From: Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca (Valaria Vorlop)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Help: Bedtime growling
Date: 9 Oct 92 23:25:19 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

Carol Mount writes:

>Anyway, our dog typically falls asleep on the couch before my bedtime (I'm
>watching TV on the couch).  We try to get her up to move her (by picking
>her up.  I typically reach in and touch her tummy area) and she GROWLS at
>us.  More recently, she's been trying to SNAP at us also. This behavior is
>swiftly getting unacceptable.  I think I should be able to get her up off
>the couch.   This is the most agressive behavior we've seen from her.
>
>Any suggestions?  Should we not try to pick her up and try something
>else?
>
>Is this just a case where we're not showing her
>who the boss really is?

I might try this: make sure she has a collar and leash on before the time
she usually gets up on the couch...just let her drag it around. When it's
bed time, take the end of the leash and command "Fifi, OFF!" in a firm
voice, once only. If she knows this command or one like it already but does
not get off the couch, JERK her off the couch then praise her for being on
the floor and put her to bed. If she doesn't understand an OFF command yet,
just use the leash to firmly guide/pull her off of the couch when you give
the command, then praise, until she begins to understand what you want.
After a while you should probably be able to quit using the leash when she
obeys consistently.

She might be testing you in other ways that you are not yet aware of, and I
would watch for them: disobeying commands you know she knows, guarding food
or toys from you, even things like being first through doorways can mean
'alpha postition' in a dogs mind. You might be doing many subtle things
that she sees as an indication that she can take over, so moniter your and
her behaviour for a while and see if there are other things you need to
work on. As you noticed already, dominance challenges are a problem that
get worse if they aren't corrected effectively. Work on the rest of her
obedience too, such as long down/stays and recalls.

That you mention picking her up indicates to me that you might be babying
or spoiling her too much which many people do especially with smaller dogs.
Unfortunately what means LOVE to you can mean "I'm number ONE!" to the dog.
I would pay particular attention to ways in which you baby her...carrying
her when she COULD walk, letting her have her way 'cos "she's just so
cute!", always giving her attention and catering to her the moment she
demands anything. I'm not saying you have to stop doing these sorts of
things entirely, just until you get the situation back under control and
once it is, you must make sure that you baby her on YOUR terms, not hers.

On the other hand, it IS possible that your dog has pain in some area of
her body that you are touching when you go to pick her up, especially if
this has developed recently and she's not showing any other dominant
behavior. You might want to have a vet check her first.

--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca    I cried because I had no shoes
or:      a4080@mindlink.bc.ca         Until I met a man who had no feet.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                          - ???
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs