Our 10 week old puppy growling, snapping and biting when picking up to take outside for potty

[Kathryn Clark]

Our 10 week old Dewey growls, snaps and bites whenever I have to take him outside to potty. Unfortunately we live in San Francisco in a house full of steep slippery stairs so I have no choice in the matter and I have to pick him up to take him outside for potty breaks. We had a trainer over who  taught us to say "gotcha" and put our hand near his back at various times throughout the day and give him a treat every time to have a positive association. He also just doesn't like to be touched on his back ever. I can't wait until he's big enough to handle the stairs on his own but until then, any advice would be helpful. Having a nippy, twisty puppy while navigating stairs is no fun!

[Wasseem Sidhom]

No advice...but make sure you get him used to being touched ASAP. Walking down the stairs is going to be the least of your problems if he "hates" being touched on his back!!!

Have you thought that something might be bothering his back and that's why he doesn't like to be touched there?

[Kathryn Clark]

Agreed! Our trainer was really concerned about it too so she gave us lots of tips but wondered if there were other labradoodles that had issues with this since he's so easy to train in every other way but this one. We have a vet appt this week and I'll definitely ask about back issues. Thanks!

[Susan and Bentley]

We had the same issue with Bentley when we first got him.  He did not like to be picked up, and did not like to be pushed.  It took a long time for him to get over this.  Our trainer told us just because dogs are little, it doesn't mean they like to be picked up.  So we only pick him up if he shows us he wants to.  That's just his personality.  At 18 months old he does let us pick him up, but if someone else were to try, then he would snap at them.  So I don't let anyone pick him up.  But we did not have the issue you do with the steps, it's much more difficult for you.  Keep up the positive reinforcement!

[Kathryn Clark]

Good to know we're not alone here but too bad it took a long time for Bentley to feel better about it! Hopefully he'll grow fast enough to handle those stairs! He's mastered some of the easy ones at least. Thanks!

[Susan and Bentley]

yes, Bentley learned our stairs very quickly.  It all takes time!

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

I have no advice, either., Both of mine have no problem getting picked up. He IS a cutie, though! Hopefully it passes.

Best of luck!

[Kathryn Clark]

Lucky you! Thanks. Yours is adorable too!

[Karla Hintz]

We had the same issue with our Goldendoodle puppy...our breeder told us , when holding her and she is growling...grab her head and hold it close to our chest and say Ah Ah very stern! When she calms down, tell her good girl and rub her head and face...reinforcing food girl! Took a few times, but she has outgrown it, every once in awhile she will growl...usually when she is tired and doesn't want to be bothered. But I was told to stay being the alpha! Hope this helps, I know we were really scared at first!

[Kathryn Clark]

Thanks, Karla. I'll try this since this is similar to what we've been doing when he gets nippy at our legs (sigh, that too) a loud Ah Ah and we leave the room and ignore him for 10 seconds. That worked really well very quickly. It is a bit of a shock when they growl and snap at you!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I know this is not at all rare, and not just Doodles. Someone posted about this not too long ago.

http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/growling-behavior-dogs-picked-up-2269...

[Kathryn Clark]

Thanks Ro! Sounds like we're on the right track from the article but this 'trick' may take a little longer for him to learn.

[Susan and Bentley]

My breeder and my trainer said some dogs don't feel safe when the are picked up.  So if he doesn't like it, not to do it.  So we stopped picking him up.  Now, he is much better and sometimes wants to be picked up.  We have been using only positive reinforcement.