Expert: Delores Beck - 2/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi
Our cocker will be 3 months old this week and when we try to correct him by taking something from him or putting him in his crate he tries and sometimes gets the job done of biting us. This is not playing but real aggression. How do you go about stopping this behavior.

ANSWER: At the first growl - get down on his level - be very still - look directly into his eyes and in a low, firm voice say NO.
Do not lose eye contact.  Continue saying NO until he breaks eye contact.  You just won.

At this age he's trying you on and you need to stop this NOW.

I'd like to know precisely what he has possession of when he snaps
at you.

And when and why you're putting him in his crate?  What exactly happens?
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Maybe he has gotten a hold of a piece of paper off of an end table and we will be trying to take that away from him or a piece of clothing left on the floor. It is never his toys or food. Also he will run and jump at us when we are sitting in our recliners without the leg left up. But it could be part of the problem of not enough exercise. On days that it is nice I try to play with him out in the yard. We are beginning our senior years and I know he doesn't get as much attention as a puppy in a family with children. Also this attack mode is when he gets put in his crate and then he attacks the crate and sometimes almost turns it over.

Karen

ANSWER: He's only 12 weeks old - he needs constant supervision and he needs a LOT more exercise than he's getting.  A tired dog is a good dog :)
The exercise is as good for you as it is for him.  At least 1/2 hour walk morning and night.

Now...to begin...Use the eye contact and NO.  At this size & age, I'd grab him by the scruff of the neck and then take whatever he's got.

Do not use his crate as punishment.  How often and for how long is he put in there?  It's supposed to be "his place" not a jail.

One trick to use specifically for his attack on your chair is to fill an empty pop or beer can with 15 pennies - tape the top shut.
Have it with you.  When he jumps up, say NO and bring the can down hard ONCE.  Don't "shake" it - raise it in the air and bring it down hard to make one hugely loud noise.  Then ignore him for a bit.

But Karen, this dog needs to get out for long walks on leash and start getting trained.

You can also leave his short leather leash on him in the house and just let him drag it around with him.  This means you can control him when you want.

I'd strongly suggest puppy training classes - huge fun for him
and will help you learn how to teach him.  Most PetSmarts or your local pet places have them.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi
We generally do not put him in the crate for punishment, but I did last night or than that he is generally only in his crate at night or if we are gone and he is always taken out to potty first. You have given me some good suggestions and I will let you know how they work. Thanks so much for your help
Karen

Answer
The first word he needs to learn is NO...never yell, never hit.
Dogs respond to authority, not hysteria.

Look at it this way...in a pack when the puppies are bugging the alpha dogs, they get first a low warning growl (NO)..then the alpha just stares them down.  If necessary, Mom will pick them up by the scruff and put them elsewhere.

So when you do say NO...stay still..keep your voice firm and kind of near-threatening but relatively quiet.

For short periods during the day - attach his leash to your belt (or wherever) and where you go, he goes.  No chat.  When the pack leader moves - he moves.  That's a strong lesson for a puppy.

When he does his chair attack - NO and one loud downward crash.
If he comes back - do it again.  No chat.
He disobeyed and something unpleasant happened.  Most dogs are totally startled by this and you usually don't have to do it more than twice.  After that a NO and picking up the can is enough.

But I do warn you - do not let this aggressive behavior go on.
Right now if you get all over him "the right way" it can be history in a week or so.  Let it go and you have a serious problem.

So always be calm - always use a firm voice - always follow through.

Teach him to sit on command.  Do not put his food bowl down until he sits.  (Lesson - you eat when the pack leader says so).
Make him work for everything.  He must sit before he goes out for a walk - he must sit before eating - before being allowed to sit on the sofa with you - before getting a treat.

Get him to some puppy classes and continue his lessons at home.
Delores