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My dog is 6 months old and I think it's just a biting stage but I am not sure. He is snapping, biting and attacking. I would try to take a tissue he has grabbed out of the trash and he snapped at me and made me bleed. Is there anything I can do? I don't want to give him up and I won't. That is bad, I took this dog my love into this house of mine for me to keep and love. I will NOT give him up. Can you please help me? ~ Bleedin' Dear Bleedin' Sounds like you have some major problems. Sometimes we labs are a very dominant lot, and like to walk all over our moms and dads. Some of us do it subtly and some not so subtly. Sounds to me like you might need a good trainer in your area to help you out. If you can't find one, look around for a behaviorist. You need to learn to be an "alpha", something your dog thinks you are not doing.... so he intends to take that job over. Lots of people think Alpha is something that just happens, but it's a behavior pattern that you develop over time. It's not natural to some people. The best thing you can do is find a behaviorist, and to also do some research on your own. My Mom has a recommended reading site. The more you read, the more confident you will be in your own behavior. Mom says humans seem to do better when they UNDERSTAND what they are doing, instead of just doing what the trainer says to do. I don't know, me, I just do what mom says cause she is BOSS, and that means what she says goes. It's cause she knows how to be an alpha. So does my big sister Lisa. If I get too snotty she corrects me too... I don't like it any, but I know, I'm still a baby and she is older and wiser (especially the older part. LOL). Good luck! ~ Blackjack Hi, I am a new lab owner. My little guy is 7 weeks old. I have had him one week. Seems that the potty training is going backward....I do not use a crate, maybe I should? Also, this past week he has become more distressed, or so it seems., I find him having trouble settling down to rest, constantly popping up and whimpering. I may have spoiled him a little...maybe he just missed me. He seem to be panting more than last week also...like he is trying to get more air....he has plently of room in my large kitched which is where he is most of the time....and plently of water and air.....PLEASE RESPOND WITH ANY TIPS! THANK YOU MUCH ~ Irish Eyes Hi Irish! Congrats on your new little boy. Alot of people seem to think potty training is somethng that happens quickly, however on average, most are not potty trained till about 6-8 months old, with some even later. So remember to be more patient. Puppies also like to be with their Mom's and Dad's, so it's best if you allow that in a way that is beneficial to both of you. To stop the whining and whimpering while you are busy around the house, AND to potty train him at the same time, put him on a 6 foot leash. Attach the other end of the leash to your waist. Then, wherever YOU go, he goes, and he can't get into ANY trouble that way. If you see him sniffing as if to go potty, run him outside fast! Most pups need to go potty anywhere from every 15 minutes to every hour at this age. So don't be surprised if you find yourself feeling like a bouncing ball. It's normal. :) My Mom said when she was potty training me, she was all worned out because she kept having to run up and down the stairs. As for the panting, he's probably doing that because it's warm. Summer is on it's way and we lab pups seem to have more problems with the heat than the older dogs. I used to sleep wrapped around a frozen pop bottle because I was so hot as a baby! Good luck! ~ Blackjack. Promotional items printed for corporate gifts and promotions. I have a 10 week old lab puppy. I take her out when I am supposed to according to all of the books....however, she uses time outside for play and doesn't finish her business. Therefore, I come back in the house and discover little surprises hidden. She has done this up to three times a day in the house. I am getting really discouraged. I don't spank her or yell if she did it while I didn't see. But, I thought she would have caught on by now...all of my other dogs understood this concept in about a week. HELP ME!!!! Hi! Boy, I've been hearing this lots lately. First let me say congratulations on your new baby. I bet she is very cute. Anyway, she IS just a baby. Labbies (and all puppies) are not fully housetrained till 6 months to a year, depending on the puppy. There ARE exceptions to that rule, but in general we pupsters don't have the mental "stamina" to be fully reliable till then. I was 7 months old myself. It turned out mom didn't realize how often I would have to go either. So here is what she did, and what you can do. Put a leash on your baby, attach the other end of the leash till your beltloop. This does two things: it helps your puppy to bond with you, and helps you to know where your puppy is at all times. This means if your puppy has an accident it is YOUR fault, and you can rush her out the door. I'm glad you don't spank her if you don't see it, but you shouldn't spank her at all. Doggies don't understand getting spanked. If you catch her in the act (attached to your leash), just say "NO! OUTSIDE", and run her outside. You can put a bell on your door, and ring it every time you open it. This will later teach her to ring it when she needs to go out. Puppies can sometimes go potty lots more than the books say. I needed to go very 10-15 minutes myself. When Mommie did this she was surprised, and at first worried, but I'm ok. Nothing was wrong with me, I just liked to go potty all the time. SO, Mommie took me out every 10-15 minutes until I had NO ACCIDENTS for over a week. Then she took me off the leash, but still watched me "like a hawk" and took me out every 15-20 minutes. Finally I learned to let Mommie know when I was ready to go. I still wasn't reliable though, because once Daddy left me out of my kennel and went to the store for 15 minutes. While he was gone, I pottied on the floor while he was gone. Just to be safe, Mommie STILL won't leave me out when she's not home. But I have gotten where I can go all night while sleeping curled up against Mommie's leg now, but I'm a big boy now. I'm 9 months old! Good luck! ~ Blackjack This Toronto e s c o r t website features best reviews in industry. Hewwo Blackjack, Hello Shadow! Thank you for the compliments. My Mom and I work real hard on these pages, but they are fun too. Now about your problem,,, my big sister likes to eat grass too. She eats it especially if she is excited. Dogs are not just omnivores, but eat veggies too. And grass is considered a veggie. Now dead grass doesn't have alot of vitamins in it though. It's ok to eat it, but it's not really any better for you than NOT eating it, since it's dead stuff. Your dad COULD teach you a no sniff command, and when you get really bad about it, he can make you stop, but it's not a big deal. And aren't crates WONDERFUL? I love mine! Mommie says when it's time to go, and I always go and open my own door and go inside. I love my crate! ~ Blackjack My 10 month old neutered male black lab alway greets me after several hours apart by trying to get at my mouthe. He either tries to kiss my lips or he tries
(really gentle) to grab my bottom lip in his teeth. He follows me everywhere I go and will even "exhale heavily and whine" if I dont let him in a room with me. He sleeps on my side of the bed with his head on my legs and is for the most
part my shadow. Dear Kissiepooh It's normal for doggies of all breeds to do this. They are trying to say Hi. In the wild, when doggies greet the "alpha" back from a trip out, they always lick the mouth, and nibble the lip. Your baby loves you very much and wants to be with you. :) He loves your husband just as much, but in a different way. Hugs to him! ~ Blackjack
I have a 1 and 1/2 year old lab and lately she's been growling at people whenever she is laying down or doesn't want to be bothered. any suggestions on how we might be able to get her to stop. thanks. Jumba. Dear Jumba, Your girl has started to grow up, and is a bit big for her "britches". Just like a young girl entering adulthood, she thinks she's more mature than she is, and wishes to challenge for dominance. She's telling ya that she doesn't want to be bothered, but only the ALPHA gets to do that in any household. Man, My mom would go BALLISTIC if Lisa or I did that! In our house we'd be on our backs faster than we could blink our eyes. You need to find a way to remind her of her lowly position in the household, and she will settle back. Here is an article called "Who's in Charge Here Anyway". My Mom said to make sure you knew she did not write this, but it's a good article anyway. Good Luck! ~ Blackjack I've had Albee from a puppy. He was rather shy and afraid of almost everything--noises, vacuum cleaner, TV etc. He is not a real confident dog. Dear Albee's Mom. First, let me say Momma really likes the name Albee. she used to know another doggie with that name. Momma has been really concerned about the problem you are having, and she shared your message with some friends to see what they thought too. Now let me tell you that none are vets, but all were obedience people. Momma is concerned that Albee may have a vision problem. She says she knew a dog that used to do this many years ago. His name was Gritty pig. Gritty Pig was blind in one eye, and deaf in both ears. He loved people, but if you made sudden moves he would attack. With your boy it sounds as if he can hear, because the TV bothers him, but he may have trouble associating sound with the actual "Cause", because of limited vision. If the motion comes from the wrong side, or say he has "tunnel vision", he could be suddenly startled by events in his life. This can be really scary. People don't realize how much doggies DO rely upon eyesight. Everyone thinks they rely only on their nose. This is far from the truth. My own big sister relies on her eyes too much and almost bit someone she luvs very much. All because he was somewhere he was not expected to be, and should not have been. Once he spoke to her, and she HEARD him, she was ok, but prior to that she was trying to bite, and he said he was REALLY Scared. The Lowering of Albee's body indicates fear, not protection or dominance. The bite to your nephew was caused entirely from fear. This leads mommie and I to think that maybe something startled him. Since Albee accepted him immediately thereafter, it sounds as if it was not his clothes, or "cologne" or other thing, but perhaps he didn't SEE him or he moved too sudden for Albee's taste. The fence fighting is a mere natural protective instinct. It's best to not leave him outside unsupervised. Some dogs think their own property is their castle. You need to go to him, say something like "Thank you. I've got it now", and you get to take over. It's ok to bark, but not ok to CONTINUE barking. Once he realizes you are praising for the FIRST few barks, but not the rest, he'll get the picture. So, our recommendations are to first, get the vet to check out his hearing and eyesight. Do a full "blood panel" to look for other conditions that can cause aggression. Ensure you are using only natural cleaning products, and not leaving those "drop ins" in your toilet, and he drinks the water. Many things can cause "reactions" in a dog's body that causes them to be irritable. Just like people can get irritable because of food allergies and such. Make sure he's on a good quality food, probably a more "natural" food, that has less chemicals and processing. Many dogs with aggression decrease when using "BARF". Lots of work, but the rewards are excellent. Also, continue with a behaviorist, who can help you work thru the situation. It's too hard for Mom and I to give training advice for aggression on the computer... but we can recommend Boot Camp for Dogs . Good luck! And don't give up... but do remember, some dogs are just naturally "nervous" creatures, and need us to just train them to proper behavior. ~ Blackjack BlackJack, Bailey, Sounds to me as if you are getting used to the house. It's scary to move, and alot of new sounds, smells, and sights. Your mom can help you by finding you something to occupy your time (like a stuffed kong) , and have someone stop in at least once in the middle of the day. Another thing your mom can do is take a day or two when off work, to pretend to leave. When she does, if you stop barking, she can be hiding outside, and can fuss at you. Then when you are quiet, she can give you praise for being extra good. :) I know it takes time, but moving is very stressful on us doggies, and moms and dads forget how much so. Good luck! ~ Blackjack Hi BlackJack, Hi Confused. Well thank you very much for the compliment. Mom says I'm gorgeous, but that she's "Biased". I don't think so. I like to admire myself in the mirror all the time. Mom asks me if I like that "pretty boy in the mirror", and Daddy teases me saying I'm "stuck up". Anyway, on to your question. There are lots of differences between goldens and labs, but the most obvious is the hair. Golden Retrievers have long, beautiful hair. Mom says it's why she doesn't have one: They need brushing all the time. Their hair is about 4" in length or so when they are full grown. Yellow labs have the short, dense, double coat, where the longest hairs are never more than 3/4" - 1" in length. It never gets "matted", but we do "blow coat" in chunks lots. It comes out in fuzzy balls, especially on our butts and back legs. Labs also tend to be more "retriever" oriented. We are OBSESSED by balls,,, we could chase them ALL day! Goldens are a bit more quiet that way. Here is a link to a pic of a beautiful golden named Sammy. Sammy as of 21 April, is up for adoption in North Carolina, thru NC Golden Retriever Rescue. Here is a pic of Cosmo and Aruba, 2 beautiful labbies up for adoption in California. You can learn about them at Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue in California. So have fun! And decide what is best for you. I'm kinda partial to labbies. Oops, I AM a labby! ~ Blackjack Three weeks ago we got a new black lab puppy, and he is now almost twelve weeks old. We also have a male bassett hound who is six years old. The bassett hound has done well with the puppy, Dear Growly, Congratulations on your new baby! Your Basset Hound sounds VERY patient. My big sister was not so patient with me when I came, she used to growl at me lots. It was scary at first, but she never hurt me, and it taught me to behave myself around her. She seemed REALLY mean at first, but now she's my bestest friend! Older dogs usually allow babies to get away with lots, until they are about 8 months old. Humans call it "puppy license". I don't have my puppy license no more. :( I miss it. Now I have to be a good boy around my big sister. She still lets me get away with too much (my mom thinks so anyway). I'd recommend you have "time outs" when it gets too noisy or the older guy gets tired or irritable. During time outs, you have to behave yourself or be put in your kennel for a nap. Time outs are kind of important. They can be used if you start playing too rough too. As for the nipping, I used to do that too. My Mom thought I should have been named Jaws there for a little while. Every time she would reach for me I would try to bite. But momma was smart, she made me behave. She would grab the scruff of my neck on either side of my head. You know, that loose skin just below your ears? And she would growl at me and say "NO BITE". She would make heavy eye contact, and as soon as I looked away (which was pretty fast,,, don't wanna make momma mad) she would let go and say "ok, now go play", and off I would go. It took a while, almost till I was 4 months old before I quit doing that all together. But it sure works, and Mom knows that if I bite, all she has to say is "NO BITE" and I stop IMMEDIATELY. Don't want that eye contact! No way! Means I'm a bad boy, and I like to be a good boy! Good luck! ~ Blackjack
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