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04-10-2009, 06:31 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix
Posts: 445
| when is it ok to growl at one another I have two dogs, Samson who is almost 11 months old and Harley who is just 4 months old. Samson just has this calm, sweet, loving personality. Harley is more spirited, dominate, sometimes aggressive personality (although he has the face of an angel and can be sweet to us but not Samson). They do have periods of getting along but when Samson has a toy Harley must have it and he is very dominate when attempting to get it. I thought getting two of everything would help but no Harley has to have whatever is in Samson’s mouth. Harley is also very vocal, compared to Sam, and he growls and barks at Sam to get what he wants. when I am with them I am consistent in not allowing this to happen but then Harley will stop and then goes and pushes his butt up against Sam's face (I guess to show his dominance). the growling sounds more aggressive than playful (my parents dog and Sam growl at each other but you can tell they are playing, I can't tell that with Harley). I am at a standstill with how to break Harley of his dominance, growling, somewhat aggressive behavior. I have tried all the things I have read about and seen on this board, he just has such a tenacious personality he just doesn't know when to stop. It can be exhausting constantly being on top of this behavior. My DH said they are just being dogs and it’s ok for them to growl and fight over the toy but this just seems more aggressive and I am not so sure. It took me a while to bond with and love Harley but I truly know this dog brings other positive things to my live but I need help stopping this behavior before Harley becomes a Cesar Millian candidate. Help I need some creative suggestions for how to correct this.
__________________ Cris --Mom to Samson and Harley and Josie the pitbull |
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04-10-2009, 06:57 AM | #2 |
owned by my monkeys Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: far north dallas, texas
Posts: 1,866
| my kids never growl or snap at one another because i would never allow it. they play growl when they are running around but even then, if i think it might be getting out of hand, i clap my hands or make a loud sound to distract them this is JMO but i would definitely address this and stay on top of it now so you can get rid of any potential aggression. probably what i would do is if i heard one of them mean growl at the other (for any reason, even over a toy), i would pick them up, put their face very close to mine and calmly but in a very serious manner, say "no." i will not stand for any type of aggression in any of my kids. none of my kids have problems with food aggression or play aggression or toy aggression. two of them started fighting over a toy earlier in the week (it was not even really aggressive fighting) and i broke that up REAL fast. hope that helps a little bit! and again all of this is JMO
__________________ lyn ~ miss buffey, sir bentley and baby bree ~ RIP sweet gino - mommy will always love you please click to give FREE food - the animal rescue site |
04-10-2009, 07:03 AM | #3 |
YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix
Posts: 445
| I totally agree with your viewpoint and do all the things you said to do, he is soooooo stubborn it is unbelievable. I even have the water bottle with pennies in it and shake it everytime I hear him getting agressive, I clap my hands also, especially when he is pushing is butt up against Sam's face. He just doesn't seem to care. Sometimes he waits, like a cat, and pounces on Sam. He is young I understand that but he just doesn't seem to get this is not appropriate behavior.
__________________ Cris --Mom to Samson and Harley and Josie the pitbull |
04-10-2009, 07:03 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TX
Posts: 3,358
| I have this very same issue with Gracie Ruth and Yogi. Yogi is very toy possessive. It doesn't matter that the exact same toy is laying right by him, he'll want the one that G has. We've been telling him no and moving him away from G when he goes after her toy. We'll offer him the other toy, which he rarely wants. It's been about 2 months now and he will totally leave her alone when she is playing with Piggy. He's still learning when she has "the bone" or Fish-Fish. But he is learning. I just have to say, Yogi, no. and he'll usually leave G alone. Of course I'm having to say it a bagillion times some nights. Yesterday, after I said it, I noticed he was just laying down right in front of her, just staring at her. I'm not sure what fun it could be chewing on a toy with someone just staring at you, but at least he wasn't stealing it from her. If she leaves the toy then it's fair game and he can have it then. She's starting to learn she needs to take it with her to get a drink of water if she still wants it. Of course there are times that they are playing Keep Away on purpose and I won't stop that. The trick is to know when it's the game and when it's not. As for the growling, if you question if it's a real growl or play, then I'd say step in and break it up. I can usually tell the difference in the tone with my 2. But if there is ever a question I usually just tell them to knock it off.
__________________ If you think dogs can't count, put 3 biscuits in your pocket, then give him only 2. Gracie Ruth & Boo & Yogi & RIP Annie B. & Bonnie Lane |
04-10-2009, 08:57 AM | #5 | |
YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix
Posts: 445
| Quote:
__________________ Cris --Mom to Samson and Harley and Josie the pitbull | |
04-10-2009, 09:00 AM | #6 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami, FL,USA
Posts: 1,005
| I have two littermate boys They are about 6 months old right now and they play fight all day long Sometimes youd think someone was getting killed but I can tell by their growls when its getting out of control if you have two pups Youre not going to be able to stop all the growling its how dogs communicate but if it every gets to where you hear yelps That needs to stop
__________________ Mike and Zach's Dadd |
04-10-2009, 09:12 AM | #7 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| Mine growl at each other all the time when they play also one always wants the toy the other one has. If ever heard one yelp I would intervene but they never had. i just think your pups are playing
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04-10-2009, 09:55 AM | #8 |
YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix
Posts: 445
| I think that is part of the problem, Harley is very vocal that he yelps for anything and Samson will never yelp. Sam even spained his leg once and never yelped when he was hurt, when the vet was checking it, or moving his leg. Harley goes for the tender parts of Sam (ears and hind legs) and bits but Sam would never make a noise. If Sam even comes near Harley with a toy he yelps (Sam could be 3 feet away so I know he didn't touch Harley) but Harley knows if he yelps, even if he wasn't touched, then Sam will back off. The problem is I need Harley to back off from Sam not the other way around. There are times when Sam has had enough but it takes A LOT for him to get to this point. I will continue to work with Harley, I am registering him today in an AKC obedience class that starts next week. thanks for everyone's advice, I really do appreciate it!
__________________ Cris --Mom to Samson and Harley and Josie the pitbull |
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