Puppy Play Question

[monkeymoose]

Hi all! I have a couple of quick questions about playing with our 8 month puppy. His name is Bailey and he is a Cocker Spaniel cross.

When we play with him in the house, we give him a rubber tug toy. He's good at destroying all of his toys so that is why we put it away after playing. The question i have though is he likes to take the tug and sit and chew it. When we go to grab at it he will growl (harmless i know) and run off with it, like he wants us to chase him (which we do). I can eventually get it off him and put it away (even though he looks at you like we have done the worst thing in in world) but what i want to know is are we creating aggressive behaviour by playing with him this away?

Also, he is starting to get a bit bitey lately. Nothing hard but he is getting a bit snappy. What's the best way to curb this?

Thanks for your help!

p.s. I have attached a photo of Bailey. Oscar our cat is in the background.

[Joan of Arc]

Well I'm no expert in animal behaviour but I wouldn't allow one of my dogs to growl at me, even if they or I thought it was at play.

When you want to take the toy off him, try offering him a piece of bait - sausage, dog biscuit, meat ,cheese - you get the idea. As soon as he smells the bait he will become interested in complying. Put the bait under his nose with one hand, say "give" or "release" what ever you choose and then as soon as he releases the tug toy use a brideg word so he knows he has been good. I simply say 'yes' but others use 'bingo' or what ever, and as soon as he releases it, say 'yes' and treat him to his sausage.

Eventually he will associate giving the toy to you with something good and the growling will stop. But you have to repeat this exercise for about 3 minutes at least twice a day until he does it automatically.

Good luck.

[lovemesideways]

The growling could either be a Play growl, (as in, chase me! play with me!) Or it could be a possesive growl. ( as in, im warning you this toy is mine so leave it alone) Which is not good behaviour.

A good training technique is to get some treats that smell (cheese works for me). Then give him a favourite toy. (Possibly put him on a lead if you think hes going to run off) soon as he starts chewing/playing with the toy. Wave the treat around infront of his nose to get his attention. Say, leave it (or whatever command you want), as soon as he drops the toy for the treat, good boy, give treat. take toy. and repeat.

Practice it as part of your normal training routine. (I did it with my 6 month old lab, when we first gave him a chicken wing he tried to swallow the WHOLE thing in one go. So learning to spit out whatever was in his mouth was definetly needed )

Snappy when? When your just petting him, or when playing? Or just chewing on you in general?

(Hes very pretty btw :D I love the spaniel ears!)

Edited May 27, 2008 by Jen Martin

[Luke W]

I wouldn't encourage the chasing. Don't chase him. It's a hugely fun game for a dog but not one I'd want to play for the rest of my life.

If he runs away with his toy, turn your back and walk away. Eventually he'll get the message that it's more fun to bring toys to you rather than run away with them.

[Kavik]

I agree with the others - I would not encourage the running away. How about teaching him to fetch the toy? Then he can chase the toy and bring it back and get exercise and mental stimulation. The growl as mentioned above could just be play but could be possessive/resource guarding which is not good.

[charli73]

Our dog is very possessive with toys, if shes getting too rough I will take it put it away in the cupboard, and she then barks at me but I agnore her.. This is to teach her that I am the leader and I govern playtime, not the other way around..

Same as if she brings a toy to me and puts it in my lap, I will choose a toy I want to play with, not her... This will let puppy know who the boss is...

And she loves to be chased so she pinches stuff and then waits for us to chase her to grab it ie. socks and hubbys ventolin..

And then we play with something else to distract her and she will drop the sock and forget about it for a bit then we pick it up.....

[persephone]

he will growl (harmless i know)

Not really... he growls..he gets to keep his toy... he runs, you chase.

HE is dictating the game rules!!!!

Not a good thing, to let a teenage male tell YOU what to do

Give him things he can chew ..kongs, bones etc. these are 'his'....to vhew, not play chasey with.

Toys you want to put away... as said..teach him to 'swap'

All ours will 'swap'.. toys, contraband, meat,bones... and it makes life so much easier!

Use a key word..swap. gimme, leave... whatever.

Do NOT attempt to grab!!!

show him the really yummy treat..

make sure his attention is on it, and you.

get down to his level....

offer the treat..say your keyword.. and the INSTANT he gives you, or drops the toy, praise him, and give him the treat.Even if you don't pick the toy up first go..you have taught him that it's Ok to let go... you are being 'fair' :D

Soon..he will willingly offer up HIS prize for praise/treat

I always say to my dogs... "I'll put this away for later"....

When they hear that, they don't worry, and know that, for now, the game is over.