Growling…

[Highmileagecob]

Raising puppies and children to be polite adults all starts off the same. Reward good behaviour and make it clear that unacceptable behaviour is just that. Doesn't need a heavy hand, just a bit of foresight and firmness. The fun starts when unacceptable behaviour to one person is un-necessary control to another. If the dog is part of a family with children, this is his pack, and he needs to be at the bottom of the pecking order. Not the same as being the underdog, cowered in a corner, just giving way to all members of the family, being fed away from the family table, not barging through doorways ahead of children etc., and obeying the basic commands.

 

[CorvusCorax]

This is not a dominant dog, if you think it is, you haven't met one. This sounds like a very confused and insecure dog.

 

[skinnydipper]

.....

 

[Clodagh]

Raising puppies and children to be polite adults all starts off the same. Reward good behaviour and make it clear that unacceptable behaviour is just that. Doesn't need a heavy hand, just a bit of foresight and firmness. The fun starts when unacceptable behaviour to one person is un-necessary control to another. If the dog is part of a family with children, this is his pack, and he needs to be at the bottom of the pecking order. Not the same as being the underdog, cowered in a corner, just giving way to all members of the family, being fed away from the family table, not barging through doorways ahead of children etc., and obeying the basic commands.

I don’t agree with all you say, depending on your definition of firmness, I’m happy to say ‘no’ to a young dog but I wouldn’t smack, frighten or dominate.
The dog does need to be treated the same by the whole family and have space and respect himself.

 

[AmyMay]

Our late Jack could be a total nightmare sometimes when asked to do something he didn’t want to. It was sheer temper and lack of boundaries when he was younger. He could be very aggressive. We had him for about 18 months before he was pts and during that time he did improve. Just with constant, non aggressive behaviour on our part.

 

[Clodagh]

Sorry OP I’m meandering off topic now…
I was reading an article about dogs and it was saying we as humans regard everyone as having equal rights, whereas dogs have a much more upright system. I’ve never really thought about it much, I don’t care which of my dogs is dominant in their own grouping, I’m always the big cheese. So I decide who’s a threat, actions in situations, and what we are doing next. I don’t consult to see what they want.
So is that being unnecessarily bossy? To be a more modern owner do I want the dog to have more say in its actions?

 

[Jenko109]

Lots of sight hounds do that weird grumbly moany thing, it is different to an outright growl. They seem to have such strong emotions and feelings about everything and like you to know about it. So similar intent to a growl, but less intense IYSWIM?!

Oh absolutely.

I would best describe it as an expression of dissatisfaction and I imagine it's hard to understand why it isn't a concern until you have had a dog who has that behaviour.

I could never reprimand her for it. It is just how she communicates with the world.

 

[SpottyTB]

Sorry OP I’m meandering off topic now…
I was reading an article about dogs and it was saying we as humans regard everyone as having equal rights, whereas dogs have a much more upright system. I’ve never really thought about it much, I don’t care which of my dogs is dominant in their own grouping, I’m always the big cheese. So I decide who’s a threat, actions in situations, and what we are doing next. I don’t consult to see what they want.
So is that being unnecessarily bossy? To be a more modern owner do I want the dog to have more say in its actions?

I think we treat our spaniels a bit like that too to be honest, but now it’s second nature and they look to me/husband as to what comes next (which is why I was perhaps a big gobsmacked about this - I have defo learnt plenty from this thread). I just assumed because of that they take confidence from us in situations which worry them.. for example our dogs have to get on a helicopter twice a year to go and work on an estate. They are worried (understandably as it’s loud) but they look to us for confidence and seem to cope fine. Get off the other end nicely on heel without rushing and with waggy tails!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

There is a brown Lab local to us that we have watched grow up from his early walks when he was allowed, on lead, to meander across the road at will sniffing the verges on an admittedly quiet 40 mph road with no pavements. We commented that the pup seemed to be in charge and was a problem in the making.
That dog is now a complete pain, dragging the owner all over the place, getting in the face of other on lead dogs to the point where it seems that the woman has stopped walking it and her husband only walks it when he is unlikely to meet anyone else.

 

[misst]

My terrier x growls a lot. He has a growl that is a moany/groany/type of growl which means please don't disturb me. If we do disturb him he just huffs off. He has a play growl he does at us, and at Ruby which defintely means I want to play tug of war or boxing with Ruby. If he means he is seriously peed off he doesn't growl, he snarls. He snarls at dogs he doesn't want in his space and he snarls at painful/unwanted vet interventions. He never snarls at me or my family even when I know he is uncomfortable - he puts his ears back. That is enough to tell us to back off. He came as a young stray off the streets and I still think his poor start didn't help. Also he is a terrier! He has a wonderful nature but if he growled when I asked him to do something like get out of the car I would wonder what was wrong.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I’ve had dogs who don’t like being loomed over, but you said she stands back from the dog. I always lift mine out, they’re not allowed to get themselves out-for safety reasons and because I want them to wait if I need to gather up leads/put on a coat etc. Will the dog accept that? Or would he prefer a ramp if it’s a pain issue? I echo everyone who says pain issue, a vet check would be good.

 

[skinnydipper]

I don't think it is always easy for a vet to observe signs of pain in the consulting room because the dog could be stressed and mask their pain. This is where the owner can help by telling the vet of the signs of pain that they have noticed and which might not be obvious at the time of examination.

 

[Clodagh]

I don't think it is always easy for a vet to observe signs of pain in the consulting room because the dog could be stressed and mask their pain. This is where the owner can help by telling the vet of the signs of pain that they have noticed and which might not be obvious at the time of examination.

i think my vet in Essex thought I had Münchausen’s syndrome by proxy, or fancied him, until I started videoing the lameness before I went in.

 

[ArklePig]

i think my vet in Essex thought I had Münchausen’s syndrome by proxy, or fancied him, until I started videoing the lameness before I went in.

I had similar with everyone telling me there was nothing wrong with Fodhla's hip. I'm not here because I don't know how else to spend my money
Incidentally I did think her hip was way worse than the xray showed and had envisaged all sorts of bad scenarios, but I knew there was something.

 

[Clodagh]

I had similar with everyone telling me there was nothing wrong with Fodhla's hip. I'm not here because I don't know how else to spend my money
Incidentally I did think her hip was way worse than the xray showed and had envisaged all sorts of bad scenarios, but I knew there was something.

I missed your update. Must have been this weekend. Will go look.
My vet was pretty good looking. Reminds me of another time when the button came undone on my shirt as I helped him lift a dog on the table and he got an eyeful of cleavage.

 

[ArklePig]

I missed your update. Must have been this weekend. Will go look.
My vet was pretty good looking. Reminds me of another time when the button came undone on my shirt as I helped him lift a dog on the table and he got an eyeful of cleavage.

Oh no sorry, there's no update just thinking back to when I first requested her hips be xrayed and they told me there was nothing wrong with her. It did show mild HD. Must have been about this time last year.

Incidentally her symptoms have lessened and its not really noticeable now, which the specialist did tell us might happen when she developed more fully / muscled up as she spent the first year of her life essentially not getting any sort of exercise.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I know someone with a similar sounding Spaniel X. Does everything with his single lady owner, including the work, sleeping on the bed etc. He went for me once when i was asked to let him out and after mentioning that to other people was told he's gone for her several times too.

 

[AmyMay]

i think my vet in Essex thought I had Münchausen’s syndrome by proxy, or fancied him, until I started videoing the lameness before I went in.

Agree. My vet thought I was barking when I told her I thought Jack had bone cancer, as he trotted into the consult room sound as a pound. He had bone cancer

 

[poiuytrewq]

Its difficult isn't it. No one believed me that Bertie was lame when he was younger because it was intermittent and clearly mostly when I was around. Trotted merrily into the vets each appointment. I'm sure she rolled her eye's at "this one again"