So I took the dog in for her annual vet visit. She HATES the vet...she gets her nails clipped there every month or so and it takes 3 of them to hold her down. We've been having some behavior issues with her starting to growl at the kids friends when they come over with lots of loud barking (while her tail is wagging) and also growling at me if I go to snuggle her in the evening when she is resting (kind of like, "leave me alone!"). But neither is acceptable to me. Of course she never does this to Jason...he only has to look at her wrong and she runs and hides or rolls over and pees. I brought this up to the vet and basically she think of us as her pack. Jason is the alpha and right now she thinks she comes next! She believes that I am under her right now; how did this happen??!! Here's what we need to do to start rectifying it:
*Never feed her before we eat (which we have been doing for a long time. She's hungry and begging while I'm cooking so I have the kids feed her dinner before we sit down. Since she doesn't get lunch I thought I was being thoughtful...). In a pack the alpha dog eats first and then it does down until the lowest dog eats very last. So by feeding her first we were telling her that she is awful important.
*If we give her something to eat besides her kibble (chewie, etc.) we should pretend to eat it first/chew on it first before handing it to her. By doing this I am showing her I am above her, I get to chew on it first!
*I need to work with her on commands more (sit, stay, etc.) so she realizes I hold power over her.
*DO NOT allow her to growl at me at night. I let her lay on a little blanket at the bottom of our bed while I watch TV. Kick her off immed. when she growls. Last night I went to kiss her, she growled so I dumped her off.
*Be proactive with visitors. Keep her away from the kids friends. He recommended that we bring her crate back in too. Not as punishment but as a safe place to place her before kids come over and a safe retreat for her during the day when we're home (leaving door open). He also did not recommend we give her the run of the house while gone (she has the run of the upstairs on hard floors only). Gives her too much of a being in charge feeling.
I just can't get over that the dog really thinks she's above me!!
*Never feed her before we eat (which we have been doing for a long time. She's hungry and begging while I'm cooking so I have the kids feed her dinner before we sit down. Since she doesn't get lunch I thought I was being thoughtful...). In a pack the alpha dog eats first and then it does down until the lowest dog eats very last. So by feeding her first we were telling her that she is awful important.
*If we give her something to eat besides her kibble (chewie, etc.) we should pretend to eat it first/chew on it first before handing it to her. By doing this I am showing her I am above her, I get to chew on it first!
*I need to work with her on commands more (sit, stay, etc.) so she realizes I hold power over her.
*DO NOT allow her to growl at me at night. I let her lay on a little blanket at the bottom of our bed while I watch TV. Kick her off immed. when she growls. Last night I went to kiss her, she growled so I dumped her off.
*Be proactive with visitors. Keep her away from the kids friends. He recommended that we bring her crate back in too. Not as punishment but as a safe place to place her before kids come over and a safe retreat for her during the day when we're home (leaving door open). He also did not recommend we give her the run of the house while gone (she has the run of the upstairs on hard floors only). Gives her too much of a being in charge feeling.
I just can't get over that the dog really thinks she's above me!!
