So our chug Max is now 11 weeks old. He is now starting to get into his playful mode. What does playful mean to dog owners?
Well…for us, it means the following:
- A strong desire to chew shoes.
- Playful nipping.
- Tugging on blankets, shirts and other fabric.
- Occassional growling.
- Random sprints (sometimes referred to as “tears”) around the house.
While most of this is harmless, we did become a bit worried when our chug started growling loudly while we played tug of war with him. At first we thought that he may be having behavioral issues, but after researching the internet and buying a book at Barnes and Noble we learned that the situation you are in and the expression on your chug dog’s face can be indicative of his current emotional state.
When it is ok for your chug to growl:
- You are playing tug of war or other games with a chew toy.
- He hears a sound and is being protective of his owners.
You should worry about your chug puppy’s growling when:
- He growls at you when he is not playing.
- He opens his mouth and shows his teeth.
- He growls at strangers.
Bottom line: observe your chug and be able to decipher between a angry growl and a playfull ground. If a playful growl, you do not need to worry. If he is getting ferocious, you better nip the problem in the bud while he is a puppy or it could impact his behavior as an adult.
I could use some tips for correcting some aggressive behavior of a chug that adopted us. I’m pretty sure he’s full grown. He is not fixed yet. He gets along great with other animals but he is pretty aggressive with people. Any help would be help.
Hi Tori,
If he is more Chi, than pug – that is probably why he is growling so much.
Vets generally reccomend fixing the dog as a start. However, if he is old, it may be too late to have a substantial impact.
The best thing to do is to slowly get him used to being around people. Start by walking him in public more. If he begins to growl at onlookers, hold his leash firm, stand in front of him and gently tap him in the shoulder with your leg (dog whisperer does this.)
Once he gets used to being around people, start to slowly get him used to you touching his toys and being in his space. Chi’s are known to be possessive, so if you break that habit, it should help the situation as well.
It is always best to prevent a bad act than to try and correct one that a dog develops as normal act. If you know what your dog looks like when it becomes aggressive towards others, (people or animals) then as soon as you see their hair stand up or their lip curl or teeth show etc. you get their attention on you and off what they are about to act aggressive at.
First thing to know is what NOT to say to your dog. Saying “It’s ok Spot” just gives the dog permission and does not correct any problem. Also giving your dog positive reinforcements like petting it or it hugging it is also giving it permission to act out.
What is the situation with people? Is it when the dog sees 1) other people when your walking the dog. 2) through the window from inside the house. 3) when people approach the dog with or without you there.
If its #1 then I would get a friend to help… take the dog for a walk like normal and have your friend be outside where you will walk by. Stop before you reach the “zone” where the dog gets in the mind-set of the act of aggression. Get the dogs attention on you and not the friend BEFORE you get into the ‘zone’ and keep the dogs attention on you and not the person as you walk by.
If it’s #2 then it might be a bit harder to prevent this behavior especially when you are not at home. Take the dog to the window and watch for the signs of bad behavior and again get the dogs attention on you and not what is outside setting them off. When the dog acts out tell it “Off” or “No” with a poke or pinch on back of neck at the same time so it takes it attention off outside and on to you. If you can, close the curtians or prevent the dog from seeing out the window while you are away and untill he learns how to look out the window without barking.
If it’s #3 then again it is the same as #1 and #2. Watch for the signs and get the dogs attention on you before the dog act out. Set up the situation…. sit on the couch with the dog then have someone approach you both… get the dogs attention to focus on you while they sit at other end of couch. Do this repeatedly till you have succeeded. Once you have succeeded then have the person move a bit closer and repeat as before. You can also try having the other person give the dog a small treat once it stops acting aggressive towards them. This will let the dog know that people are a good thing and not something to fear or attack.
In any case timing is key. Correct the dog virbally and with touch correction at the same time. Personally I use an “E” collar on all 3 of my dogs. Get the dogs attention on you before they act out and if the dog is already acting out get their attention on you as soon as you can. To correct a dog after they done bad means they got away with the act. If Spot goes potty on the carpet and you find it later then tell Spot “Bad Dog”, Spot has NO IDEA what he did bad. If you see him in the act and say “Bad Dog” then he knows your meaning. And if you let Spot outside enough to go potty he will have no need to potty in the house in the first place. This is how you prevent a bad habbit, stop it before it happens.
And always try to set your dog up for success! A successful dog is a happy and behaved dog.