New to Neos - Needing some help

[JMaynard]

Hey Guys,
I just had a couple of questions I was hoping that you could answer. My husband and I recently purchased a neo puppy. We read up on them and decided that they would be a good addition to our family. He was 8 weeks old when we brought him home. He plays with our daughter and is learning the basic commands with ease. However, when we first brought him home when I picked him up he would growl and act like he was going to bite me. I thought maybe I was hurting him, so I pet and brush him all over his body to see if anything bothered him, and he acted fine. I sat him up with a vet to get his vaccines and ask some questions about him. He was fine during the shots but tried to bite the tech a few times while she was cleaning his ears.( Which doesn't bother him when I touch him) She said it was crazy that a puppy so young could be that aggressive. He's just turned 11 weeks old. Sometimes, if I go to put him in his crate or touch his collar to put a leash on or lead him out of the room, sometimes he will growl and try to get my hand, other times he's a fine and happy as can be. This is the first time I've had a neo, and was wondering if this is normal. I asked the vet but they say neuter him and take him to obedience classes.We all love him, I just don't want to take a chance with my little girl. I've had boxers, labs, and mixed dogs, none have acted like his. He's never tried to bite my husband or my daughter. I was really hoping you could tell me if this is normal, or maybe give me some tips.

Thanks

 

[Geisthexe]

The puppy is reacting to things that are new to him. If you freaked out with any of it they will act worse.

Not sure how you are doing your commands so can you elaborate please so I might be able to help you

Thanks

Deb V


GRCH CH UWPV UWPO UWPE UWPCH UWP URO1 UAG1 Conan De Warsney WP 1,2 WD 1,2,3 TAN CGC
CH UWP Xade De Warsney BH ACAL 1,2,3 CCF 1,2,3
Anabis De Vigilant "new super star"

 

[JMaynard]

Hey,
Thanks for responding. When we first got him I started teaching him to sit and lay down, etc. I say what I want him to do along with hand signals, when he does it I pet him and give him a treat. When I go to put a leash on him I have him sit and put it on. Sometimes he's fine with it, other times he starts growling and slinging his head from side to side. When he tries to bite me, I keep my hands away from his mouth, I tell him no, I don't stop what I'm doing completely,I just stay there with my hand on his collar, but I wait for him to stop growling and continue. I never act afraid or yell at him. My husband is gone all of the time with work, but he has never tried to do anything to him

---------- Post added at 11:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 PM ----------

(( He's 14 weeks not 11, he was 11 at the vet apt. Don't know if that makes a difference.))

 

[JMaynard]

(( He's 14 weeks not 11, he was 11 at the vet apt. Don't know if that makes a difference.))

 

[Geisthexe]

Ok for one Hun you need to build a bond with your dog. This is where most go wrong. Bc most think oh my dog comes to me for love, the dog licks me, the dog does what I ask most of the time. Well all those as a trainer tell me "my dog does not respect me"

I know I can type this a thousand times for folks in here and I am happy to do so ..
You need to build focus "look / watch me" and it must be consistent.

If you find the thread that is called Motivation / Focus heeling. I posted in there how to build a focus and videos.
If your dog starts to listen to you by giving his full attention they start to learn, listen, desire, and give things you haven't even gave a command for.
Don't ask for anything but the focus and in a week or two you'll have it.
Before long the problems you are seeking now will go and the dog will be more responsive.

Also regarding the vet / vet tech, you still need to understand that some dog react different in hospitals just like humans do. First time being poked / ported dogs react and the only way they can tell us stop, no, ouch etc. is with there mouth. Just relax about vets.
Start to touch the pup once you have the focus down in all the places a vets going too so they get use to it.

When I teach my students I have three basics we work on. One is hard to describe so I never go over it and just to to the second "focus" then the next is massage of the dog building touch and response in a good manner.

Please ask more if you don't understand

 

[JMaynard]

Thanks so much Deb. I will def look into your thread and do my best to follow what you've taught. As for the vet tech, I though that was probably why he acted that way, she freaked out and acted like we were both horrible. So thank you for confirming what I thought. If I have any questions, I'll definitely ask. Thanks again.

 

[Geisthexe]

Oh no problem .. I have been a vet tech for 14 yrs .. I am an emergency vet tech now so I have seen all kinds of dogs and how they respond, being a trainer and know animal behavior really comes in handy with a dog in pain or a puppies first time.
I look forward to hearing how positive your out look comes and hope I can help more

 

[JMaynard]

Hey Deb,
I tried to watch your videos, but when I click on them they say they're private.

 

[Geisthexe]

Hey Deb,
I tried to watch your videos, but when I click on them they say they're private.

Hmm let me check .. I wonder if I did something putting in new video.

---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 AM ----------

Hey Deb,
I tried to watch your videos, but when I click on them they say they're private.

It's working again .. Sorry I was fixing stuff & adding in You tube.

 

[Geisthexe]

Hey Deb,
I tried to watch your videos, but when I click on them they say they're private.

It's working again .. Sorry I was fixing stuff & adding in You tube.

 

[JMaynard]

Thanks Deb! Getting ready to watch now.

 

[DennasMom]

It sounds like the puppy might not have had enough human socialization before coming home with you, so you might also want to slowly work on bringing more people around. Get him used to touches and reward for good, calm behavior. There's a book on "TTouch" that I have ... but haven't read yet... it's something that might help him relax and enjoy human contact more. He's still really young, so lots to learn for him. The more calm and pleasant you can keep all new experiences, the better. And the more new experiences, the better, too. I tired to get our puppy out of the house at least every-other-day at that age. New places each time. PetSmart (in the cart prior to full vaccinations), the local garden store, Lowes/Home Depot, they all welcome puppies, so good places to visit.

I'm going to go try and watch Deb's videos again... they weren't working for me earlier, either.

 

[JMaynard]

Thanks Denna.
I try to take him with us everywhere we go, unfortunately West Virginia winters aren't so nice. When people come over to visit he usually sits beside of me staring at them and growling (usually if they're men it's worse) I give them treats to give them and after about 15 minutes he'll go over to them take the treats and be fine with them. Deb's videos worked for me, and I'm trying to train our little boy with it. He's so smart, and we love him to death. It still worries me a little when he has is madman moments. For example, today he was in my little girls room and when I told him to come he didn't. So, I walked in the room said " Come Easy" (( yes, his name is Easy, my little girl did that all on her own ;o) ))) and I put my hand on his collar, when I did he started growling and shaking his head back and forth with his mouth open. I do this all the time and he randomly goes wild. I've never actually put my hand where he could get it to see if he would bite me. I'm guessing it's part of me needing to get him to respect me.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Keep in mind that you never want to correct a growl. It doesn't sound like thats what you're doing, but I want to be sure. That growl is an important piece of canine communication, and if you stop the growl you may not have the needed warning that he's got a problem. The next step after a true wanring growl is a bite....

Question, are you sure that some of this isn't play behavior? Like your description of trying to get him out of your daughter's room, almost sounds like he was just being a goof. Try redirecting to a toy.

Also, he may never be enthusiastic about you having house guests, many neo's aren't. They're reserved by nature and generally not thrilled to meet new people.

Ditto the socialization! Carry him places if you have to. Go places where you and he can just watch people go by, big parking lots of big stores are often good places for this. Doesn't have to be long periods if its cold, but a little as often as possible will help.

Re: the vet handling his ears. Get him used to having every part of his body handled. First by you and your spouse, then your child (UNDER STRICT SUPERVISION!!!) then trusted friends and family. It'll help immensly and your vet will appreciate it. As you work on training I'd also suggest teaching him a command to lay down on his side for examination, your vet will appreciate that too.

 

[JMaynard]

I don't correct his growl, I just wait for him to get over it. At first, I thought he was playing, but it's def. not a play growl, when he's being big goofy and mouthy, it's completely different. Just a little while ago, he wanted to get in the bath tub with my daughter, I didn't let him, and while trying to take him out of the bathroom he just kept going on the whole way out. I waited each time for him to stop, then proceeding in making him leave the bathroom. Once he was out of the bathroom he was fine. The only time he does this is if I'm making him do something he really doesn't want to do. At first I thought it was because he was protective over my daughter, but he does it when shes not around.

As far as house guests, I'm fine if he stays that way, I live way out in no man's land, so I'd like him not to love everyone.

I don't know why because it's common sense, but big parking lots is a great idea. Thanks!

Ive been petting and brushing ever part of his body including his ears and tail. Anytime my
child is around him it's always under supervision, we have her pet him and mimic what we do, to be sure he is used to her.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm sure my vet tech will love you guys.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Hmmmm, I skimmed your first couple posts. Have you been working on sit or anything yet? When he gets growly can you redirect and get him to respond to a command? Treat and praise for an appropriate response to your command, and then continue to remove him from the room?

Good!

And welcome. Even if its just ten minutes at a time in public, ten minutes adds up.

 

[JMaynard]

Yes, he can sit, give you his paw, and we're getting pretty good at laying down. This week I've been doing the focus training from Deb's video, and he's been doing great when I say "Easy Look" he pays attention right then. Here's how it happened in the bedroom today. He was laying on a big pillow. I said Come Easy, he just looked at me. I repeated the phrase and he still looked at me. So, I walked up beside him and petted him. Then I put my hand on the back of his collar and before I said my command he growled and started shaking his head back and forth trying to get me. So, I sit with my hand on his collar and wait for him to get over it. Then I say Come Easy, he came out and I gave him a treat and praised him. Now as for when in the bathroom, he wouldn't simply come out the second time, every time I started over he just kept growling and shaking his head. Then as soon as he was out, he was fine. It's like if there's something he really doesn't want to do he does that, but it's hit and miss. Most of the time he's happy go lucky and then the next time you go to get him to do something it seems like he just gets mad.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I think just, for now, keep working through it. Give it a few weeks of consistancy with asking him to do something and reinforcing it and see how he does. Don't let it go on and on if theres no change! But 2-4 weeks of working on training and bonding and socializing and see how it goes. It may be a combination of him settling in and trying to learn his boundaries.

 

[JMaynard]

After a few weeks of doing that, if it doesn't work what would be next? My whole family loves him, I'm hoping the bonding fixes it, it kind of worries me that he randomly does it. I mean I always watch my little girl when they play, but it still makes me a little nervous.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Its going to depend on whats happening, but I'd probly recommend some work with a giant breed experienced trainer since theres limits to what can be done online without real visual or interaction. Don't skip puppy class either, get him out and experiencing. Geisthexe might have additional suggestions too.