18 month friendly cc has begun to snap at guests

[amrish]

hello guys
We have a very loving and friendly cane cor so female. She has always been very well socialised with people and dogs alike. She has always been over friendly with people jumping on them and playing. Always affectionate.

Just recently she has begun showing slightly different behaviour. Recently with some people she has begun to growl at them and also snapped when they came close to pet her. She is doing this with some people who are clearly accepted by us and welcomed into the house. In my presence she has done this when I have been holding her.

She is usually very well natured and this is a concern. No one has been bitten but we want some advice from anyone who recognises this behaviour.

With other dogs she is still a happy goofy dog.

 

[marke]

by holding , you mean on a leash ? you may be encouraging the behavior ........ you need to correct the behavior . you need someone she snaps at to help you , possibly a muzzle would help in safely eradicating the behavior , my weimaraners were like this , they were mouthy , biting dogs , and it was a bad HABIT ............ a training class may help , an in home trainer would even be better ..........

 

[Hector]

1. Don't allow a dog to jump on people.

2. When you hold a dog back and a person moves into a dog's personal space and cannot move away, it will defend itself. The dog doesn't want to be petted and is telling the person to stop advancing towards her, but you are ignoring her signals. I would put the dog on leash or let it free roam with a muzzle on and tell people to come in and ignore the dog completely. Correct the dog for any behavior you don't want. Make sure people will respect her space and at 18 months, the dog is starting to mature and temperament will start to change.

If you cannot stop the behavior or read the dog or control the dog then hire a trainer.

Also, you need to go back to basics and revisit all the basics (no pulling on leash, waiting for food, no door dashing, crate command, place command, etc.) and take away some of her freedom in the house. More training and make sure you follow through with commands AND lots of proper socialization asap.

 

[DennasMom]

It's hard to diagnose what's really going through the dog's head based on the information in your post... your best bet is to get her back into some classes and/or hire a personal trainer that can SEE exactly what you're talking about.

If that's not an option... can you get some video of what's going on?

Any chance she's going into heat?
Anything new in the house? new furniture, new people, new routines?

Has she gotten a clean bill of health at the vet?
Can you tie the snaps down to touches in certain areas of the head, legs or spine? (i.e. could it be a pain response?)
Is this behavior only at home, or is she more sensitive when out in public, too?

Yes, I have lots of questions!

She might be maturing late and coming into her adult temperament and not be interested in socializing with strangers anymore... but I'd want to rule out any health issues first, and get back to some basic obedience, like Hector suggested, to see if that helps, too.

 

[amrish]

Hi guys thanks for the replies. Hector I see what you are saying in point 2. I think some sharpening in obedience training can be done although she is quite responsive. I also agree that if people don't show interest in her she is likely to calm down.

Dennasmom, people don't actually touch her so that's not a pain response. Nothing new or alien in the house. Her behaviour is very normal and happy so we are ok there. I do think her protective/possessive instincts are maturing. She is also bigger now and perhaps beginning to explore her maturity.

 

[marke]

it's not protective behavior , it's defensive behavior , distrust ........ I guess defensive would be self protection , but defensive is more unpredictable , dangerous ....... the thing is it's unwarranted , irrational if the dog has been socialized .......... unless the dog is playing ? it needs to be corrected , left unchecked at some point someone will most likely actually get bit .......

 

[Vantage]

It is a Female, has she been spayed? (I'm not saying it will solve the problem, but wondering if she may be in heat?)
(Spaying supposedly only affects temperament at younger ages 6-8months, but it is advised against spay/neutering a dog that young when dealing with mastiff/ other large breeds.)

Hector gave some really good advice, I'll save myself the typing, but he is right - go back to the basics. (Guests are YOUR guests Not His. Crate training. Leash Pressure.) Keep him on leash when guests come over, make him "Place"/Go to his bed before you let the guests in, etc, etc. YOU Control the Situation.

You also need to access the situation more closely, what do you think triggers her growling. Is it an aggression issue or a nerves-issue? Is it just with certain random guests, or all guests that come to your home? What are these guests doing when they see your girl? (What is her name by the way?)

Is it isolated to them just going towards the dog, or is she object guarding (you - being the object)?

Maybe, if you are comfortable, you can post a video of this interaction next time it occurs?

I saw a dog before who used to become uncomfortable when anyone wearing a heavy winter coat and a BASEBALL Cap came by! He did not like caps very much lol.