Pup Barking/ Growling... And Training Not For 2 More Weeks!

[gmc]

Hi All

I have a 10 week old GR girl. I am booked in for the info session at 4Paws K9 Training this coming Saturday which hopefully means she will be in puppy school weekly in 2 weeks time. But I am worried I am losing ground in the meantime and she is developing some behaviours I need to nip in the bud.

Mainly it stems from when we discourage a behaviour, i.e. jumping on the couch when we are sitting down. When she does this I try a few firm "No's" and this pretty much never works. I have tried then totally ignoring her/ or putting my hand around her muzzle (gently) and telling her "No" which I read on a website this week. Eventually one of these two will work but before she backs off she will sit directly in front of me and bark and GROWL at me (in a way I dont think is playful!). When she sits quietly next to the couch I always reward her, but that is very rare!

I am worried about the barking/ growling, she pretty much does it when she is unhappy with anything or rather, anyone... does anyone have any suggestions before we get some professional advice in 2 weeks time?

THANKS again DOL'ers.

[persephone]

Hi.

put her leash & collar on when she is indoors with you ..that way YOU have control of what she does easy !

You may want to make a rule and stick to it... consistency is important- especially to a baby.

Iwould also suggest starting THIS ... now! it will benefit you both, I think

The problem with this..

Eventually one of these two will work

is the word "eventually"

She is being taught that after you saying "no" , or OFF.. 2,3,4,7 times ...THEN she stops what she's doing ...not stop after you say it ONCE !! They pick this up quickly ;(

have a read HERE..too

Edited January 12, 2009 by persephone

[gmc]

Hi.

put her leash & collar on when she is indoors with you ..that way YOU have control of what she does easy !

You may want to make a rule and stick to it... consistency is important- especially to a baby.

Iwould also suggest starting THIS ... now! it will benefit you both, I think

The problem with this..

Eventually one of these two will work

is the word "eventually"

She is being taught that after you saying "no" , or OFF.. 2,3,4,7 times ...THEN she stops what she's doing ...not stop after you say it ONCE !! They pick this up quickly ;(

have a read HERE..too

Persephone - both fabulous posts - thanks so much. I am going to try the TOT I think.

[Kavik]

Why are you putting your hand around her muzzle when she gets on the couch? She has found somewhere comfy to relax. Your job is to show her the appropriate place for her to relax (assuming you don't want her on the couch) .

A good way to do this is to have a mat where she can lie down in the room where the couch is, and to teach her to go to her mat on command. There are several ways to do this, I simply lured them onto a mat with food and rewarded, then added a drop in there. You can also clicker train it. Then you can send her to her mat instead of having her jump on the couch. Mine will now happily go their mat when let inside and do not try to get on the couch (unless invited up by us).

Meanwhile I would simply have a treat and when she jumps on the couch, tell her 'off' or whatever you want to use, and get her off that way. A lead helps too, you can then prevent her from getting up there in the first place.

[corvus]

A puppy pen or crate would also help. Remember that she's only a baby and isn't very good at self control yet. It sounds like she growls and barks in frustration. As long as it doesn't result in her getting what she wants I don't think it's a problem. Puppies do a lot of wildly obnoxious things in the interests of getting some attention/treats/dinner or whatever else they want to do. They will extinguish on their own if you ignore them.

In the meantime, don't bother telling her anything unless you can see she's about to do what you want her to! She has to learn what all these words mean. When I was teaching Kivi Tarro a leave it noise "ah-ah!" in our case, then I had to make sure I followed it up every time I said it and make sure he stopped what he was doing. I just blocked him with my body and if he was really keen, walked him backwards by shuffling into his space. It takes a while to condition something like that without physical punishments, but Kivi will now usually back off and find something else to do when I cry "ah-ah".

It also helps if you can tell them what they should be doing. Asking for a sit is good to get their focus and teach them that they can get what they want if they do what they're told.