Breaking Puppy with attitude

[kirkl]

How do you break a puppy with an attitude already. I threw an egg from the chicken house into the field and forgot about, so me and pup went to check the berries and he found it and started licking it. well i tried calling him off it and he didnt budge so i grabbed his neck to pull him off and he was growling and i held him to the ground and chewed on him a little and let him go, well he followed me a little bit then went back so i did the same thing, he was growling and kinda showing his teeth when i had him pinned down, he was pretty mad.  What would you do, hes only about 9 weeks old.  Hes a stubborn little guy.  German short hair by the way.

[Wayne1]

Dang...  generally the Alfa roll work's..  when you pin him down..   do you yell "NO" real loud and Growl back at him ?...  Keep staring at him till he look's away...  the one to loose eye contact first loose's

[kirkl]

I yelled no but didnt growl at him.  I may have to try it again just to let him knows whos boss.

[Wayne1]

yup...  you do the deep mean growl

[Wayne1]

pup 9 week's old is way to young for an e collar

[WAcoyotehunter]

I would spank his ass and be the boss for a while.  Make sure they know that you're the boss.  Put your hands in and around his food and toys and if he does ANYTHING aggressive beat his butt and give a good man shout.   Also start working on his feet, ears, and mouth to get him used to being handled and worked with, any aggression gets the above mentioned treatment.

[Intruder]

Dang...  generally the Alfa roll work's..  when you pin him down..   do you yell "NO" real loud and Growl back at him ?...  Keep staring at him till he look's away...  the one to loose eye contact first loose's

I agree.  Being very forceful with him is likely gonna have to be the way you operate.  Periodically just grab him by the scruff and literally hold him down.... even when he's not doing anything wrong.  Don't hurt him but just completely dominate him.  If he struggles or growls just give it to him harder.  You need to establish your dominant role with him or trainin him is gonna be a bitch.

I don't know if this really works but I was told by an old timer that you should also spit in your pups mouth now and again.  He told me it helps the dog bond with you.  Don't know if it works but I've always done it w/ my pups.  

Eventually a shock collar may be in order but I'd caution on using it on young dogs.  They are a correction tool not a training tool nor a punishment tool.  They should only be used on behaviors they've already learned.  Just like shock collars aren't right for all dogs, they don't fit well with all trainers.  Some guys just get too mad and too frustrated and they end up using the collar too often.  That being said, most of the best shorthairs I've seen have had the collar used on em quite a bit.    

[kirkl]

Thanks guys, i will try all of that, i wasnt gonna do the e collar, i knew he was to young for that.

[DeKuma]

First time I have ever heard of "Spitting" in your dogs mouth......
Maybe I should just piss on my wifes dog, since he is always doing that to everything!

[Wayne1]

Good Luck kirkl ....  ya just need to stay on top of it...   let us know how he's progressing.....  and Have fun with your new dog...   their only a pup once..

[T-ROY]

wait tell i come over there for a scouting trip befoer you growl at him kirk, i want to get it on video.

[tbotts]

Check this website:  Leerburg.com and order these dvds: "your puppy, 8 weeks to 8 months" and "basic dog obedience" .  Very good info on training your dog.  I used these to obedience train my lab, and I am very satisfied with the results.
There is also numerous articles to read on the website.
Two things that He doesn't recommend is the "alpha roll" and fighting your dog for food.  No reason for it.  If your dog is food aggressive, just feed him in a crate so no one can bother him, and problem solved.

[Wayne1]

you can get 10 different method's from 10 different trainer's....   1 will tell you to do it...   next one will tell you not to

[kirkl]

tbotts, if hes be aggresive now whats he going to do when he learns to hunt and fetches a bird for me. He will think its his. Am i suppose to leave him in the box.  I had a bird dog couple years ago (that someone gave to me) and when i threw a bird wing for her she wouldnt give it up, just growl at me when i tried to take it. I got rid of her and i dont want this pup to be that way.

[tlbradford]

I follow the same school of training that wacoyotehunter does.  Hand on the back of the neck shows your dominance.  Hand on the throat with them on their back should have them completely subdued.  Something soft to beat on them a little always helps with an agressive voice, but no strikes near the head.  I always want any aggression in that dog towards me completely gone, and saved for the field.  I have always purposely goaded my pups into nipping at me over food or toys so I could let them know who is the boss.  Handling them constantly while checking their ears, feet, mouths, etc. is a must.  I would also be very careful on how you play with this puppy.  No wrestling or rough housing because it will just confuse him.

With a different breed I would have different advice because some don't lend themselves to being heavy handed (ie: britneys) 

[Wayne1]

when i threw a bird wing for her she wouldnt give it up, just growl at me when i tried to take it. I got rid of her and i dont want this pup to be that way.

What I've always done when this happen's...is grab the loose skin on the side, just in front of the hind quarter's...  they'll drop what ever's in their mouth. Only take's a couple time's and they get the idea what "Give", "release","Drop", or what ever verbal comand your using means

[Ellensburg]

From a young age I always started putting my hand near their food. If they growel, they don't get their food. They have to get used to you (master) having control of what goes in and out of their mouth...

I've never really had a problem making my doggy drop but when he does, I squeez his cheeks/jowels against his teeth until he lets go and then praise. works like a charm.

[tlbradford]

when i threw a bird wing for her she wouldnt give it up, just growl at me when i tried to take it. I got rid of her and i dont want this pup to be that way.

What I've always done when this happen's...is grab the loose skin on the side, just in front of the hind quarter's...  they'll drop what ever's in their mouth. Only take's a couple time's and they get the idea what "Give", "release","Drop", or what ever verbal comand your using means

 

And when they nip at your hand that just pinched them, it provides another training opportunity.

[Wayne1]

And when they nip at your hand that just pinched them, it provides another training opportunity.

Guess I never ran into that problem

[kirkl]

Ive been putting my hand in his food dish and stirring it around while hes eating and he doesnt do anything then.

[strutnrut]

Don't growl just as soon as it happens put the dog on its back hold his head down with your free hand, but you do yell no in a sharp crisp voice then walk by whatever he's trying to get if he passes it praise him lots of attention this will fix your problem

[tbotts]

Sorry!  I gave you some wrong info.
 I went to the website and reread the article and feeding your dog in the crate is if your dog does grow up to be food aggressive.   This doesn't apply to your pup.  The article does state that you are on the right track by stirring his food with your hand.  

[Wayne1]

Kirkl...  You know your pup best, and know how much pressure he take's, better than any of us. If there's a training group in your area, you might want to get ahold of some members there, and get their advice. If your interested in training your pup, either just for obedience, or hunting, ask if you can join their group. There are NAHRA, AKC, HRC, club's around the state...  if you have any trouble finding one, let me know, and I can get you a few name's to contact.