AboutElaine Allison CPDT Expertise Canine Behavior is my area of expertise. Particulary aggression, fears, phobias-moderate to severe behavior problems. I cannot answer medical questions.
Experience 18 years hands on experience.
Publications Dog Fancy
Education/Credentials I am a certified pet dog trainer and an endorsed member from the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors
Awards and Honors CPDT, NADOI, Certified multiple times in explosives detection and narcotics detection. I also own two working personal protection dogs
My wife and I brought a Saint Bernard home 3 weeks ago. While we adore her and love having her around, there are times when we worry about her temperament. I really need someone to tell me that she's normal!
We have her in a positive-reinforcement-based puppy kindergarten class and, in terms of the obedience training we're getting, she's doing very well. However, we have other concerns. She is VERY "nippy". Often times when I pick her up, she'll nip at my nose, ear, or chin. When we take her out to do her business, she often tries to play tug with the leash or, worse, with our pants/skirt. On a couple of occasions, she's latched onto our clothes and growled and pulled HARD and refused to release her bite. We have an 8 year old son, and I'm alway worrying that she will do this to him and frighten him.
Because she's so young, we carry her up and down the stairs to the back yard, and if we try to take her inside before she's ready to come inside, she'll often growl when we pick her up. She often growls when we try to crate her, unless she's already sleepy.
Does this sound like "normal puppy naughtiness" to you, and, if not, what are the best methods to use to alter these behaviors.
Thanks so much for your help!
Answer Hi Roger,
You did not mention how old the pup was, nor how old she was when she left the litter.
It would be irresponsible of me to speculate. It could be nothing "normal" and it be that she does not have the temperament to be in a home with a child. The time is now to have someone knowledgeable in aggression assess her in home.
