This morning I had the opportunity to work with Oakley a six month old Rottweiler/Bulldogge/Heinz 57 pup from Pack9. Here family wanted better manners with the kids and visitors as well as help with her nipping. A close friend was telling me the other day how his four month old puppy did not even need a leash outside. I told him watch what happens at 5-6 months. It is usually about that age when they begin to push boundaries and challenge using the Five Canine Commodities of Food/Water/Space/Toys/& Attention.
When I first went to put the ICL on Oakley she protested with a growl on and a little nip. Mom and Dad said that is what she did on the leash that made her so hard to walk. It continued during the first part of our Silent Loose Lead Walk when I would attempt to adjust the ICL. I made the comment to Mom that we needed to get that under control because if not one day she would go to move her off the couch or bed and she would do the same thing. Mom said she already did that and also with food and toys.
All dogs do it but the Rott/Bully in her increases it. Either you the dog is responding to you or you are responding to the dog. Every time they growl or nip and you hesitate or stop you are enforcing a dangerous behavior that can escalate to a bite. There is no such thing as a dog biting out of nowhere, just like there is no such thing as a person punching out of nowhere. We either do not know that signs or are too emotional and fixated to see them. Behaviors go from a scale from 1-10. Eruption or brewing behaviors like nipping or biting have antecedents such as eye fixation, stiffness, growling, or showing teeth. Recognizing and correcting antecedents decreases the the eruption or brewing behaviors.
The best and safest time to do this is when the dog is 4-6 months before behaviors set in. Success comes from you being the one to set up the challenge. Typically whoever sets up the challenge wins since they choose the time, environment, and measure. With a dog this age you can do it without using a muzzle. A dog that is not challenged by it’s owner is likely to continue to challenge the owner and anyone else it sees as a threat to what they value. Great outcomes are close to 100%. Unfortunately this is seldom the case. We get dogs that are older and have challenged the family to the point where they “don’t trust the dog”. Intervention at this point has to be done by a someone that is not reactive to the dog. Very often this requires a muzzle and my produce varying success based on the ability for the family to continue with the handling and rules, boundaries, and limitations they are taught.
Early training should be all about bonding and relationship. not worrying about getting the dog to sit or laydown. You would be hard pressed to find a dog that has been rehomed because it would not sit or down on command. Yet this continues to be the focus of too many trainers and dog owners a like. The most important things are the least understood and covered in many group classes. Ask yourself “does my dog respond to me, or do I respond to my dog”. There is only one way for it to work. Lead and they will follow.
Now Oakley’s family understands what they need to do to help her become a nice, relaxed adult.