Puppy with Behavior issues, I think
So our puppy is now 8 months old. I'm thinking he's a bit of an alpha dog, and he is just at the age where he is constantly challenging us.
He's a bit of a food monster, and he constantly tries to take our food from the table. When he jumps up I make a noise to get his attention, and grab him by the scruff, and just put him on the ground. Not violent mind you, but just enough to get his front paws off the table. He'll keep trying though, and the more I disclipine I give him, he starts to get frustrated. This usually escalates to him letting out a bark and a bit of a growl, and then sometimes he'll bite me. Not hard by any means, just a little nibble, and he cries when he does it. I'm guessing this is out of frustration.
I do all the normal behaviors that make it clear to him that he's not the alpha dog, we make him wait to eat, and even go as far to putting my face in his bowl before he eats. I also do the same thing when I fill his kong, with peanut butter. I pretend to eat some of it first, then I give it to him.
So anyways, I'm guessing this is just a result of his alpha tendencies (the breeder told us he was the 'gregarious' one of the litter) and his age. But I would feel a little better if anyone has had similar experiences or had some more advice on how to handle him.
He's a bit of a food monster, and he constantly tries to take our food from the table. When he jumps up I make a noise to get his attention, and grab him by the scruff, and just put him on the ground. Not violent mind you, but just enough to get his front paws off the table. He'll keep trying though, and the more I disclipine I give him, he starts to get frustrated. This usually escalates to him letting out a bark and a bit of a growl, and then sometimes he'll bite me. Not hard by any means, just a little nibble, and he cries when he does it. I'm guessing this is out of frustration.
I do all the normal behaviors that make it clear to him that he's not the alpha dog, we make him wait to eat, and even go as far to putting my face in his bowl before he eats. I also do the same thing when I fill his kong, with peanut butter. I pretend to eat some of it first, then I give it to him.
So anyways, I'm guessing this is just a result of his alpha tendencies (the breeder told us he was the 'gregarious' one of the litter) and his age. But I would feel a little better if anyone has had similar experiences or had some more advice on how to handle him.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Katie on
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some of it may be alpha behavior, and the other part of it is probably the love of food that corgis have, but your human food smells awfully good to him. And if you are eating it, why shouldn't he have some...wouldn't you want some of your friends scrumptious food and wouldn't you want to take some if they weren't sharing?
The best thing to do is to put your dog in the other room, where he can't be tempted. Or kennel him with a treat or a doggie chew so that he has something that he can enjoy too.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah C. on
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My didi used to do this. Now she has a job. She guards the carpet between the livingroom and the table, about 5 feet from the table, when we eat. She gets treats and hugs for guarding this place. She guards it from the moment food hits the table, to when the plates are picked up. You should see how proudly she marches into the dining room after we're done clearing the dishes.
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When I would be about to put the food on the table, I would make her sit on a certain rug next to the dining room and give her sheets. Then I'd give her a stay command and set the food out and go give her a treat for staying. Then while we ate she would get a down command and stay and a treat. When we were finished and put all the dished away we'd all make a huge deal about what a good girl she was.
Being able to get your dog to sit and down at a distance, as well as stay, is very helpful when trying this.
She's great about it now, except when the cats walk around under the table begging. Then she prowls up and down her rug making soft whoofs.
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Permalink Reply by Ross on
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Thanks for the replies everyone
Sorry I should've maybe described this a little better so it didn't sound like I was potentially abusing my dog.
When I say I grab him by the scruff and put him on the ground, I mean that when he jumps up and puts his front paws on the table, I grab his scruff and gently pull him back from the table, I'm not grabbing him and throwing him to the ground.
He will be doing training classes this winter, once the weather gets a little colder.
The dog gets a ton of excercise. He either gets a long walk, or a short walk and an hour or so at the dog park every day. And if its raining I make sure to play with him tons indoors.
He is overall a really well behaved dog. I walk him without a leash (when I'm at my parents, not in minneapolis of course), and never have I ever even had to worry about him running off. Also when he takes something that he's not supposed to (ie one of my socks), a simple "let go" will get him to drop it.
This food issue is the big one, it's like when human food is around he forgets everything he's learned.
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Hi Ross, you may want to establish some boundaries, for example, no jumping up on the chair, no begging, no human food...etc. make sure that everyone in your household is on board and are united front on all issues, be consistent. It is much easier to teach, train and discipline your corgis after a long 45 min walk, most behavior issues can be resolved by doing the daily walk. Check out the following video.
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Permalink Reply by Sylvia & Timmy on
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Ross,
There are several ways to stop this type of behavior. Easiest way would be to not allow him in your dining area while you're eating by putting up a gate or confining him to an enclosed space or crate while you're eating.
Another way to look at this is decide what behavior you do want him to display while you're eating at the table. As an example, you want him to quietly lay on the floor in an out of the way area.(away from chair legs and not under foot or the table) Mark a spot with a towel or small bed (one of those $10 mats) Now, teach the dog "Go to your spot". There are several methods, using positive training methods including luring him to the spot with a treat and then having him stay on the spot longer and longer. Another would be shaping him (too long to explain, but I suggest a book by Jane Killian, "When Pigs Fly" to explain the concept of shaping) Once Atlas has learned what "Go to your Spot" means and that cue is used consistantly during meal times the problem behavior should be resolved.
The biggest problem we all have is that dogs just like humans are encouraged by a random reward. Just one small treat acquired even days or weeks apart reinforces that behavior like you wouldn't believe. Kind of like a slot machine. Keeps you hooked even though you lose way more often! What that means is that no one, visitors or family, can offer, toss, or drop a treat to Atlas. Even If a morsel of food drops, pick it up quickly.
Does this mean that you can't ever give Atlas a food treat? Of course not. Instead use another cue, like "Let's lay catch" (my cue for Timmy to catch in his mouth food or toys) Then toss a treat to him (just not from the table).
One of the wonderful things about corgis is that they are highly food motivated and this makes training so much easier. Regarding alpha behavior (I wish that this topic would die a slow agonizing death) I suggest, Jean Donaldson's book "The Culture Clash" and "The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller. These books will better help us all understand that the alpha and dominance theories have no place in the world of dog behavior and training.
Good luck and Atlas seems like a very lucky corgi, to have two such loving owners that care and are committed to his well being.
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Thanks for the advice. So the whole alpha thing is a big myth? I'm usually better with my research than to fall victim to common misconceptions.
I'll try getting him to stay in his doggy bed while we are eating. The dog is really easy to train, so this shouldn't be a problem. It literally took me about 3 minutes to teach him how sit on command.
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Permalink Reply by Lucy Hicks on
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Everyone's advice is great, but I want to address the 8 month old corgi behavior. Our lovely Lilly (almost perfect he! he!), began to regress/ challenge me in little ways at about that age. Behaviors that I thought she had mastered,.... like listening, responding to 'come' even with a preferred treat, became very erratic. Her school teacher told me that it was not uncommon for corgi's to push the edge around that age. With a little reteaching and reviewing, our 'lovely' Lilly's memory returned!! I truly believe that corgis are happiest when they know their boundaries.
Good Luck.
Lucy and Lilly
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