AboutLabman Expertise housebreaking, chewing, feeding
Please do not send me questions on medical problems or AKC standards
Experience Through my volunteer work with a large dog guide school, I know a little about all the breeds they use including Goldens. I have extensive experience with the closely related Labs. The service dog schools have acquired a wealth of knowledge about raising well behaved, healthy dogs with long, active lives. They do not share it with the general public, but pass on the best of it to those like me that raise puppies for them. I am part of a group that has raised dogs for 6 different service dog schools. We meet monthly for training and share information.
Expert: Labman Date: 4/21/2008 Subject: Golden puppy dominates my youngest Son
Question Hello,
I have a 5-month-old Golden (Casey) who has been a great addition to our family. She is intelligent and eager to please, and has been just about everything that we have wanted in a dog. Her one problem is that she is very dominant over my 11-year-old son to the point that she has become more aggressive than I'm comfortable with. Whenever my son gets near Casey, she tries to jump up on him and mount him and when she is pushed off and told NO, she bites his ankles or snaps at other body parts. My son will attempt to ignore her and leave, but she latches onto him and will not let go unless I get involved.
I am a firm believer in "pack rules" and my wife, my 13-year-old son, and I have very little issue with Casey trying to dominate us, but my youngest cannot get this right.
Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mike
Answer You are right about pack rules. If it isn't too late, find a 4-H program. In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year. Even many urban areas have 4-H. For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices. Ask specifically about a dog or canine club. The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/
For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm That site has some additional pages on dogs and children. Casey must learn to obey the 11 year old.
