Expert: Erin Goddard - 11/5/2009

Question
I have a 10 week old Wheaten puppy that we just got. I am about 99% happy with the amount he is learning and his progress, however I have two questions.
I have noticed when he is outside playing and having fun he gets to a point that he is just 100% wide open 100 mph.  I guess this is the “puppy Crazies” that they all get, but he does two things I’m not sure of.
1.    I have a small tree planted in the side of my yard.  I keep telling him not to mess with it and for the most part he doesn’t however when he gets in this “crazy” mood swing he looks right at me and takes off for the tree. I tell him NO and I pick him up and take him to a different spot. He then looks right at me again and goes for the tree again. This happens over and over while he is in this “crazy” mood. So my question is “is this a dominance issue or just a puppy playing?”  Can I correct this or should I just put a small fence around the tree?

2.   Also, when he is in his “crazy” mood he plays very hard maybe even a little aggressive with my 100 LBS Labrador retriever.  This causes my Lab to put him down to the ground harder than normal. I don’t think the Lab would bite the puppy but the puppy doesn’t seem to care that the Lab is getting aggravated.  When the puppy is in this mood he just keeps on going for the Lab and even us sometimes. Biting our pants legs and tugging and I guess even growling.  I do feel like he knows I’m the leader of the pack along with the lab (not sure about my wife yet).

Once again he only does this once he reaches that point of no return and running around like crazy wild man.  For the most part he never acts this way.  What should be done about this or will he just grow out of this?


Answer
Hello Chris,

1.  It sounds like a mix between a dog playing a game and a puppy beginning to challenge authority (the beginning stages of dominance).   Based on what you are telling me, it sounds like you could discipline for this type of behavior.  Putting a fence around the tree would most likely stop the behavior, except if you have a very determined dog, but it will not solve the problem.  The problem is the beginning stages of dominance.  The problem will still be there if a little fence goes up, and your dog will attempt other ways at gaining the leadership position if this tree is no longer accessible to him.  One of the many ways you could discipline for this behavior could be saying "no," picking him up, and putting him in his kennel.  If you use this approach, do not let him out of the kennel until he has stayed quiet for at least 3 seconds.  There are many other ways to fairly discipline him, but not all of them might be appropriate for your dog in this situation.  The main goal for you here is to get the point across that when you say, "no," you mean it.  No jokes.  No games.  Make sure, though, to incorporate some games into his every day life, otherwise he will make games out of activities that are not actually meant to be games...

2.  He will most likely not grow out of these behaviors.  These behaviors will only increase as time goes on, unless they are stopped now.  Biting your pant legs is an attempt to start a game, in a dominant sort of way.  Although he may know that you are the leader, he may be challenging your authority.  As puppies get older, they try to make it closer to being the top dog.  It tends to be cute now, to see him chasing after pant legs, or doing other silly things, but these behaviors will not stop unless you make them stop.  One way to stop this behavior would be to do as I said in my answer to question #1.  

If these behaviors result during one of his frenzies, then catch him before he gets to the frenzy, and stop the cycle.  

I have some other good ideas for you, in terms of how to stop these behaviors, so if you would like to chat sometime, please let me know.  You can also chat with me online, if you would like, through services such as google, hotmail, yahoo, and facebook.  You can get in contact with me through my g-mail address, Training.Inquiry@gmail.com  Please let me know if I can help you out any more with this situation.  I would be glad to help.

Thank you,

Erin Goddard
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
www.erinsdogtraining.com
Training.Inquiry@gmail.com
484-238-2134