Dominant puppy? - Page 1

Hi to all I have just found this site and very informitive it is too.I was wondering if any of you guy could give me some advice on my 5 month old GSD pup Felix? I have read differant things about dominace some saying that it doesnt exsists and other saying that it does so it has rather confused me. My concerns with Felix are that when he is laying down he will emmit a kind of growl as well as a moan,he also when he see's other dogs with raise his heckles although doesnt attack just sniffs and then wonders away again.He is quite a bold pup and nothing seems to spook him,well nothing as of yet anyway.He still jumps up at people including myself and my wife even though he knows what the no command means and he still bites although not as hard as when we first got him at 8 weeks Could someone tell me what the signs are in an dominate pup? I saw him in his litter and all the pups male and female were about the same in their boldness and attitude. As I have said after reading differant things about the dominace issue it has got me rather confused.I dont know if this is becasue he is just a hyper playful pup or is he could be indeed a dominate pup.He hasnt started the humping as what someone else has put in another thread.I have only witnessed this to another dog which was feamale and an adult. I would be extreamly greatful if at least someone could give me some imformatation on this Cheers Jase and Felix

What are the "dominant" BLOODLINES of this puppy. That may clarify some of this activity. A 5 month old puppy, should not be putting his teeth on anything but legal toys. I'm not totally in agreement that humping is a dominance issue, totally -- Maybe somebody just smells good -- but it's too young to know what those reflexes are all about. An assessment of a behavior is two fold - The initial action - and the RE-ACTION. If you throw open a spring-loaded umbrella at a pup at close distance and it jumps back 2 feet -- it's entitled to do so -- It's what it does AFTER that initial SHOCK that's important -- does it scream and run behind your legs, or does it come back to sniff and say "what's that"?

I'm not sure where you might have read that dominance doesn't exist but anyone who has watched a litter of pups develop will tell you that there is definitely a pecking order although it is not uncommon for that order to be fluid and for the more dominant pups to challenge each other for the top spot. I'm not sure that your problem in necessarily a dominance issue so much as issues with training and socialization. Some of what you describe, specifically your dog raising his hackles when he sees other dogs, sounds more like signs of insecurity than of dominance.

I have a female that is a littel over a year now and she exhibited soem of the same issues. I mean from teh time I got her from Germany she would get her heckles up etc. I socialized, trained extensively to desensitize her to other dogs but nothing. I sent her to several specialise. She was pretty fearless and showed great promise both in Schutzhund and the show ring. I had to accept that the same characteristics that made her a good prospect for work also were potential liabilities. These traits may be part of your dogs personality which you might have to accept right or wrong. Sounds like what I call Nerviness which does not translate to dominance or fear. Is your dog show or working lines???

hi jase -- what ever term one wishes dominance etc.-- let's just say dogs do strut their stuff -- like people some are stronger , braver , more outgoing , more self-assured etc . -- in reality ..no different than people .. you cna't change it's temperament or innate stress tolerance but you . can affect it's feeling - although you haven't discussed the dogs history about it's interactions with other dogs at a young age , lineage , or the complete picture includuing his make up or other behaviors .. i would say that you have a multifactot situation... this dog may not have been the most self assured , confident pup [ also a very low stress level ] , well at least comlpared to other pups and if you did not socialize the pup at the right TIME in development AND in the CORRECT WAY - his situation may have been made worse ..that is to say the reaised hackles and the growling .. my impression is that he is very insecure within the context of the situation and in addition with other dogs .. also is this breed specific ?? some dogs are more uncertain about other breeds too .. . from my experience a well adjusted , nurtured dominant dog .. especialluy at five months [ he is just starting to mature at that ! ] doesn't need to have that type of display behavior -- for example -- i have two dominant .. highly dominant GSDs -- all they have to do is casually and at a relaxed stance glance , not stare .. but just glance at another dog .. that is enough for a path to open for him while walking or enough to stop another dog from proceeding .. !! what i am trying to portray is that like a person when you are dominant and assuming clear , you don't need to show signs of insecurity nor do you have to prove yourself -- you just seem to and can project that attitude !! ` OK -- so now what --- you need to in a correct manner teach the dog that he is secure and ok around other dogs ..- you need to change his outlook / feeling / the way he views the situation too . if you are inexperienced work with someone qualified -- don't go to fast -- for example don't bring an unruly dog up to his face -- someone can show you what to and not to do . additionally this dog needs , for lack of a better word obedience and obedience classes --- [ i hate that word obedience and this is why ] this dog needs to learn to take DIRECTION from you .. do not be too overbearing !! as to make him more uncomfortable and iinsecure in that situation but he must learn in a very positive way that he can channel his thoughts and feelings in the correct behavior , which you will also initially teach in a very positive way-- he needs assurance . you will also have to teach him that some behaviors are unacceptable ,and that can count on you [ you are the leader ] BUT if he doesn't pay heed you will absolutely not tolerate unacceptable behavior and that you will follow through either in a positve way or negative pending who teaches you .. i do not accept my dogs raising hackles .. or showing aggression .. once they have been taught .. even if they are not always secrue then at the very least .. " if you are not comfortable fine but you better be comfortable taking my direction to cease and pull yourself together " . in summery work with some qualified pewrson -- you will regret not especially if this becomes quite comonplace and pronounced behavior

I think that dogs "hackle" and comediens "heckle" -- And it's not a dominace thing, and it's not fearful either. I think it's simply defensive -- I'm going to make myself bigger just in case you want to harm me". My very sound puppy, sometimes hackles at new dogs he meets, but 30 seconds later he is lying on the floor playing with them. I certainly agree with Keith that the pup needs more socialization--and some well defined boundaries of what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Without some serious groundrules layed right now -- you are setting yourself up for future long-term problems -- he is testing you - and winning - especially with things like mouthing and jumping up.

Much good advice here for you to think and make investigate. Yu very smart, very humble,to ask here for help. Good heart! Will make good dog with help! I make big congratulation to you! My fear big other dogs make same actions and owner think they plenty smart to figure out alone. They so wrong. Then they give breed bad name with dog what result of such ignorant choice. Dog grow up wrong, dog make many wrong choices. Maybe dog hurt someone. Then owner and others say bad dog, bad breed. Wish for more new owners they should be like you! Sad so many new, even some what are old, they not asking for information or help to make understand and work in right ways to fix problem. Happy New Year. You make right start!

pineridge -- please allow me to comment to you --- you state not dominance -- but not fearful --- you say defensive -- quantitatvely to what degree is that a differential .. " that a dog should raise it's hackles .. just in case " -- so in other words you have insight into the dog's thoughts and feelings .. that is super , very good ... but if by the raising of the hackles you mean concearned , ok ,- but you say "in case of being hurt [harmed] ".. yes ,... but that is fearful ... most certainly being afraid ... being that concearned is a " worry ' , being afraid .. so fearful ... yes ?? -- and if i thought i might be harmed and knew it was a realistic possibility i might be a little concearned / afraid too . If you know you can win an encounter / or there is no ecounter in your outlook ... then you need not be afraid or therefore defensive ... fear / FRIGHT causes defense behavior .. either flight or fight !!

I'm not sure that the raising of hackles always means defence or the showing of dominance, it seems that some dogs do it when excited as well. My male used to raise his hackles when chasing his tennis ball or when engaged in other vigerous play activities. I read somewhere that raising hackles in dogs is like people blushing, some just do it with more intensity than others LOL. If anyone is interested, I can try to find the website where this particular behavior is discussed.

Hi Jase, Except for Pineridge's remarks I think I'm now confused myself! A pup learns how to interact with other dogs when still in litter from mother and siblings; question of learning how to read and project the right signal at the right time and situation - ie when to show submission or aggression/dominance. Dogs that don't learn these signals tend to get themselves into strive with others constantly! Your friend may now only be jumping up at your wife, but next time it may be a child and do damage. As Pine said, now is the time to be unfailingly strict and forceful forceful whenever he does it. Same with biting: instantly take lower jaw in scissor-grip with thumb inside mouth, and grip firmly - works a treat - only have to do it a few times to see good results! Cheers.