Deteriorating Behavior- 7 month old labradoodle

[SAS]

So relieved to have found this website and group (sorry for no puppy pic, they’re on my better half’s phone)! Hoping that you’re willing to share some advice. We’ve had Maggie a month and over that time her behavior has deteriorated from calm to increasing episodes of fearful and aggressive. 

Background: She started obedience training the week we brought her home. She gets 2 short walks and 1 longer walk a day.  Plus there is play time in the yard and obedience practice.  I am home most of the day, so she is only crated when I’m out and at nite. She growls at the cats in the house (they are on different floors, separated by a baby gate). She growls when meeting new people or dogs (even after correction) and has started barking for as long as anyone is in front of the house or if she hear loud noises.  And, she now growls at my other half when approached while enjoying a high-value treat.

I’m working off the assumption that she doesn’t believe we’re the ‘alphas’ despite what is being done to establish that (people out doors/down stairs first, people eat first, snap and release leash corrections, calmly ignoring her when reunited).  Any suggestions on what else can be done to change this? Thx

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

You don't say where she came from and what her background was.  This would be important in determining why she is displaying these behaviors.  As these are serious issues you need to find a good trainer who can work with you at home.  Obedience classes are important but this needs more one to one work where a trainer can observe what is going on.  I am not an expert and there are others here far more experienced and I'm hoping they will weigh in here too.

[SAS]

Thanks! Yes, we spoke with our trainer last night and are setting something up.  To answer your question- she came from a reputable breeder.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Please also post this in the group 

Training - Experiences, Challenges, and Mindsets

[Adina P]

It is possible that the first month she was still 'adjusting' to her new home and calm due to that...but perhaps this is more her  true nature coming through. HOWEVER, this is also a period in dog development called the 'second fear period' so perhaps that has come in to play too.  You are doing all the right things it seems, though it's always possible there is some error in the execution of something (which your trainer should be able to spot and address), so it just may take continuing on past this stage until you reach that superb obedience.  How is she doing in her obedience otherwise?  What progress has she made from start till now?  And what is her background?

Barking at things outside, pretty normal and wouldn't concern me on its own.  Growling when eating a high value treat...well I would eliminate those treats for a while.  Less to fight over.  Gain her allegiance first.  The rest should also fall in line with time and a good training method.

[SAS]

Thanks!  I agree with you about barking at things outside. I should have included that she barked for over 30 minutes with hardly a break as she was impossible to distract.

 

She's great at heeling (and didn't know how when we brought her home), but selective about sit (it takes either treats or light pressure from our fingers to enforce the command), she only does sit-stay voluntarily when it involves something she wants, down is always a battle of wills. We're working on leave it and come.

[Adina P]

Will she heel around distractions, while dogs or people pass by that she can see out the window?  Personally I would never enforce with treats.  But that's because to me 'enforce' means something you do AFTER you've given a command and the dog does not properly respond.  Offering treats at that point turns the treat into a bribe rather than a reward and changes the whole training dynamic.  I mean in an emergency situation where you HAD to get your dog to do X, do what it takes.  However, in day to day enforcement and day to day purposeful training I believe there needs to be an expected unpleasant consequence to not following a command. Pressure from fingers is more of a reminder...the equivalent of raising your voice and asking again or giving the 'mom look' -- that's fine with kids, but I think in dog training, once the dog knows what a command means and what he should do in response, the follow through has to include either a reward for the correct choice/behavior or a correction.  A correction really should be something the dog wants to avoid and motivates the dog to choose the right behavior.  Of course those who train simply with positives would say the reward needs to be very strong and motivates the dog to choose the correct behavior--either way I guess.  I find better results with correction/reward rather than just reward. 

Down can definitely be a battle of wills...it is asking the dog to assume a more vulnerable/submissive position and to do it willingly without acting all wimpy and submissive and mopey.

[SAS]

I haven't used healing indoors as a distraction technique; we will test that out this weekend. I'd say we've been using both correction and reward in training.  It sounds like we need to be even stricter.

Thank you for being so willing to offer advice!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

1. If you haven't already get pet insurance.

2. I would take her and have a complete physical by a vet including full thyroid panel. We have seen a number of doodles in rescue that have personality changes like  you are describing have low to almost no thyroid hormone. Easy and inexpensive meds. She might be too young for this to be an issue but I am no vet and all I can do is tell you what I know, 

3. Where did Maggie spend the months prior to you getting her at 6 months? I will be very interested in knowing if she was 'returned' to the breeder for these issues. Sounds kind of strange for them to all of a sudden just appear. Again I am no vet nor a breeder - just a DM. 

4. NO high value treats for her at all and maybe never if she continues with this bratty behavior.

5. I am thrilled that you are already in touch with your trainer. Just make sure that this trainer is a positive one. Sounds like Maggie has some fear aggression and IMHO positive training works best especially with any fear issues. 

I used to 'own' the front door and somehow it seems that our 3 doodles own the front door. I have decided to take it back. Sometimes it does take several times opening and closing of the door to get all 3 to sit and pay attention and look at me and not move until I say 'okay'. Now all 5 humans are doing the same thing at the front door so it is getting a bit better. We all take a back step in training and it sounds like you are doing all the right things. 

Good luck and paws crossed that Ms. Maggie is just being a brat and you get it under control real quick!!