Puppy dominance ..should i be worried

[Pam99]

Looking for sone advice with puppy aggression/dominance please...My boxer girl is nearly 8 months old now and up to press has been a very happy go lucky pup but recently she seems to be trying to dominate other dogs. She plays and likes to roll ontop of other dogs but more recently has started to make a kind of growling noise and today she jumped ontop of another dog, did the growly mouthing then looked like she was going to hump him . She does try to hump people from time to time, mainly me or occasionally my other half. Just looking for some advice on this as i would hate for her to get aggressive with other dogs. Shes never shown any aggression with me and approaches dogs in a submissive way its just that once she starts playing shes gets carried away. Todays incident scared me though as it looked like she might have bitten the other dog had we not told her off.

 

[JoanneF]

I'd just keep her away from other dogs. She will be at the stage of losing her ”puppy licence” so dogs will be less tolerant, and one day she might do it to the wrong dog. Either one that will turn on her, or one that is elderly, unwell, recovering from injury or nervous. Or, one with an owner like me - I do not like rude space invader dogs I'm afraid.

It really isn't necessary for her to play with dogs she doesn't know, any more than it would be normal for you to be best mates with every random stranger you meet in the supermarket. So, if she has a couple of well matched friends (size, play style) that's great, but she shouldn't be magnetised to other dogs - you want her to think you are the centre of her universe, not other dogs.

 

[Hemlock]

She may also be coming into her first heat, which can result in all sorts of hormonal behaviour, including being a stroppy teenager exactly as you have described.

 

[Pam99]

I'd just keep her away from other dogs. She will be at the stage of losing her ”puppy licence” so dogs will be less tolerant, and one day she might do it to the wrong dog. Either one that will turn on her, or one that is elderly, unwell, recovering from injury or nervous. Or, one with an owner like me - I do not like rude space invader dogs I'm afraid.

It really isn't necessary for her to play with dogs she doesn't know, any more than it would be normal for you to be best mates with every random stranger you meet in the supermarket. So, if she has a couple of well matched friends (size, play style) that's great, but she shouldn't be magnetised to other dogs - you want her to think you are the centre of her universe, not other dogs.

No i completely agree with you and its frustrating and embarrasing when she wants to hello to every single dog that walks by. Its not a problem around my local area as i know all the dogs/owners etc. But when i take her to the coast i want to be able to let her off and have her freedom but shes turning into a menace. She pinched a child crocs on the beach too i know her behavior is my fault but i dont know how to reign her in. Any advice woukd be greatly appreciated. Her puppy licence has well and truly gone she's big for 8 months.

 

[Finsky]

No i completely agree with you and its frustrating and embarrasing when she wants to hello to every single dog that walks by. Its not a problem around my local area as i know all the dogs/owners etc. But when i take her to the coast i want to be able to let her off and have her freedom but shes turning into a menace. She pinched a child crocs on the beach too i know her behavior is my fault but i dont know how to reign her in. Any advice woukd be greatly appreciated. Her puppy licence has well and truly gone she's big for 8 months.

As already mentioned...she is riding high with her hormones at this age, so humping behaviour is 'normal'. But as such a behaviour has many meanings with dogs...it is wise to be careful with how much such a behaviour is allowed to happen. Certainly letting her 'express' herself with other dogs is not good as it can cause conflict...putting it mildly.
Keeping her on lead would be good idea, despite the lure of freedom on the beach. Not only because of other dogs and kids toys etc. but if she is not 'done', there is chance that she could be coming onto her first season anytime soon...that itself can confuse her behaviour and cause other dogs approach her unwanted way that is potential for further problem situations.
While she is learning to come to grips with her current state of development and to give yourself chance to train her to manage it better....maybe keeping the freedom time to your own garden for time being? Have you got a dog proof hire fields anywhere near you that would give her chance to let some steam out?
Dogs do love free run but putting the effort for to 'going out and about' on lead and able to explore places is equally good, but that will come with bonus that you will be still on control of your girl

 

[JudyN]

Unfortunately, you may well be stuck with having to manage her for some time to come, particularly at the coast. Jasper used to get wildly excited when we went to the beach and 'misbehave' long after he'd calmed down on home ground. It must be the sea air and wide open spaces as on the whole he found beaches quite boring... Which meant that before long he'd look for other forms of 'entertainment', usually a dog he thought he could bully.

 

[Pam99]

Unfortunately, you may well be stuck with having to manage her for some time to come, particularly at the coast. Jasper used to get wildly excited when we went to the beach and 'misbehave' long after he'd calmed down on home ground. It must be the sea air and wide open spaces as on the whole he found beaches quite boring... Which meant that before long he'd look for other forms of 'entertainment', usually a dog he thought he could bully.

Ha ha yes that totally makes sense. I can literally see her looking fir trouble and if i go to the beach really early and there is no one around then she will run off a bit then stalk me. Lay down in wait then run at me when i walk past her which really does amuse me . But yes maybe i just meed to admit defeat ay busy times and keep her on her lead . First season should be due anytime according to her breeder. Oh what fun

 

[Inka]

She is a 'teenager' and they can be sweet one minute and horrid the next, so other adult balanced dogs will no longer tolerate her as a 'puppy' nor tolerate her puppy behaviour play, they will expect her to be a well mannered adult dog when playing and if she isn't she will get herself into trouble and puppies of her age or younger will find her intimidating because of her size so as her hormones are changing she has to learn how to deal with the changes and you need to be in control and that means a lead.
So she has to learn she needs to earn 'off lead' as it is a benefit and by earning it she needs to listen to commands you give and act on them instantly. She won't/can't right now so you take control so she can.
My advice is not to allow her bad behaviour, be in control on a lead, take a few steps back and think of her as the young pup you had and the obedience/lead/socialisation training you did at the start and repeat that to remind her of your expectations of her, it just reinforces everything and you will end up longterm with a well behaved, well mannered dog.

 

[Pam99]

She is a 'teenager' and they can be sweet one minute and horrid the next, so other adult balanced dogs will no longer tolerate her as a 'puppy' nor tolerate her puppy behaviour play, they will expect her to be a well mannered adult dog when playing and if she isn't she will get herself into trouble and puppies of her age or younger will find her intimidating because of her size so as her hormones are changing she has to learn how to deal with the changes and you need to be in control and that means a lead.
So she has to learn she needs to earn 'off lead' as it is a benefit and by earning it she needs to listen to commands you give and act on them instantly. She won't/can't right now so you take control so she can.
My advice is not to allow her bad behaviour, be in control on a lead, take a few steps back and think of her as the young pup you had and the obedience/lead/socialisation training you did at the start and repeat that to remind her of your expectations of her, it just reinforces everything and you will end up longterm with a well behaved, well mannered dog.

Thank you, thats very good advice! You hit the nail on the head with saying one minute theyre sweet and the next minute a deviant. I definitely don't want her behavoir getting out of hand and her thinking that it is acceptable! I guess my only concern is (and this might be completely wrong) is that she might not get enough exercise walking on lead. Shes a lively dog and has plenty of energy to burn!

 

[Inka]

She will get more on a lead, as she is having to follow you, listen, walk at your pace and where you decide to walk, her gait will be correct, she will turn when you say, so mentally you are exercising her as well as physically...where as off lead they go where they want, at the pace they want, using the gait they want ( which is coasting, so they can go all day) and get themselves into trouble.... on a lead you are in control so she can't 'go wrong' so you are setting her up to succeed every time and she gets the right sort of attention, positive as she is behaving, rather than you stressed out at the next naughty thing she does and getting you frustrated.

5-10 minutes of mental exercise at home will tire her which is about equal to an hour of walking...one you can do is using a ladder, laid on the ground, her on a lead and slowly walk her over the rungs of the ladder to the end...at first and maybe for the first few times she will jump sideways trying to avoid it, say nothing, just start again, give her a break to process and try again later on...the only words I use is 'walk on' and calm praise at the end. The ladder corrects gait it is perfect work for show dogs, but is for any dog as it balances them and at 8 months old she will be out of balance , mentally a teenager, emotionally with hormones and physically as she is growing quickly and still thinks she is half the size she is, it teaches her that when you say 'walk on' it doesn't matter what it is she can trust you to take it slowly, give her time to process, so that narrow bridge over water, those open/see threw steps, the stye, the pack of dogs she sees coming towards her, the scales at the vets, so lots of 'new things' she happens upon.... she will know the command, trust you and do it

 

[Pam99]

She will get more on a lead, as she is having to follow you, listen, walk at your pace and where you decide to walk, her gait will be correct, she will turn when you say, so mentally you are exercising her as well as physically...where as off lead they go where they want, at the pace they want, using the gait they want ( which is coasting, so they can go all day) and get themselves into trouble.... on a lead you are in control so she can't 'go wrong' so you are setting her up to succeed every time and she gets the right sort of attention, positive as she is behaving, rather than you stressed out at the next naughty thing she does and getting you frustrated.

5-10 minutes of mental exercise at home will tire her which is about equal to an hour of walking...one you can do is using a ladder, laid on the ground, her on a lead and slowly walk her over the rungs of the ladder to the end...at first and maybe for the first few times she will jump sideways trying to avoid it, say nothing, just start again, give her a break to process and try again later on...the only words I use is 'walk on' and calm praise at the end. The ladder corrects gait it is perfect work for show dogs, but is for any dog as it balances them and at 8 months old she will be out of balance , mentally a teenager, emotionally with hormones and physically as she is growing quickly and still thinks she is half the size she is, it teaches her that when you say 'walk on' it doesn't matter what it is she can trust you to take it slowly, give her time to process, so that narrow bridge over water, those open/see threw steps, the stye, the pack of dogs she sees coming towards her, the scales at the vets, so lots of 'new things' she happens upon.... she will know the command, trust you and do it

Thank you very much I will most certainly try that. Like you say her gait is all over the place and I worry sometimes that she is so bendy and lanky and not walking properly so that really is fab advice. The ladder is coming out tomorrow!!