Dominant Dogs....Do They Ever Change?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

As you all know, Murphy is a real challenge.  He is very pushy and his overall "personality" is dominant.  He is always testing, and spends every waking minute trying to figure out how to take over the house.  We have him on a pretty "tight leash" because of this....he has to earn everything and I correct every time I see him display dominance.  It's a full time job, but as a result he is now usually real good around the house, and the bullying of Guinness is under control.  The thing is I have to watch him like crazy, because that underlying mindset is always there....he's just looking for me to slip up.  Outside the house is a whole different story, and we are still dealing with his on leash reactiveness to some dogs.  I can take him on 10 walks and he'll do fine, and then on the eleventh walk something will set him off and the results are a disaster.  That's a whole different discussion though.  My real question is do dogs like this ever really change?  Will he be like this forever, and will we constantly have to manage his environment to the degree we do now?  We had a real bad dominance incident yesterday, and so now he's on "lock down" again.  He knows that I'm in no mood for him to push it so he's "tiptoeing" around me.  But I know him, and he'll be right back testing again....probably by this afternoon.  I've asked my trainer this, and he just keeps saying that all dogs are different and "lets not get too ahead of ourselves".  So, I'm just wondering if anyone has had experience with a dog like Murphy, and did it change as the dog got older?  Please say yes.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm not sure I'm special at all....it's just that there's no other choice.  I am so lucky that I have a DH who has chosen to be a partner in all this.  We have spent thousands on training, and he has never said a word about it.  He's with me for every training session, and he's totally onboard and enforces all of our "in house" rules.  He's pretty amazing.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

This sounds so hard, Joanne and Jane.  My heart goes out to you both.  I too, wish we lived closer to one another so that I could offer some respite care for each of you by taking your dogs so you could have some time out.  I am feeling very, very fortunate to have my biggest problem being unreliable recall with Seda.  Webber was initially a handfull, I thought, but nothing that wasn't cured by a year of training and a prong collar for back up. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be. Try to carve out some time for yourself away from the dogs just to get recharged.  I wish there was something I could do to help.  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thank you so much Linda!  Just knowing that I can come here and people will understand is a HUGE help when I hit these "lows".

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I will say, our problems are both reactive but yours does have a good chance when he  mellows with age.  I do not think mine can and most likely will get worse.

In the past I had labs. OMD, they are so hyper and nuts for 3 years, then suddenly become absolutely the best, loving, mellow dog.  It was like a light went off at 3 years on each one of them. 

Jane, you may just see some wonderful improvements with maturity.   :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I had a Lab for years too, and I know just what you mean.  This thing with Murph is way different though.  The scary thing is that now it doesn't happen that often, but when it does the reaction has escalated.  Yesterday for the first time his whole body was in a "stalking" position...that low to the ground, quiet state where they wait for just the "right moment".  It's the first time that has happened.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I SEE THE VISUAL!   Exactly.  Starlit does this with humans.   The stare, the stalk, the wait.....

Got it.  I understand now. It is not a lab thing that I was mentioning they outgrow.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This calming down is supposed to happen with Springers too, Joanne.  Ours is eight and still as hyper as he was when he was a puppy.  We have finally accepted that he is who he is and will get so excited when you come in the door that he will jump and whine and rejoice.  He will never accept being left alone and is starting not to accept being left with a dog brother either.  Yet he is the sweetest, most accepting dog in the world.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Jane, I keep forgetting to ask, " Are you okay?"  You fell down.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm fine....lots of Advil.  I have a bad back anyway and Osteopenia, so it could have been way worse.  That's why we have to get this under control.  He knocked me flat on my back....literally.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thanksgiving day, I landed on top of her as ran  to grab her from going after my son.   We are both fine but gesh.  Brings a whole new meaning to our recent family holidays.

My family hates it here but loves all the food.  it's a trade off.  Honestly, they think I'm nuts.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Mine think I'm nuts too, Joanne.  I don't tell them most of it.

[Carol Brand]

What do you mean?  I missed this.