Question about Pup behaviour

[Emma86]

Hi All,

I posted last year about a dog we fostered with behavioral issues, who unfortunately had to go back to the rescue center and is now happy there being sponsored for life.

Since then we have adopted a beautiful puppy and all is going fab. She definitely has a home for life and I cant remember ever not having her!

BUT, I have a question...She is VERY boisterous, she is now approx 5 months Setter X (will post pics soon). We are attending puppy training and she is extremely eager to learn and coming along nicely with general obedience. She does however seem to 'growl' a lot. It does not in anyway seem aggressive and is more of a grumble, and more of a way of getting attention. She does this when she wants to play and is being ignored, a perfect example is when I am on the phone! Another example is at puppy training when she wants to play with the other dogs and people and I give her a command and get her attention, which she does and then has a good old grumble. It's like a small child giving me back chat!

Is this something I should be disciplining her for or how can we get her out of this habit as I am worried people will think she is actually growling.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Sorry for the long post!

 

[Emma86]

And a couple of piccies just because she is lovely!

The day we got her at approx 12 weeks

And last week

 

[NeverSayNever]

Good God she's gorgeous and looks bright as a button!!

Some are just more vocal than others, I have one that gives constant backchat Just teach her a 'quiet' command or a sharp A-Ah when she does it, then reward with a toy in her gob.

The very vocal dog I have is also extremely nervous and cant take any kind of firm reprimand. We do agility and she is wired when other dogs are running and will not shut up. All my pups have gone through gobby stages and have been easy to stop with a reprimand, except her. We have sorted it though, by directing her onto a rope monkey toy thing that she now grabs and shakes instead of vocalising, it wasnt a quick process but it;s made such a difference now she does it automatically.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Lovely girl. If she is genuinely just a vocal dog then I wouldn't really care if other people mistake it for growling, it would be their mistake.

But having said that it could be seen as a bit rude and if you want to stop it I would not give her ANY attention for it, so no reprimand, even if you find it cute, don't laugh and don't go awww, just ignore it and continue about your business, give her a command or a purpose, reward her if she executes it and don't allow her to sit there and gob off

 

[CAYLA]

It's sounds like classical attention seeking (usually seen in the brighter k9) when on the phone your attentions are otherwise redirected from her (the phone interupting is a common one) I board a shih tzu and a bull terrier that do this the whole time their owner is on the phone (both dogs spend alot of time with these owners and they vocally communicate (talk to their dogs alot) so when attention is not given they (demand it) and they learn that usually the phone they get what they want as the call ends whilst the dog is still vocal, (I advised "time out") for the bull terrier (which has worked) if she grumbles on, she is removed to another room, but for aslong as she is silent she remains in the room and owner carries on with conversation, and not every call but random ones she gets a raw bone to chew as a (reward) for quiet.

In training class she is basically communicating that she wants to play and is getting frustrated (this does not mean give in and allow it) otherwise she will associate her demanding vocals with what she seeks, so otherwise distract her. be firm and tell her "ah ah" or "quiet" and when she is (reward her) be it vocal/touch or as suggested toy or treat distraction. She just sounds vocally demanding

 

[Emma86]

Thank you all for your advice...

We have been for a 2 day sleep over at a friend of mines and it seems to have turned her into a different dog. Now we are back home she is a dream! (Really hope I havent spoken too soon and will probably regret saying that!)
She is so much calmer and even more quick to respond to commands. And the back chat seems to have calmed down alot. We ignored it and if it continued she was removed from the room. In a strange house to her this worked after about the second time and she hasnt done it since now were back home.

I'm hoping that being somewhere different with me has increased my 'leader' role and reminded her who is incharge!