KatTess

Hi everyone. I just have a question about puppies growling. My new little girl is just 12 wks old. And this weekend she growled at me in 2 separate instances. Which really surprised me, I've had a dalmatian, 2 dobermans and a collie and never had any of my dogs growl at me, let alone a puppy. The 1st time I was trying to take my nieces sock away from her. The second time I had given her a bone to chew on while I cleaned her ears before reposting. Is this normal and she is just testing the waters or is she just a very dominate puppy? I put her down on her side and told her no growl. Is there anything else I should have done? And, if she is a dominate girl, should I start NILIF or is that overkill for a puppy?

I'm just curious to get others opinions and experiences. Like I said my other dobes never growled at me, and I wouldn't have called them submissive either.

Andrea

Dobejazz

I'm sorry I don't have puppy experience but I can at least give you a bump

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CoAl-s-Mom

Ahem. she probably growled at you because you haven't given her a name yet! I'm kidding!

I practice NILIF on all my dogs/puppies. I think that's a very good start.

This may not be a popular opinion, but I'm also a believer in scruffing along with a nice loud Ack, a sound like the dam would make while correcting a puppy. I think our pups are still young enough for this.

But first I would call/email Ali and get her opinions.

Good luck with her!

Patches Mom

Ticklish situation growling is how they warn you they do not like what you are doing sometimes if you take away the growl you may have a puppy that just will bite with no warning??? Or a full grown Doberman did you try to distract her instead would not think holding her down & telling her no growl would be good for bonding with a 12 week old puppy. They have fear imprint issues you would not want to do that during one of those phases in a puppy's life. You do not want her to fear humans and possible become a fear biter in the future its like I can't trust humans I got into trouble for growling so I will not tell them first I will just bite first.Just my thoughts on it good luck with you new baby.
Patches Mom

BackInBlack

I agree.

Ziris did the growl thing the first time I cleaned and posted her ears. Depending on her temperament, you may just be able to TOTALLY ignore it. She might be trying to get a rise out of you, and if you make a big deal of it and stop whatever it is that she doesnt want you to do, then she is getting the response that she wants.

I kind of feel the same way about this as I do the nail trimming......Cleaning/Posting Ears is a way of life and that is just how it is Fight me .... have at it, but I am bigger

I do the neck scruff thing also, it works for me. As long as it is not taken overboard I see nothing wrong with it. It seems to get the point across.

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rltriplett

Yeah

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KatTess

Thanks everybody for your input!

1st - I did name her. I should start a new thread with an introduction and more pictures. Her name is Tali, short for Taliesin. I'm not totally decided on a registered name yet, but I like the sound of Taliesin and believe you need a good long name for scolding (later when they have figured out their names )

2nd - I did talk to Ali, and she basically said she doesn't think growling is that big of a deal, depending on the situation of course. I think the scruffing is a good way to go in this situation. I might have been listening/reading too much about stopping any and all possible signs of dominance. I will start NILIF. The only times she growled though, was when she had something that she thought I was going to take away from her. In one case she was right (the sock) in the other she had her favorite bone and I wasn't anywhere near it (well, kind of near it, I was cleaning her ears), but I'm still pretty sure it was because of the bone and NOT the ear cleaning. I guess I'll see Thursday when I do it again.

BIB you are so right! "that is just how it is Fight me .... have at it, but I am bigger" And I will keep this in mind in the future.

Tali is really a great puppy other than the growling, and I think I let it bother me more than I should have. So I'll relax and just enjoy the puppyness!

Thanks again everyone!

GunnersMum

I noticed that on both occasions you were trying to take something away from her.

I would immediatly start teaching her the command "out" or "drop it". When she's got something you don't want her to have, show her a treat or toy she can have and once she releases to investigate this better toy/treat praise her for letting go - then reward with the proper toy or treat.

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If you want to make a small fortune breeding dogs, start with a large fortune.

CoAl-s-Mom

I like her name! It wouldn't hurt to pick up a copy of Mine! by Jean Donaldson. It's about dogs that resource guard.

sebsyd

I don't see this as an earth shattering event, though I agree it needs to be addressed. Every puppy will test the waters, but as long as you handled it the way that you did and in no terms told her "NO", she will get the message and that most likely will be the end of the behavior. Stay calm and firm and the alpha. Try not to be on the floor with her or at her level when you take something away from her. I also agree that teaching her to "drop it" will make it infinitely easier to take something away from her. My female did this as a pup, and I did the same thing you did, calmly and firmly. I had no further problems with her. Good luck with her. Keep us informed.

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"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your Doberman. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."