Within the past week or two, my Beagle pup has begun having "episodes" where he will get aggressive and start mounting, nipping, and biting. He becomes almost uncontrollable, despite my efforts at calming him down and using positive re-inforcements. He is not territorial or possessive, and is a good dog (he will let me give him belly rubs and pet him and so on and so forth, he is not a naturally aggressive dog, until he gets into these hyper moods). I am doing my best to show him that I am the boss (making him sit before he gets any food, walking out of the door before he does, correcting him positively, etc.) but I am running out of ideas. Please help??
Answers:
At the age of 4 months, it is not dominance, it's puppyhood and lack of real corrections. The "positive only crap does not work, you have seen this now. Start by applying real corrections with a leash and a collar and get in some OB classes. That would help you too.
It sounds behavorial. Have you talked to your vet? Are you sure he's not having a seizure? Is he food aggressive? Is there anything you can link to setting it off? I would definately talk to my vet.
All dogs are pack animals and very social, in a pack(you are now in the pack ya know!)A pup needs to find where his place is, and given the chance he will try to be pack leader(the boss)continue what you are doing, you are asserting to him you are boss, when he gives you negative behavior give him a time out, when he calms down let him out, he will start to understand that this behavior is not acceptable, and realize when he acts that way he is put out of the pack so to speak...GL Thumper
Greekman knows what he is talking about when it comes to training. There is nothing I could add, except listen to him!
More excercise
You have to let him know you are the pack leader. It sounds weird but try to act like a dog!! Start by spitting in his food before he eats it--in the dog world the pack leader always eats the food first and then the others get the leftovers which would have the pack leaders saliva on it. Consistency is the key when it comes to changing this behavior. Growl at him as a pack leader would do, use your hand as if it were a mouth and give him a quick firm grab over the mouth. Do not let him get away with his behavior as it could escalate. Only give praise when the dog is being submissive. I will always suggest watching the dog whisperer. Cesar is amazing and he has helped this 120lb girl keep a handle on an over 80 pound weimaraner.
Greekman is correct. While positive reinforcement is a powerful tool, there comes a time when no simply means no and stop means stop. If being positive isn't working, then find another technique. A very simple method is getting an empty coke can and filling it with some coins. When your puppy gets this way (and keep in mind, he is still a puppy! He is learning more and more about his surroundings every day and is testing the waters as he gets older), shake the can. It's a sound he is not going to like. It's not cruel. But it is something negative. If you are concerned with going to far I want to remind you that dogs are not people: you cannot have conversations with them about why what they are doing is wrong. At some point, you must take control. If you can do so in a positive way - more power to you, but if that isn't working, you MUST find a new technique that will work.
I also recommend obedience classes - they are a great way to "show dominance (as you call it)", to form strong bonds, to learn new things, and to get new technique ideas for waht to do when your puppy misbehaves.
Yeah, I am w/ Greekman.. Correct the imappropriate behaviour.. And the food thing? Don't bother him about it?? Don't allow him to possess food or anything else.. This will only get worse and move to other things in the house..
he need choke chain , and tons of work , he need t olearn , no means no , or he will be corrected ,
4ths old is very young , for dominance issues, he sounds like , he not trained, and out of control , to regain it ,
he needs trained, every time he try s to bite, give him a hard correction , he got to stop this before , before he gets to about 12 mths old , breck it down , . let him miss a meal. then start training for the heel, jusy walk with him , and see what happens, im sure he will try and bite, but im sure you will correct him , only heel him till he stop biteing ,pulling ,or any other unwanted crap ,then you can move on to the sit ,
Greekman is right about leash corrections. He is a great trainer. They don't have to be mean, just assured, so he understands that you are the boss.
As far as the food issue. You need to only feed him by hand and don't let him nip or be dominant to you. He needs to know that you own the food, and he is living in subjection to you. So you eat. And then feed him a bit at a time if he is gentile. Don't let him nip you.
Some dogs just have dominant tendencies due to their genetic makeup, but that doesn't usually happen in beagles and not this young.
The good thing about OB is it also trains the owner. Greekman is correct. Listen to him. If you don't there will be a major problem.
Greekman is absolutely right -- you should listen to him. I've used him personally and he knows what he's doing...
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