Sweet Puppy to Aggressive Psycho - Need Some Help Because Not Sure I Can Do This On My Own

[Ang Onorato]

Hi -

I brought home a 10 week old Goldendoodle on 12/30/12, she is now 17 weeks.   My friend got her "cousin" (different parents) from the same breeder and so far has had a very different experience than I have had.  Nikka is just a gorgeous dog.  Super snuggly but from the first few days and weeks I got her, a very very alpha / dominate / aggressive side has also come out in her.    This is a problem for me for many reasons:

First, because I am single and have a very demanding job and often have to travel, so I have an "army" of caretakers.  I have an overnight house sitter, a day dog walker, my sisters and parents who also help and a neighbor when needed.  I lost my 11 year old BFF pup last April and was able to travel etc with no issues b/c I had all this help but my old dog was also so easy with other dogs, cats, kids, seniors (my parents etc). 

I have taken on a huge financial commitment which I was prepared to do in order to help "build" the new puppy and give her everything she needs to learn and grow - yet be a safe and obedient family member.  I have installed a fence in my back yard, we go to puppy classes and I have a private in home trainer as well.  She goes to day care  2-3 days a week for socialization and loves it!  She does well there.

However, she has had numerous issues going after my sister and friend's dogs, a few dogs at the dog park, lunging and growling and has become extremely aggressive at times with me, my mom - and even the dog trainer, when we attempt to make her "drop it" and take something out of her mouth that she can not have.  I work to train her daily - 100s of time now since I got her to open her mouth, let me put my hands in her mouth etc.. but every once in awhile on a walk she will grab something - often harmful - that I try to take from her and she has gone ape sh&t on me!!!  She runs after me in the house often lunging and biting hard at the back of my legs - not just puppy playing either. I know the difference! 

She growls, shows her teeth, tightens her body, her eyes get crazy, she barks, lunges, bites, grabs on to my cuff of my jacket and wont let go.  She did it 3x to my mom last weekend when my mom was watching her when I had to go away and it really scared my mom!  Mom did what I told her to do - and what the trainer/breeder also advised to do.  Put her in a sit/down - even on her side, be very stern but calm with her, held her until she looks away passively. 

The biggest issues is the unpredictabliity of when she is going to snap at a person or another dog. She had been fine with my cat and now is loud and chasing him semi-aggressively when the cat tries to come downstairs. Now the cat wont go to the basement via his cat door to use the litter box and is going in my bathroom - so now I have a secondary problem resulting from Nikka's bad behavior. 

 It is like she is developing toy, treat and space resource guarding.. EVEN THOUGH I work every day to have her let me take her food, her treats etc. She has never had a guarding issue with humans but with dogs/cats etc. 

My friend's puppy is only a week older and has NEVER had any of these issues outside of normal puppy nipping/teething etc.   So I have been in tears on more than many occassions b/c I dont know what is "wrong" with my dog.  We can't even go to the dog park any more or around my friend's dog.  I have learned their may be some issue she just is not good around and I can make accomodations for that - some of  the little dogs bug her and its not her fault - so I recognize its not all her. But the very very aggressive "attacking' at me and others when removing something from her mouth - or her sudden turn on other dogs when playing is a big concern for me.  I have had the vet check out everything and I am keen to make sure she is not getting TOO much play time and just getting tired and cranky. 

I do not let her on the furniture yet so she can't think she is alpha, I work daily at training to make sure she knows all basic commands (she does) and we work on the alpha things like "leave it, drop it" etc when others things/distractions are around.

Basically I am doing EVERYTHING I can do  - at great cost, time and stress levels.   The problem is.. with her having issues with my sisters' dogs at the  moment, being aggressive with my 70 yr old mom - I hinders where and what I can do when I have to leave her.. and is a major issue especially with my job.  I have lots of help.. but at the moment - very few options b/c its unpredictable what she is going to do. I had to actually board her 2 nights last week b/c she was so agressive on the one day with my mom.  A few days later though..she was a dream for 4 days!!!!

My breeder says "some females are alpha but I have never had an  aggressive dog in 30 years.." Yeah Ok....

I was reading the other posts here and read some folks have experienced the same things - esp between the ages of 10-20 weeks. Which gave me SOME HOPE!!     I am HOPING she will grow out of this.. but if not.. and if she is this difficult and alpha and unpredictable - I may not be able to continue to provide her all the 24x7 strict training and etc she will need.  I only have 2 hands and 1 wallet and I am running out of options .. and time, energy and money. I can't conceive of finding a new home for her - but maybe a family that has more people to work harder with her is best, because at the moment I am just a huge stress ball and its effecting my job very bad, which I can't afford to get in trouble or lost my job ..b/c I KNOW what an awesome dog she is. She is SO smart and adorable and cuddly.. but I am at my wits end.

She has some great days in a row and then 1 or 2 horrible ones!  It IS getting better, I just dont' know how much more I can do on my own.  I just need some help...or some future reassurance this dog WILL grow out of it and I have not just adopted Cujo!!????

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

 

P.S. I live in Philly so if there are any local folks who may be able to connect, I would love to meet some local Doodle owners too!

 

Thank you,

Angie

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The bottom line; she works from home, her family and her trainer both say, " something is not right"

So, let's take it from there. 

My suggestion is to have more trainers evaluate this pup to start a planned an early intervention.  But, I think this pup sounds like my monster mean - toothed Spud who literately tried to kick my arse many days.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Totally agree Joanne!!! Good luck Ang!

[Ang Onorato]

THANK YOU JOANNE!  This is spot on!  I don't know where the idea that we don't exercise her came from either.  I put up a 5K fence just so we can play every day multiple times a day in the yard, on top of all the other activities we do on a daily basis.  This pup is so tired every night she crashes by 8pm.   However, her negative actions have been largely when walking and she picks something up OUTSIDE on a walk or during play time.  Hence.. red flags.. its unpredictable when she will react.90% of the time she is a DREAM.  

 

So I was just asking for similiar experiences like I said and some thoughts.  I will def catch your story and join the training group on DK.  

Funny thing is the one almost identical post I saw on an "aggressive" puppy on here was from a woman with a husband and 2 kids and they were all "afraid" of the dog and all the woman does is cry b/c she thought she was getting a "good" dog- yet not one person asked them why THEY got a puppy  - and they were not even doing half the socialization I am. 

Appreciate the positive insights and advice.  I am not looking for any more comments on the "chaos" and "tragedy" I am causing my dog - because it is simply not the case.  She is house broken, crate trained, knows all basic commands, a few tricks, gets plenty of exercise.  BUT has some behavioral issues which is WHY I also got a personal in home trainer to evaluate the behavior and why the person above that said "puppy classes should be enough" does not udnerstand this issue.  I AM trying to get ahead of the curve and nip potential issues in the bud.. hence..why I am here. 

I have seen dramatic improvements in here already - just asking for similiar stories and experiences.  As I am not finding another home for her and going with an "older mellow" dog.   I never have a problem with energetic puppy stuff..but borderline unpredictable behavior for no apparent reason needs to be addressed..that is my only point.

[Adina P]

Thanks for coming back on and clarifying for everyone.  I really think everyone meant well and perhaps we can from here on out we can properly seek answers with you now that we better understand the issue at hand.

[Enid Ferner]

Sorry, it's just that by your post there seemed to be so much going on in such a young puppy's life. Yes early socialization is extremely important but so is consistent handling by the same person. I just think you have way too many different people trying to manage this pup's behaviour. That's why she's confused.
I must admit I've had many many dogs and have never had any real behaviour issues, but i'm sure there are some pups out there that do have issues right from the start. But also I have never been in a situation where I've had to have other people constantly looking after my dog, so I guess I'm lucky.

[Adina P]

Enid, it doesn't seem to be that many people looking after her dog.  She just has more people 'trained' on how to do it properly when it needs to be done, but overall, it's her doing it 7 days a week most weeks.

[Enid Ferner]

I see, I must have misread her post I guess. Glad to hear that though...

[Ang Onorato]

I don't know what is going on that is "so" much in my puppies life other than training and lots of exercise and socialization. I never said my caretakers are "constantly looking after my dog".  I said I have that may people ALSO involved in her care WHEN it is needed.. and they are all equally involved in the same consistent training steps.  My dog walker and family attend the classes and training with me - as I mentioned above.  If my dog can not take the exact same training commands delivered from my mom as she does with me than its a problem. The problem is NOT too many people involved in her life. My family lives 4 blocks away.. we are together all the time.  Would it be a different scenario if my mom and sisters just lived in the same house with me?  They would still be in her life so I must be missing the point??  I know I put alot in my post - my bad!!  But everyone is taking and making claims about what the issue.. that is not the case. 

Again, I have had many dogs for over 20 yrs and also not these kinds of issues.  We have 4 dogs in my family and they go everywhere with us - we are a big extended Italian family - dogs included.  So people "in my dogs" life are not the issue.  But thanks ...

[Rebecca Chynoweth]

I think it sounds like you are doing a great job. I have frustrating days with Cooper (4.5 months) and sometimes I wonder if he will grow out of it or if I have a 'bad one.' He scares me sometimes but we are also working with a trainer and going to puppy classes and daycare. 

You are not alone - I pray that in a month I can come back here and say "it was just a phase!"

Rebecca

[Ang Onorato]

Rebecca.. THANK YOU! My post was not well written.. and what you describe is correct. She IS such a good dog and learning so much. But every once in a blue moon its like a light switch goes off and she does just what you described. In fact, luckily every day I AM seeing it getting less and less... I should not have posted when I was just in the midst of an exhausting day.. b/c fortunately I am already seeing such improvement! What came out really wrong in my post is that she is just an out of control, hyper and devil dog - and she is not. She is SO awesome like 85-90% of the time.. a dream. Smart. Learns new commands all the time. But, at times.. when she has something she wants - she has had times when she gets aggressive-like. So I was hoping others could validate and help me hang in there until this "phase" runs out..... thankfully I think that IS what is happening.. and I am really hoping for it!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I also just encouraged putting this discussion in the Training Group....Joanne we know that these signs can occur this early and what it means.  There are normal "fresh puppy" behaviors and then there are behaviors that are way more concerning. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank you, Jane!   I was so hoping you would come here.  I need you. So many, have never been told, " Hey, there is something not right here"  But, you and I have been told and we know exactly what this means.

I respect the opinions of those who have not been told, at a very early age, there appears to be something not right.

If you have not walked in these shoes, you may never know.

Let's take this one to the Training Group.   Let's talk Trainers   :)   Let's talk Training~!  I think we will have a much more positive direction. Let's get this one moving and help Ang and her dog live a long healthy life together.