Tilley

[Tilley]

Hi I have a 7 month old dogue de Bordeaux who in the last week has become aggressive when I try to get him in from our garden he jumps up grabs my arms and in the last week has started growling and jumping t me I was considering neutering but I'm worried about bone development

 

[ddb owner]

hi i have a 11month ddb who does the samething he will run at you never actually bites but does get very close to your hands and growls etc he will also wait for you and jump out on you!!!! he doesnt always stop when told too so i shut him out and ignore him that stops him we have also trained him using a time out command when playing rough but sometimes this doesnt even work not sure about neutering have always hoped it is just a stage he is going through!!!!! sorry didnt really answer your question but just thort id let you no there are other dogs doing this aswell!!!

 

[musicdeb]

I do not believe it's aggression, he wants to play and test his limits with you. 7-month old/11 month old is a teenager. Test the limits. When he starts to bite, tell him leave it or some will yell "OW" really loud. I use leave it with Titan because he can play a little rough.

When he starts to lunge, turn your back to him. Once he goes down, tell him sit and stay. Make him remain at stay until he has calmed down.

IMO, he's playing not being aggressive but you need to nip this in the bud before he hurts you or someone else.

 

[Jadotha]

I agree with musicdeb that he is being playful, not aggressive. Do you go out in the garden and actively play with him whilst he is out there? I don't know what games DDBs like, but our EM really enjoys fetch. It is something we can play together that does not involve 'roughhousing' and wears Boris out so he is ready to come in and relax.

Do you have to go into the garden to attract his attention -- where he runs up and jumps on you? Or can you call him from the door? If you have to go out in the garden, I would start getting him to come to the door by offering treats and praise when he obeys. Make sure he knows 'sit', and tell him to sit before you open the door for him. When he is sitting quietly, let him come in and give him a treat and/or lots of praise. If he starts leaping about on you at the door, say 'no!' firmly but not angrily ,close it and walk away until he has settled. Then try again.

If he behaves this way in the house, then, as mucicdeb said, say 'no' or 'OWW', and try to redirect by putting a toy in his mouth. If this doesn't work, immediately stop interacting, fold your arms and turn your back. If he leaps on or nibs your back or legs, walk away to a room he doesn't have access to. Teaching 'sit', 'down' and stay are all valuable aids.

In any case, I would not neuter him. Firstly, because this is not aggressivenes, and 2ndly neutering almost never helps aggression unlesss female dogs in heat are involved. Also, as Ruthcatrin and I have mentioned in other posts, there is a very high correlation between osteosarcoma and neutering.

 

[musicdeb]

I agree with musicdeb that he is being playful, not aggressive. Do you go out in the garden and actively play with him whilst he is out there? I don't know what games DDBs like, but our EM really enjoys fetch. It is something we can play together that does not involve 'roughhousing' and wears Boris out so he is ready to come in and relax.

Do you have to go into the garden to attract his attention -- where he runs up and jumps on you? Or can you call him from the door? If you have to go out in the garden, I would start getting him to come to the door by offering treats and praise when he obeys. Make sure he knows 'sit', and tell him to sit before you open the door for him. When he is sitting quietly, let him come in and give him a treat and/or lots of praise. If he starts leaping about on you at the door, say 'no!' firmly but not angrily ,close it and walk away until he has settled. Then try again.

If he behaves this way in the house, then, as mucicdeb said, say 'no' or 'OWW', and try to redirect by putting a toy in his mouth. If this doesn't work, immediately stop interacting, fold your arms and turn your back. If he leaps on or nibs your back or legs, walk away to a room he doesn't have access to. Teaching 'sit', 'down' and stay are all valuable aids.

In any case, I would not neuter him. Firstly, because this is not aggressivenes, and 2ndly neutering almost never helps aggression unlesss female dogs in heat are involved. Also, as Ruthcatrin and I have mentioned in other posts, there is a very high correlation between osteosarcoma and neutering.

Hitting the "like" button

 

[Tilley]

Thanks for the help I am re considering neutering till he's older I am going to carry on training but I have to admit when he growls at me and snaps I feel quite nervous but I'm not going to give up as I think he's just testing me

 

[Jadotha]

Well, have a go with those techniques. Re: The growling..... Before we got him settled down, Boris (like our previous puppies) growled ferociously when he was leaping on us trying to play. But this kind of growling was completely different from his growl when he seriously on the alert and/or expressing discomfort with something. Play growling sounded louder --from the throat -- and was accompanied by attempting to mouth, grabbing clothes and jumping excitedly. Ears are forward and engaged, tail down and wagging, no hackles. His serious growl, which I've only heard on a couple of occasions, is a deep rumbling in his chest, whilst he is standing on guard with hackles raised, tail up and stiff, face taut, staring at the 'threat'

When you say 'snapping' -- do you mean opening and closing his mouth whilst jumping around trying to take your arm or hand into his mouth and/or nipping (which is how I interpreted your first post)? Or do you really mean lunging at you whilst growling seriously,and trying to bite you with intent to harm? The first is just playing, and should be an easy fix. If you really mean the 2nd (which actually would greatly surprise me given his age and your first description of his behaviour), then I would get a behaviourist involved immediately.

Again, if you conclude it is play biting, the risk of his actually hurting you is very low. I have a few ripped clothes, scratches and gouges from Boris because his teeth are needle sharp, but he never gave me -- or any of the rest of the family -- a bite or puncture wound. In terms of his progress, he has gone from the Bitey Demon Dog From Hell to bringing us a toy if he wants to play, and very gently holding our hands or wrists in his mouth with no pressure exerted whatsoever. I know it's easier said than done, but try to at least pretend you feel confident when you interact with him.

 

[Tilley]

Most of the time he does play when grabbing my arm but recently when I approach him to get him in he growls and tries to bite me when I get his collar which does scare me

 

[BeauxJaxson]

I have a 7m.o DDB, who can snap at me and jump up and nip at my butt on walks if he feels I am not being attentive enough. I attribute these stints of bed behavior to being spoiled and forgetting his place in the household. Normally he is submissive and knows I am the boss but sometimes (more frequently then I like) he gets excited and likes to show off. Annoying I know but I jsut try to stick to my routine and discipline him as usual. People who witness this behavior on walks think my Dogue is possessed and roll their eyes when I tell them he is friendly

I'm hoping this will all pass in time........

 

[Jadotha]

@ Tilley

Oh, ok, the clarification is helpful. It sounds to me that most of his behaviour is play, but what you described about the growling whilst getting him in is more serious. I am assuming you go out to him in your garden and grab his collar, and it is during this that he growls and snaps at you. This is actually not an uncommon problem with dogs who don't want to go somewhere their owners want them to go or to get off beds and sofas. I would also imagine that you are somewhat irritated at him and yelling when he doesn't obey, and when he growls ????? You don't want to discourage growling because it is a dog's first warning that he is uncomfortable with a situation. If you suppress the growling, you could end up with biting becoming his first defense.

First of all, don't yell or sound angry (if you have been), and don't grab his collar with your hand. The first step is to convince him it is going to be more rewarding to come in rather than staying outside. So try calling him from the door, sounding enthusiastic and offering high value treats. When he come in, spend some time playing with him (with toys -- not letting him use your hands and arms as chew toys) , and giving him affection and attention so he associates coming in with good things.

It does sound like there is some boundary testing going on as musicdeb suggested. So I would also suggest you begin asking for and rewarding other day-to-day obedient behaviours, e.g., giving a command such as 'sit' before the dog is allowed to eat, go outside, get treats, wait for a leash to be snapped on prior to walks and so on. This is a very mild form of NILF -- which I don't like in its more extreme versions -- and is basically teaching and rewarding the dog for listening to you and demonstrating good manners.

 

[musicdeb]

Titan used to growl at me if I tried to force him to walk. I would leave him alone for a couple of minutes and then try again. At first I was afraid that he would bite me. I realized he would not bite me, he was telling me I do not want to go right now. After the first few times of just putting the leash on him without even thinking he might growl at me worked like a charm. He no longer growls at me and I believe it's because I'm no longer afraid of him.