Is This Agression?

[djgadget]

Dear friends,

I have an 8 month female GSD [sheeba]... I have trained her to follow basic commands, Heel, Sit, Stay, Leave, Recall, Lay and Fetch, which she does well....

We are a family of 5 people, with my youngest being 8 [Him]. Sheeba behaves around us all, except with the 8 year old. She always tries to play with him, but gets carried away. She gets excited around him, and I honestly believe that she is actually attached to him. I notice this when we go for walks, Sheeba will always turn around to make sure he is OK and then continue walking.

When it gets "out of hand" is when she jumps up on him and play bites [only does it with him], she will never do it with us, she become to much to handle for him. He never teases Sheeba, as i have been very clear about this to my entire family, but he does run around the house alot, like any excited 8 year old, and I think Sheeba just wants to be part of his life.

What is it, I am NOT doing... I need some advice, I have had GSD's before, but this was before I was married with Kids... I want to address this now not later hoping she will grow out of it.

She is a very good dog, and is socialized quite well, we get a lot of visitors, and has never barked at Soi dogs, they just leave her alone. I don't believe in agression from myside, as this is also a learning process for Sheeba, and whilst firm control is required, i will never bow down abuse, as others may do. Whilst I am around her she is like robot doing as I say, even when the youngster is around, so it is clear I have become the Alpha in Sheeba's world.

I hope you understand the dilema, and can offer advice. Maybe a training facility can sort this out, if anyone knows of one around the Bangna area, then please inform me.

Thanks in advance,

Faisal

[Nienke]

First of all, it's perfect normal behavior what your dog is showing, although not appropriate in the human world. Your dog is in her puberties and is testing her boundaries. With the adult people she seems to know and respect this but with your son not yet.

What I suspect you are doing is paying attention when your dog shows undesired behavior, such as jumping up at and play biting your son. That is, telling her what NOT to do. What I suspect you are NOT doing (or not doing consistently) is paying attention and (positively) reinforcing those moments your dog is showing behavior you wish to see when she is around your son (and vice versa!). That is, teaching her (and him) exactly what behavior IS required.

Furthermore, I do hope that your dog is allowed to be a dog and not a robot.

For further advice you can pm me, if you feel the need.

[djgadget]

First of all, it's perfect normal behavior what your dog is showing, although not appropriate in the human world. Your dog is in her puberties and is testing her boundaries. With the adult people she seems to know and respect this but with your son not yet.

What I suspect you are doing is paying attention when your dog shows undesired behavior, such as jumping up at and play biting your son. That is, telling her what NOT to do. What I suspect you are NOT doing (or not doing consistently) is paying attention and (positively) reinforcing those moments your dog is showing behavior you wish to see when she is around your son (and vice versa!). That is, teaching her (and him) exactly what behavior IS required.

Furthermore, I do hope that your dog is allowed to be a dog and not a robot.

For further advice you can pm me, if you feel the need.

Dear Nienke,

Thank you for your response. Yes you are right, I don't praise her enough when she does the right thing around Him. I will start this exercise immediately.

As for the robot behavior, she does that of her own free will, i know she loves me and the family a lot, she feels secure around us, she watches TV with us, plays Basketball with us, Baseball, football, etc... but she also knows when she needs to be alone.

When she does misbehave, she is confined and ignored for a short while, and I know in her eyes she knows she has done something wrong, but we don't praise her enough for doing some thing correctly, she may be confused.

I love reading your posts, i find them so enlightening. Thank for the offer of PM you, if i need to, I will..

Thanks,

Faisal

[Bakeman]

Your pet is actually acting natural. Each dog has a pecking order in the pack. Your husband is considered the Alpha Male and is in charge. You are the Alpha female also in charge but at a slightly lower level than your husband. Your child is considered a sibling and equal in the mind of your dog until one of them becomes a stronger leader of the pack. For this reason your dog does love but does not respect your child as her leader. You must teach your child how to control the pet with commands and participation. Only once your child takes the leadership role will your dog respect him. If your child runs, jumps and plays the natural reaction of your pet is to join in the fun. Obviously right now your dog is larger (stronger) than your child and for this reason you should always observe their interactions. If you get a chance their are two books you can read, How to be your puppies best friend and How to be your dogs best frined written by the Monks Of Skeet out of Skeet New York in the United States. I recommend that everyone who wishes to know, why dogs do what they do, to read these books.

Good Luck!

[djgadget]

Your pet is actually acting natural. Each dog has a pecking order in the pack. Your husband is considered the Alpha Male and is in charge. You are the Alpha female also in charge but at a slightly lower level than your husband. Your child is considered a sibling and equal in the mind of your dog until one of them becomes a stronger leader of the pack. For this reason your dog does love but does not respect your child as her leader. You must teach your child how to control the pet with commands and participation. Only once your child takes the leadership role will your dog respect him. If your child runs, jumps and plays the natural reaction of your pet is to join in the fun. Obviously right now your dog is larger (stronger) than your child and for this reason you should always observe their interactions. If you get a chance their are two books you can read, How to be your puppies best friend and How to be your dogs best frined written by the Monks Of Skeet out of Skeet New York in the United States. I recommend that everyone who wishes to know, why dogs do what they do, to read these books.

Good Luck!

Bakeman,

Thanks... I figured it had something to do with the pecking order, and as the saying goes "girls just wanna have fun"

BTW, i am the Alpha male, the Missus is the Alpha Female.... ... but no worries..... The message is understood. I will take a look at the literature you have recommended....

I guess the key here is "firm, but positive reinforcement"... for both Sheeba and instruction on interaction to my Boy

Cheers,

Faisal

[Trickcyclist]

channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/dog-whisperer

try the above.

[Jonathanpattaya]

Just a thought. It could perhaps be jealousy if your youngest is getting lots of attention.

[bina]

naw...nienke said it: puberty. the horrible 8 month teenage years (dogs taht size reach sexual/psychological maturity between 8 months to year and half).it sounds like teenage doggy behavior with a pup (small child) smaller then her to push around and play with. certainly an 8 yr old can also learn to give commands to the dog, feed her (make her sit then tell her bon appetite or equivalent to allow her to eat), walk her with parental supervision (this instills some of the pack command in to her, even the child is 'above' her)... most kdis love to boss others around ; my youngest daughter really dealt very nicely with our male boxer when we had him-- she learned to tell nero to go to his box when she came home from school, to avoid the crazy boxer dance with paws on her, she learned to move him out of her way ('move') since he would body block the hallway.... lots of stuff. we had her regular school friends learn basic commands to give also, so they were less afraid of him (a very big boisterous boxer boy).

foofoo gets the same treatment now, he's not thrilled with intruders but all my kid's friends have learned to tell foofoo 'place', away, off (when he's on the sofa and they have no room to sit).

its never too late to train children, and good for the dog also. who knows, your 8 yr old might be the next dog whisperer...

methods: choose three commands that are most useful for dog and child (usually sit, settle, and fetch/eat or something else fun). when u work with her, play with her and have child do same. then have child firmly, quietly give command u know dog does well, then have child instantly give tiny tiny treat (keep in pocket). a few times in a few sessions, u should see some changes. also, teach child to walk with leashed dog with u always together.

third, teach off limit zones/actions. dog bed is off limits for child. child's room/bed is off limits for dog. that way when each has had too much of the other, theyhave their 'off limits' zone to retreat to/or be sent to....

simple suggestions which were recently used in ex in law's house with large white fluffy lab/samoyed mix.... super boisterous and 4 kids in house usually filled with 8 + kids. my neice is 8, and the tiniest quietest shyest thing u've ever met. but she is thre real boss for 'cream'. amazing.

bina

israel