Play time turns aggressive

[Carrie E]

OK- Malley is for the most part a well behaved quite 7 month old puppy. However, when you get to playing w/ her and she starts running around- she then gets really aggressive. She growls, jumps and nips to the point where I'm afraid she's actually going to start biting! Also a bad part is when the kids are running around the back yard playing- this is how she starts acting even if they are not really playing w/ her. I find myself making her stay in the house when the kids are out back... not good! She acts the same way w/ me when I play w/ her (sometimes- but not always). You can tell she's not trying to be a mean dog, she just doesn't know when to stop.
How can I put an immediate stop to this???!!!!!

[Lynne B]

I don't think you can stop it immediately, I doubt if it started over night, it probably just reached the point where you can't tolerate it, and fixing it will take time and effort. It sounds like she is playing with you and the kids like she would with other dogs.

I think the best approach is to put her on a tether when you or the kids play with her, when she gets too 'goofy' tell her no, then turn your back (or have the kids do the same) and move out of where she can reach you. When she has settled down turn back to her and praise and reward her. She needs to know that it is only when she is calm and well behaved that she will get attention. I would have the kids participate in training her, have them get her to sit, or down, and give her a treat when she does- again, only reward calm behavior.

Don't punish her for her getting rambunctious, she's just being a puppy. If she nips at anyone they should scream OWWWWW! as loud as they can, to let her know that she hurt them, that's what puppies do to each other, and again turn away from her and ignore her for a few minutes. If you haven't done so, I would enroll her in a puppy class, try to find one with a CPDT and/or APDT certified instructor, and bring the kids to the class and have them participate in her training.

[Adina P]

I agree with Lynne...the play is getting her over-excited and she's responding as a dog would when it plays with another dog. Totally normal. You could:

1) Play differently with her, in a way that doesn't get her as riled up as the way you play with her now. There are all sorts of games and ways to play with a dog that doesn't encourage jumping, etc.

2) Start working on teaching her to settle quickly in the middle of play. Working on obedience during play a little before she's completely over the top: sit, down, stay, then rewarding her with more play. I know one doodle owner who used a game of tug (done in a specific way) to teach her doodles (one with some behavior issues) how to settle on command. I'll have to contact her and ask for the steps again.

3) Keep puppy on leash while your kids are outside playing...use the time to practice commands: sit, down, stay, settle.

4) And generally just working hard on obedience in various situations (starting with easy calm moments, and gradually increasing the difficulty) will help. And do consider obedience classes or a private trainer to help you on your precise techniques. If your techniques aren't that great, then all the practice in the world will only frustrate you. On the other hand if you are following the guidance of a good trainer, then you'll only see improvements.

[Tammy & Gracie]

Please do try to reach the person you know that did the settle training. Gracie has some times that she seems to fly out of control, and it usually involves my elderly mom and her paper thion skin! I would like to know the steps in teaching this. I also have always NOT played any kind of tug with Gracie because of her excitedness, but at the same time if I could play tug constructively, I could use that as a big training treat in agility. She seems to crave the game of tug.

[Azure & Muppet]

I would also be interested in those steps for using tug to teach our dogs these skills. We are trying to do the same thing using a tug with our dog. The steps and rules we follow are: people always initiate and end the game, people win the game (all or most of the time), periodically and whenever the dog gets too excited we stop the game, dog must stop tugging, give/release the tug toy, and sit calmly. If the dog does this, we can continue playing another game again. But if the dog doesn't stop appropriately, the game ends. This seems to teach him a couple things: reminds him of the pack order and also practices obedience and self-control skills when very excited.

[Chris & Boys]

That is just the way dogs play. If the kids are outside and getting her riled up, distract her by throwing her a ball, or playing tug, something to channel her energy away from the kids. I have started working on "come" with Fozzy during these type of times (on leash of course).

[Carrie E]

Thanks everyone- at least now I feel like maybe I shouldn't worry too much about it not being fixable. I have already tried some of these suggestions. Yes- we've been to puppy class. She knows sit, shake, down, leave it, and learned come and stay but is not good at it. I do distract her when she starts playing too rough by throwing her ball- however, that doesn't always work because she prefers to chase them instead. And the problem isn't just in the back yard. I often have to go get her when the boys are playing upstairs because I can hear the growling/barking start. Yes, my kids can be wild- they are 8 and 10 and both boys. They love to play w/ her- she just takes it too far. They have been taught to turn their back and walk away- but she just follows and jumps and nips at their back... and they do scream OWWWW and OFF. I guess we'll just have to keep trying.

[Adina P]

I think things will turn out fine. You just have to limit her freedom with baby gates, crates, and leashes. She is not ready to be running freely unsupervised as it sounds like that gets her into trouble when she wants to be 'one of the boys' and plays too rough. Good luck! Keep us posted!

Also remember Puppy Classes are like an "Intro to Spanish" class in High School -- You've learned a few basic terms, but nobody becomes fluent from an intro class. To have a well trained dog you need to continue classes or training guided by a trainer or specific program. And practice every day =)