Playing or not?

Hi there and thank you for your question.

The first thing i would like to say is that she is still young and so can be expected to be energetic and not always focus. But that doesn't mean that some of the other issues are acceptable.

Firstly about the breed. There are a lot of misconceptions about this breed. They are a very loyal and stong willed breed. Many of the issues people have with the breed are based on people that don't train them and use them in an aggressive way.

With training this breed is beautiful. Tell your neighbour that generalising about breeds is like generalising about people. There will always be good and bad dogs in the breed. But i think your pup with training will be one of the good ones.

The first advice i would give you is to ensure you and your family members have read and understand the techniques in the bonus book "Secrets to becoming the Alpha Dog". These are great techniques for maintaining or establishing your position at the head of the household. No matter what the problem is all dogs need to know where the stand in the house for both yours and their peace and comfort.

Here are some ways to reinforce your position-

1) If you come across your dogs while they are sleeping or lying on the floor then you can reinforce your position as alpha dog by making them move so that you can pass by.

2) Make sure that you always go through doorways first. A good method to reinforce your position as alpha dog is to walk your dogs around the house on the leash, making your dogs wait while you walk through doorways first.

3) At mealtimes make sure that your dogs eat after all of the humans have.

4) Do not feed your dogs tidbits or let it pester you at the table. Save the morsels and tidbits for training sessions instead.

5) Do not greet your dogs straightaway when you arrive home. Make it wait until you are ready and then call it to you.

6) Whenever your dogs want attention or anything wait till they are sitting and being well behaved.

7) When you give a command make sure that you are in a position to enforce the action that you require from your dog, especially in the initial stages of Alpha Dog training. Also, use the Alarm-No-Command technique as described in the Alpha Dog bonus book to reprimand your dog if it does not obey your command.

Generally I do not recommend people give their dogs bones as this encourages the aggression, because in the wild the alpha dog would be the only one to have the privilege of chewing the bones. The reason your dog growls at you when you approach it with a bone is because it believes that it has the right to the bone and is trying to discipline you for challenging your dog for its dominant role.

He needs to be well trained and obedient. Work with him for 15 minutes a day on the basic commands of sit, stay and come.
If you need to get his attention with a ball or something then that is fine. As you have been doing try and get him used to not needing the toy. Make sure you are training him in a quiet area with no distractions.


Whatever the circumstance your dogs should be reprimanded for unacceptable behaviour.
What I recommend you do, is the next time your dog acts poorly saturate your dog with a water pistol, or if it is inside the car, throw a heavy blanket over your dog and be sure to reprimand her. DO NOT yell, as this has no effect on the dominant dog. Growl instead, use a guttural growl like " AAHHH!" instead of "No!", as this makes a sharper sound then "No" (If done correctly it may hurt your throat a little). The aim is to give him a shock and let him know what he is doing is unacceptable.

Now for the biting. This is completely unacceptable and needs to be delt with quickly.

Get someone to sit down with your puppy and hold out your hand. If the puppy bites both you and your guest should growl sharply, say "AAHH" rather then "NO", and do not yell it, growl it; make it quite gutteral (even if this gives you a sore throat).

Hold out their hand again, and if your puppy goes to bite it again, growl again but stand up suddenly at the same time. Walk away for a few minutes.
Then come back and sit down to play again, hold out your hand once more. If the puppy goes to bite for a third time be ready for it and give the puppy a little thump on the nose and growl once more (thump hard enough for the puppy to actually feel it) with the hand you are holding out.

Hold out their hand again, and by then your puppy should be wary of their hand (be aware that the hand biting behavior is probably a habit by now).

Be patient and don't worry about what people say and think. As long as he is obedient and well behaved then that is all that matters. Keep up the good work and good luck.

Todd