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Help! GR's dominating!

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virtualblue
Novice

Jan 8, 2005, 6:12 PM

Post #1 of 15 (1711 views)
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Help! GR's dominating!	Can't Post

Hello everyone. I'm a GR first time owner, in fact, my first time owning a dog. His name is Riley, aged 7 months. I'm starting to have difficulty coping up with him as he grows older. He's acting a tad snobbish for a GR, he doesn't seem to get along with pretty much all dogs, eg, just yesterday he was 'playing' with a husky and in less than 5 min, he started to bite and growl and things turned really ugly. Another incident would be when I try to stop him from being too active (jumping onto me non-stop, jumping onto me when I kneel down, biting me), he would try to snap me and that could get really painful at times. When I bring him out for walks, he would pull me along the way instead of me guiding him. He's becoming much too strong for me to control where we should go whenever we're out on walks. I've tried to be really firm with him, yet he doesn't seem to get the message that I am the boss in the relationship. Can anyone advise me on how to deal with all these? Thanks!

kelsey
K9 Maniac

Jan 8, 2005, 6:53 PM

Post #2 of 15 (1707 views)
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Re: [virtualblue] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

male GR? it could be the pre-teenager years. has he always been like this or its just lately? if this has long happen, then it could be temperament problem. there a lot of training tips and its really a hassle to type it all again, do a search. buy a good book and see how they do it. patience, kindness works best with a GR. your GR sounds aggressive and dominating.

you just need more aggressive with training him, no "ifs", "buts", "why". for the biting, walk away from him when he start biting, unless u r brave, a dog that show teeth may bite even harder. GR hates to be ignored. dogs in general live in a pack and hate to be out of it. if he returns to good behaviour, praise and treat. bad behaviour, walk away from him. sooner he will see that bad things, no play & isolation and good things, praise and treat. you are going to face much worse situation when he is in teenage years (1 - 2 years old). GR are slow to mature so some may even still be a puppy when he is 2 yrs old.

if u can curb this problem now. you will have less headache when the "ball hit a home run". worst case either buy a cheap muzzle or send him to OB class.

virtualblue
Novice

Jan 8, 2005, 7:02 PM

Post #3 of 15 (1702 views)
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Re: [kelsey] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm actually sending him for OB. Already his 3rd class, he has no problems obeying simple commands like sit, stand and down (well, these are just the commands we've learnt thus far). But what really concerns me is when he's out of the training session, when he's at home with us and when he's out with other dogs. Yeah, he's always been like this.

michelleteh
Dog Kichi

Jan 8, 2005, 7:54 PM

Post #4 of 15 (1702 views)
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Re: [virtualblue] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Virtualblue

I am a first time owner of a GR too. His name is Baskin and he is about 4 months now. During the first few weeks after having him, I'm beginning to have doubts. As far as I've known, a GR's temperament is by far his greatest quality. Their gentleness and sweetness is what has drawn so many people to this breed. However, that description does not fit my dog. He was impossible; snapping at our faces, biting on our hands, digging and pulling out plants and other behaviour problems.

I then posted my problems here and received some good advices from a few forumers. I bought a book specifically on GR and learned so much from it.

We should always provide them with toys, things to chew, physical activities and etc in order to stimulate their brain . They have too much energy in them and they need a way to release them. If you did not provide them with enough stimulation activities, this is when common behaviour problems begin.

Another solution is to send Riley for training. Basic obedience training will solve problems like jumping on people and pulling on his leash. I would advice you to join those group training rather than those 1 to 1 so that Riley will get to socialise with other dogs, hence improving his socialising skills.

Baskin is on training now, so far attended 2 classes. I also bring him out for walks every other day. Sometimes after the walk I will fill up a basin of water to let him play in and cool down. Good way to release energy Tongue

. Now I noticed that there is so much improvement on his temperament. He still have the itch to digging and pulling out plants and can be very stubborn at times Crazy

virtualblue
Novice

Jan 8, 2005, 8:06 PM

Post #5 of 15 (1697 views)
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Re: [michelleteh] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hello Michelle. Thanks for the reply. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm sending him for training, and yes, it's a group training. I don't know if it helps much in terms of improving his socializing skills. I notice he doesn't get along with other dogs in our group, well, not just in our group but pretty much all dogs we met along. Crazy

michelleteh
Dog Kichi

Jan 8, 2005, 8:07 PM

Post #6 of 15 (1697 views)
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Re: [virtualblue] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hui ya...... I type for so long till my post also outdated already Blush

virtualblue
Novice

Jan 8, 2005, 8:30 PM

Post #7 of 15 (1693 views)
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Re: [michelleteh] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

It's ok, I guess you must have missed it. Wink

How is Baskin doing with the training? Responded well? Riley doesn't seem so enthusiastic about it. Ok, probably it's my fault.. not a good mistress. Frown

kelsey
K9 Maniac

Jan 9, 2005, 6:30 AM

Post #8 of 15 (1678 views)
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Re: [virtualblue] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

virtual blue, i think i know where ur problem stand. your GR don't seems to know what is his purpose to be at your house! you send him for trainign but u must also practise this at home. never let your GR or dog decide what it want to do except during walks as they can tell you when they have enough and too tired. briefly plan a schedule for ur pup. decide when he has to eat, walk and others. don't do the "i think he is hungry now and i must feed". this makes him think ok..why is this here? i am not sure why i am suppose to eat now. this is just for example ok.

dont worry about being less enthusiatic, meeting other dogs in OB is good for him to control himself. leash training is good, when u r at home, try having him walk on the leash and give him command. if he growls at you, growl back at him till he backs off. don't hit him. if ur house is big and have enough room, tie the leash around ur waist so he can follow you when you move, this instills you are boss to him. i won;t worry about the dog fight with the husky, he is probably bored, the dog will know when to stop and who is dominating which area.

if he has always been like this, sadly i could also blame poor breeding (temperament problem), but can't really assess unless interact with your doggie. you can make training at home interesting for him. allocate say 15 minutes a day and choose a quiet place, have very good treat, i find small lamb cubes works very well. work more on his sit, stand and down that you learned in OB and treat him. once you see he is excited (tail wagging like mad), you can teach him more than he learn in OB. stop ur training when he is less interested, when you see this coming, make him do a command he know, treat him and end the session and say something like :finish: and pet him.

time, patience and kindness works really well with any dogs. i have a 6 months GR that is "home school" by me and she knows more than sit, stand and down. allocate some of ur time with him , u will see a lot of improvement in him. good luck.

p/s - coming to K9 day?

michelleteh
Dog Kichi

Jan 9, 2005, 8:43 AM

Post #9 of 15 (1676 views)
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Re: [kelsey] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I must really salute you. I've read many postings from you and I think the way you care for Roxy is really something one should follow.

Roxy's ability on basic commands and tricks really shows that you have done a great job on house training her. Huh.... if only Baskin is a bit like Roxy. Well, not saying that Baskin is no good, just that he is smart in a mischevious way Crazy

.

Who will ever guess that for someone who previously had bad experiences with dogs have now become someone with good examples to follow regarding dogs!

michelleteh
Dog Kichi

Jan 9, 2005, 8:59 AM

Post #10 of 15 (1673 views)
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Re: [virtualblue] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Don't blame yourself, I'm sure Riley feels you're the best for him

. Maybe you can train him in a way he enjoy most, like maybe reward him with delicious treats if he likes to eat or with toys if he likes to play. The next thing you know, he will look forward to training time.

As for Baskin, he is food motivated. His response is okay, but then sometimes he can be quite stubborn which makes me want to strangle him Tongue

kelsey
K9 Maniac

Jan 10, 2005, 5:06 PM

Post #11 of 15 (1651 views)
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Re: [michelleteh] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

michelle it was really good meeting you at K9 day. too bad baskin is not there. well maybe male is more stubborn than female. i thank roxy for her co-operation in training, i know it would not be done if it was not for her. i think she thinks i am just a crazy human and she knows i wont give up to give a command and just follow lah.. Laugh

well roxy is an indoor dog, so she really needs to get in her head that my TV remote control is not for playing and just because her picture is on our laptop, that doesnt mean there is another dog in the house..haha i have recorded my voice on our laptop and whenever i am in the bathroom, my husband likes to play my voice calling out "roooooooxxxxxxyyyyyyyy, rrrrooooooooxxxxyyyy", it just drives her nuts and trying to find me..haha so bad him ah!

GRs are smart,they are about the same in comparison anyways. she is home-school, so i have to spend a lot of time on her. plus we want her to be a semi-service dog. helping us around the house, passing things among family member and things like that. right now i am doing things to her that i think a child of 1 - 4 years will do. i pull her tail, i check her ears, i hit her gently on her butt, i touch butt when she is not looking, i pin her down and play with her, i touch her nose and anything i could think about and she should not show teeth or aggression. this is so she will get used to it lah.

oh virtualblue, if you give your doggie work to do, you will be amazed on how he wants to please you and get it done!

hope baskin is doing great in clicker training!

michelleteh
Dog Kichi

Jan 11, 2005, 6:08 AM

Post #12 of 15 (1629 views)
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Re: [kelsey] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi kelsey. It was good meeting you too. I hope I didn't scare you by approaching so suddenly.

Anyway, I remember reading that Roxy stops chewing on grass after you fed him with cucumber. Hmmm..... wonder if it works with Baskin? Angelic

Do you feed her the whole cucumber or without the seeds?

kelsey
K9 Maniac

Jan 11, 2005, 6:24 AM

Post #13 of 15 (1625 views)
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Re: [michelleteh] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

hey michelle, i am very surprised that you know me...haha the picture of hubby worked well! i was hoping to meet daisy too but don't see her. i did see a few very small GR puppies about 3 months but i doubt it is daisy, she must be like 4 months same age with baskin right?

actually i also feed her other veggie. i give slice the cucumber and cube them and then give it to her with skin and no seed. but after that i give her puree carrots & veggies and freeze it and come out like popsicle. try it. nowadays, i blend banana with some chicken, carrots, a bit of guava mix with chicken stock and put in plastic cup, freeze it and give it to her, she loves it!

try it and let me know k

michelleteh
Dog Kichi

Jan 11, 2005, 11:19 PM

Post #14 of 15 (1611 views)
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Re: [kelsey] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

heh.... heh.... yup... can straight away recognise your hubby from the 'sleep' photo. Wink

I saw the two GR pups too. So cute and chubby. I doubt they are 3 months, to me they looked more like 2 months and below. Baskin does not have that kind of puppy look when I got him. Maybe for the 1st week or so, couldn't remember. Didn't have any photos of him during then Frown

.

I met Wendy during training. Put Daisy and Baskin together, it's like I'm starving my boy Unsure

. Unlike Baskin, which is more creamish in colour, Daisy is very golden, like Roxy and Ben.

Oh.. thanks for the recipe. Right now I'm giving him plain ice cubes, which he loves it so much. I think, he'll go crazy if I freeze up your recipe

. Dogs nowadays are so good life

.

BTW, is it okay to feed them beef? I wanted to give him raw but my mom already cooked some of it so I mixed them with his kibbles.

kelsey
K9 Maniac

Jan 12, 2005, 6:11 AM

Post #15 of 15 (1598 views)
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Re: [michelleteh] Help! GR's dominating! [In reply to]	Can't Post

ohh. too bad u didn't take pictures of him when he is younger, they grow so fast. yes those 2 pups looks about 9 - 10 weeks. they are what i like to call roxy when she was younger, stuffed toys with batteries, only now she looks more like a dog than a toy.

i am not sure about feeding beef as i know raw beef or beef for that matter contain uric acid which can cause athritis (sp?) in older life.i feed my pup lamb instead. there is a lot of talk about raw and cooked food. both have it's own pros and cons and it's based on your dog's preference. the major concern about giving raw meat is bacteria can cause tummy upset in our furkids. so if u r concern, boil the meat for 1 minute to kill at bacteria before giving to your pup.

i actually will grill the meat for about 2 minutes and let the fat drip and it's still in "rare" state and give it to roxy and she loves it. so we will see what others say about raw beef.