snap at lulu)

I would suggest if she does snap dont say anything (bet she got a lot of attention when she did that - even if it was the wrong kind). Put her in time out, 2-5min (depending on severity) away from the family is a big punishment for an attention-seeking sheltie.

Have a look at the threads on adolescence - you see lots of pups go through a difficult stage. They do improve but you need to be firm (but fair so she can learn the right way). Its time to teach her what behaviour you expect from an adult dog.

Btw - whats SD?
 
we were doing obdience training but put that on hold while i am in treatment for cancer. SD is service dog. I have several medical problems so I am training both dogs to be service dogs for psych and diabetes purposes.
 
Sounds like you are going through some tough times yourself. I know an adolescent dog can be really trying, thankfully it doesnt last as long as human adolescence! Seeing as you are doing training at home anyway the NILF program will probably work really well. I had medical problems too when mine were adolescents so I know how tough it can be, I had even considered giving my female back to the breeder because she was so trying - I'm glad I didnt though as she turned into such a sweet adult.

Thats great training your dogs to be service dogs. I would love to do that with my boy but I wouldnt know where to start.
 
To start with I would love to teach Deska to help me. I have chronic vertigo and PTSD so it would be great if he could learn to bring me something to stabilise myself when I get dizzy or could do something if I was having a panic attack (other than bark).

And I think he would be great visiting a hospice, he is incredibly affectionate and great with people.

I can only find places interstate where the dog goes for a month to train - no way Deska could be away from me that long.
 
*Caro said:
To start with I would love to teach Deska to help me. I have chronic vertigo and PTSD so it would be great if he could learn to bring me something to stabilise myself when I get dizzy or could do something if I was having a panic attack (other than bark).

And I think he would be great visiting a hospice, he is incredibly affectionate and great with people.

I can only find places interstate where the dog goes for a month to train - no way Deska could be away from me that long.
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Mine aren't certified service dogs or anything, so my advice won't be nearly as good as that the OP will give you.

But I taught them "bring it back" and it's helped enormously. My mother has fibromyalgia, so when they're with her, they'll pick up pens, paper, and things she drops that would be nearly impossible for her to bend over to get.

My next task is to add different kinds of phones to their "bring it back" list and associate it with a word so that if anything ever happens (to anyone), all it requires is calling the dogs and telling them the word + bring it back.
 
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