Dominate Behavior With Just Me

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I have a 6 month old english doodle .... Tucker is a wonderful social puppy but he is a lot of work !! I started to think I drew the short stick and got the defective uncontrollable dog. Currently Tucker and I are in a match for leadership... he is very dominating towards me at times ... jumping at me, showing his teeth and placing his mouth and teeth on my arm ( not too hard ) but definitely trying to position his rank. Some days he is great other days he doesn't listen well. We have a trainer but he just seems to have a mind of his own ( the dog that is ) he just doesn't want to listen to me ... he is great when the trainer is around but the minute he is gone he will challenge my direction . Our dog is actually quite submissive and friendly with all people and other animals ...a very good companion, his attitude is just with me. I am the main caregiver so I can't step away from the situation.
He also loves to dig and eat trees - how does one elivate this problem - he just ate my husband dogwood right down to the soil....

I hear you need to be patient with doodles during the training period does anyone have advise? Can anyone suggest what may work with training a dog to come and walk beside you?

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

This particular behavior seems to be a doodle favorite! One of my doodles, Roo, is just now at 18 months really pretty good about the whole in your face thing. Tigger, my 10 month old rarely jumps at all on anyone. The difference is in the dog. Roo is high energy, excitable and adores people. Tigger is mellow, quieter and isn't as interested in being the center of attention all the time, typical second child LOL. The discussions on Doodlekissses are full of variations on this jumping mouthing thing. I am pretty sure this is not a dominance issue. It is just a puppy behavior. Jumping at you, showing teeth and mouthing and teeth on your arm are all things puppies do to each other. I am pretty sure he is just trying in his puppy way to get you to play. Work on leash training at least 15 minutes a day, walking calmly, heel, sit, down and practice sit and down all day long at odd times. Also at odd times during the day teach him leave it with a treat in your hand. This is a good command to get him to move his head/mouth away. Try to keep treats in your pocket, so he always gets a reward when he sits or downs on command. Play with him briefly 1-2 minutes every once in awhile, so he gets the idea that you iniate play and you end play. Always end play with the same word - like "enough". When he jumps on you and/or mouths you say "enough" ( or whatever word you are using) and move TOWARD Tucker. Your instinct, of course, is to back away. This says to Tucker, "Yes, I want to play" as this is what other puppies would do. As you move TOWARD him say only "enough" in a calm firm voice.

When you say come and walk beside you - do you mean without a leash? If you mean without a leash, I will assume you are in the house or a fenced yard with no distractions. Outside of the house without a leash in an unfenced area,Tucker is way to young. Do not use the word "come" unless you have a way to enforce it. I use "lets go" to mean follow me. To start this behavior, let Tucker know that you have treats in your hand. Put one treat in your left hand and hold it relaxed at your side with the treat in the palm between your thumb and forefinger. Walk beside him on the right side so he can smell the treat in your hand. Say "lets go" , if he moves to follow you he will almost certainly nuzzle your hand. If he does, release the treat so he can have it. Repeat several times. Over a period of two weeks to a month you increase the time he must follow you until he gets the treat. By a month he will follow (if there are no distractions) from the far back yard to the treat can in the house without any treats in your hand.

As to the tree - tough one - pretty hard to persuade a puppy not to chew on anything that is appealing unless you are right there. I assume you let him in the yard by himself with DH's dogwood. You can try circling the tree with squirrel fencing or similar, up past a height that is chew friendly. This works sometimes, other times it is just even more fun for a determined chewer. Make sure there are plenty of appropriate chew toys in the yard. Good luck on this one!

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

Enjoyed your response.. AND learned and learned some things!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

You're welcome! When I first got my Roo I felt just like you do. I have had Huskies all my life and this jumping, mouthing thing just is not an issue with them. They have other issues. I was so certain Roo would be perfect I forgot for awhile that he was a puppy. Glad to hear your pup is on a leash all day. That is an excellent idea. Good luck and don't forget to enjoy the puppiness!