growling and snarling
Our corgi came to us after my ex-husband died July 4th. Gumbo, 6 yr. old Corgi, is very much an Alpha Male. He gets along better than expected with other dogs but we've been having a problem with his moodiness. He can be a Jackel or Hyde. One moment he's responsive and loving, the next he can be standoffish with growling and snarling at my grown children. He seems to be very protective of me and we can't figure out why he growls and snarls towards my 23 and 25 yr. old that often have Gumbo in their care. Telling him no doesn't work. My son was told that this could be a dominance issue and that the dog should be put on his back until the behavior ends, then to praise him directly after he stops the behavior. Any suggestions? He's a great dog but this behavior is annoying and needs to end.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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If he is growling at people, I would suggest consulting a professional trainer, honestly.
Please don't put him on his back. The "alpha roll" does not really happen in the dog world except in a fight (I am excluding play situations). When a dog rolls another dog on its back and holds its neck, it may be going in for the kill and therefore if you hold a snarling dog on its back it will often fight back and you can be severely bitten. If a professional wants to do this, fine, but please not by yourself. What we used to call the "alpha roll" should really be called the "beta roll" as a submitting dog will voluntarily roll on its back to show that it gives up.
I am sorry to hear you are having problems. Please take aggression directed at humans very seriously. If he starts to curl a lip and stops when you say "ah-ah", that might be something you can handle on your own, but repeated snarling and not backing down could easily escalate to a bite or even a full-blown attack.
I am also sorry to hear of your ex-husband's passing, and the resulting tumult may be causing the dog's aggression. It could be dominance aggression, but could also be fear or pain or any number of other things. If you take a dog in pain, or that is afraid, and try to show it "who's boss" you can worsen the situation exponentially. That is why I recommend consulting a good behaviorist.
Best of luck.
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Permalink Reply by Alice on
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Will the dog growl at anyone besides your children? Is he growling just when he sees them or when they try to pet him or what? Did this behavior start once the dog came to live with you or has it always been an issue?
There are many reasons a dog will growl so it's important to figure out the meaning behind the growl. I agree with Beth in saying that you may want to consult a trainer who is experienced with aggressive cases.
Another question would be when was his last check up? If a dog is in pain they can act out in an aggressive manor.
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I hope I didn't sound harsh, as I know you are just seeking help! I still suggest a trainer, but in the meantime I also suggest googling "Nothing in Life is Free" which gives you some good non-confrontational ways to show your dog that you are in charge without any physical corrections.
It's good in that it can work with dogs who have dominance, fear, or other issues without intimidation of any sort. It's just normal stuff you can work into your regular feeding/walking/playing/lounging routine. It can get you started while you are looking for your ultimate answers.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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I also recommend a trainer. You can check for obedience classes in your area and most trainers will be happy to evaluate your dog for a class. Also, Nothing in Life is Free will give you some immediate help. The Alpha Roll is a terrible way to discipline most dogs. The average person really can not determine when it is needed and it is a very aggressive thing to do. The result usually will be a more aggressive dog. Keep in mind that Gumbo is probably feeling very insecure right now with his leader gone. This is where the NILIF method will help him feel more secure in your leadership. That is really what he probably needs right now. You being in charge using kind methods will help him become more secure and a lot less moody. Let us know how he is doing. My Sparty mourned our other corgi, Buffy, for almost a year I can not imagine his grief if my husband or I suddenly disappeared and he had to live somewhere else! It is wonderful that you took him in.
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Permalink Reply by Sky and Lyla on
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I agree with everyone else on here! A good canine behavior consultant is worth the money that you pay! I for one, completely disagree with the Alpha Rollover and all that "be the pack leader" cr@p. I have two dogs who know I'm in charge and are submissive to me, and I have never once had to do a rollover on either one. In fact, during the times when someone might have suggested I do a rollover, it probably would have made many of the problems worse and I might very well have ended up with fear aggressive dogs (especially with a breed like Corgis who tend to be rather sensitive to punishments). I also suggest the book The Loved Dog by Tamar Gellar. She is the opposite of the "pack leader" trainers, but I have used her methods with my dogs and they have worked great! You probably will still need to consult a professional since your Corgi is potentially aggressive, but you can never learn too much!
Also, this is just speculation, but it could be that Gumbo is being protective of you because he's afraid you will disappear like your ex-husband. Dogs are a lot like children, and a very young child would become very clingy if their main caregiver were to just disappear one day. I'm sure Gumbo is very confused and is just trying to make sure you don't go anywhere either. Not that is makes any of his behavior acceptable, but sometimes it just helps to understand where they're coming from. =) Good luck!!
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Frederick on
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Thank you everyone for your insights. Many of your points are understandable behavior patterns under the circumstances. I will definitely read up more from the recommended sites you've given. Also, thanks for the info about rolling the dog over...where this came from I don't know but your feedback makes perfect sense. Why put an already confused dog in an even more challenging and confusing situation? We don't want to traumatize him anymore than he's already been. I didn't mention that the past 6 months he had been living in Mexico with my very ill ex-husb. I'm pretty sure his upbringing has been extremely confusing, unstable at times, and stressful. We're making every attempt to help him settle in with comfort and ease but with complete and total love. Can't hardly imagine when he wasn't in our household. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Maddy & Keke on
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Just wanted to say "Gumbo is lucky to hv u and your family".
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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I agree with getting help from a professional! A few questions I would ask now would be...1. how are they approaching him? Maybe since he's been through alot they could try sitting on the floor with some good treats/toys and see if they can reunite in a friendly manner, that would mean Gumbo goes to them. Are they leaning down or on his level when he does this? How was he toward them b/4 this all happened? 2. How are they with commands? Does everyone say the same thing? (ex: my son -in-law loves dogs but I think he confuses mine sometimes the way he talks to them...) also tone of voice makes a difference...my Livvy reacts much better to the"fun,light tone of voice. I also could see my Wynn in a situation like this if something were to happen to both my husband and I, he's an absolutely wonderful dog that loves people and kids but I don't think he would react great to some others if found in this situation. Glad you could take Gumbo and best of luck to all of you...keep us updated!
Just some thoughts...
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