Simon Snapped at me!
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Simon's Mom wrote: This has never happened to me and I think? with the things I have read here that I did ok with it...
I am sure that you were surprised that Simon snapped at you but I honestly cannot imagine what you've read here to make you think that smacking him, pulling his hair, getting in his face, shaking him, and yelling at him was the right way to handle the situation. Frankly, what you did sounds very dangerous and you are lucky you didn't get bitten in the face. After all the work on his burrs, he might have been nervous to see you grabbing scissors to grapple with the matts near his penis. I guess I would think that handling him calmly would have been a better approach. I am glad you were not hurt. |
| Well, I wouldn't have smacked and shaken him, but these things can really catch you off guard, especially with a nice boy like Simon. Honestly - and I'm a very positive trainer 99.99% of the time - I once did exactly what Pam did in terms of grabbing a friend's very uppity young male's facial hair, sticking my face in his and growling at him - for very much the same reason, and he and I came very nicely to agreement that he would never, ever do that again. I could have taken a few months to cookie him through it, but this worked nicely for both of us.
You don't ever do that to a dog whose temperament you can't fundamentally trust and who doesn't have bite inhibition or, yes, you'll probably end up needing reconstructive facial surgery. I've met Simon. He's not that kind of guy and I'm sure Pam knows it too. Some times they just have to try to test you and that is an area they really, but really don't want you messing with. That's why you start them at a few weeks old, if not sooner. And even with that there can come a day when they say, no, I don't think so. And you say, yes you do. Ironically it only works with a dog whose temperament is fundamentally very sound to begin with and who understands pack theory. And I mean they've lived it, not just read about it in a book. I know it seems counter-intuitive to everything we've learned about how dogs learn, but the one who taught me what to do was his momma. And she is a fundamentally sweet, pacifistic kind of critter like me. That's not a recommendation to try this at home. A lot of dogs WOULD hurt you. Kristine |
| Next time this happens, instead of backing away, push him back down where he was - if he was lying down, make him lie down again - and carry on what you were doing. Think of it as if you were a dog too. I.e. when they want to go through a door they push you or other dogs away. So, instead of ignoring him for a while, tell him immediately "NO" and then put him back and carry on working on him. Then he will know that no matter what you do, you are allowed to do it and he is not allowed to say anything about it. |
| OH NO! That must have been scary.
I am glad you and Simon are both OK. If any of this behavior returns any time soon, please take him to the vet for a checkup. Now that my dog is getting trained, I send him to his crate for a transgression. He hangs his head and goes to his crate, and stays in there, door open, until he is called out. It seems to work, and he seems more calm afterward (as are we). I know some don't advocate this approach as the crate is supposed to be a fun place or a safe place and not a punishment place, but he runs into his crate expecting a treat when Joan leaves the house; sometimes he goes in and lies in there on his own. I don't know for sure if he is seeing the crate as a punishment or not, but I feel he is just unhappy that he is separated from the humans. Good luck, keep us posted. |
| Murphys is four months old. Most of the time he is a very lovable and obedient puppy. We have worked with a trainer at home and he is learning well. At times though, when he has something in his mouth that he should not, he growls and goes to bite me and has biten me. this concerns me a lot. I yell in a deep voice and let him know he is wrong. AT times I can put my hands in his mouth depending on his mood. but Sunday he bite me and today he growled and went to bit three times. He is exercised and socialized well. Any help? please |
| Murphy's mom, i think your pup is getting to the age where he wants to show some dominance. Be firm and let the pup know as soon as he does something that you do not approve that you are the leader of the pack. I have never hit/spanked Obe (except for the little tap on the butt when his head goes into the kitchen trash). I remember Obe at that age trying me and I just showed him that I was the leader of the pack. What I said I meant. I did this by a firm voice command no, leave it, etc. |
| My trainer and breeder said the samething - be firm and reassert that i am the leader. Also it was suggested that he may be ready to neuter. I will check with vet on that. |
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