Teenage Rotty

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to DOL and was wondering if anyone has any advice. I have a 12 month old Rotty who up until has been fine to take out, but recently has started lunging on the end of the lead at any other male dogs that we are near (within about 2 metres). He used to be fine, and this is a new behaviour. He has been well socialised as youngster (even went to puppy preschool) and we go to obedience on Sunday mornings. he's fine with girls and young dogs, just not mature males. From what I've read this is 'normal' behviour and he's just being a teenager and coming to realise that he's a boy. The problem is that everything that I've read says that I must be firm and not to condone or reinforce the behaviour, but I can't find anything that tells me what I should be doing. The instructor at obedience says that I should only reward good behaviour and ignore the bad or unwanted behaviour, but anyone who knows Rottys would realise that you need to change this behaviour and identify it as unacceptable fairly quickly. I want a socially well adjusted reliable dog that I can take anywhere without worrying about what he might do next. I'm a small person and my dog is growing rapidly, so if for no other reason, I need to get this under control quickly. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Rottdog

[Miss Squish]

hi rottdog, welcome to DOL! i also had the same prob with my male rotty at obedience training when he was about the same age as your boy.i was told by instructors to give him a firm NO!! as i turned him in the other direction & walk away to distract him from the other dog. also be aware when he starts eye balling the other dog & turn him away to break this asap! did take us a few months to get close to other males but he did slowly improve with age. he is now 3.5 & great with most male dogs only 2 that he doesnt like & probably never will! i gave up training my first rotty boy for this reason but was determined to persist with ruger, it payed off & now he is doing so well & has started trialling this year. just wondering if your boy is desexed as my boy was? think if he isnt desexed this may he harder to fix! also ask as many instructors what they think too they are a great help & all have different advice, might give you a different idea that may help! i am also small really had to let ruger know from the start i am the boss! good luck & keep us updated as to how hes going!

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to DOL and was wondering if anyone has any advice. I have a 12 month old Rotty who up until has been fine to take out, but recently has started lunging on the end of the lead at any other male dogs that we are near (within about 2 metres). He used to be fine, and this is a new behaviour. He has been well socialised as youngster (even went to puppy preschool) and we go to obedience on Sunday mornings. he's fine with girls and young dogs, just not mature males. From what I've read this is 'normal' behviour and he's just being a teenager and coming to realise that he's a boy. The problem is that everything that I've read says that I must be firm and not to condone or reinforce the behaviour, but I can't find anything that tells me what I should be doing. The instructor at obedience says that I should only reward good behaviour and ignore the bad or unwanted behaviour, but anyone who knows Rottys would realise that you need to change this behaviour and identify it as unacceptable fairly quickly. I want a socially well adjusted reliable dog that I can take anywhere without worrying about what he might do next. I'm a small person and my dog is growing rapidly, so if for no other reason, I need to get this under control quickly. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Rottdog

[Guest]

Thank you for the welcome. I've started watching his body language and try to anticipate when he's feeling 'stressed' and either put him a 'sit' and reward him heaps for a 'good sit' or we heel off in another direction, but in both instances he keeps wanting to turn around look for the other dog. and no, he's not desexed, as we are also showing him. I will persist too, as I want to be able to trial him when he gets older (and better behaved!), so will keep at it. But just want to make sure that what I'm doing will change the behaviour rather than reinforce it. I read an article about 'onlead aggression' and it says that if I become apprehensive or tighten the lead, then I'm sending the wrong message to him, and he'll look for whatever it is that is making me feel uncomfortable, but it's hard to remain calm when there's every possibily that he's going to have a go at another dog. He's such a sweet, goofy, gentle boy usually, so I've got to get this right for both our sakes.

[Guest]

hi rottdog, welcome to DOL! i also had the same prob with my male rotty at obedience training when he was about the same age as your boy.i was told by instructors to give him a firm NO!! as i turned him in the other direction & walk away to distract him from the other dog. also be aware when he starts eye balling the other dog & turn him away to break this asap! did take us a few months to get close to other males but he did slowly improve with age. he is now 3.5 & great with most male dogs only 2 that he doesnt like & probably never will! i gave up training my first rotty boy for this reason but was determined to persist with ruger, it payed off & now he is doing so well & has started trialling this year. just wondering if your boy is desexed as my boy was? think if he isnt desexed this may he harder to fix! also ask as many instructors what they think too they are a great help & all have different advice, might give you a different idea that may help! i am also small really had to let ruger know from the start i am the boss! good luck & keep us updated as to how hes going!

[Allerzeit]

Have you spoken with his breeder?