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 Hi, my
name is Wilma Wayne. I am English Bulldog by breed, but my
mom and dad, Dr. Julie & William Wickel, call me their little
princess.
If you've
ever met me, you know that I have serious attitude and an
opinion on everything.
I took a break from answering questions during the Summer
months in 2005 and have really enjoyed the time
off. I am 8 years old now (9/06), which makes me a Senior
Pet, so I don't always have the energy that I used to
have! But, if you know me, you know that I haven't slowed down all
that much.
Below are my answers to a ton of pet behavior questions
that I received during 2005.
Dear Wilma Fans,
I
originally planned to begin answering your questions again in
September 2005, but I decided to retire my column for
now. However, if you are a client of ours, you can use your
FREE Pet
Portal to submit any and all questions to my human friends at
Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital®. Most of the questions I received
were similar, so, take a read below to see if I have already answered yours!
Love,
Wilma Wayne
PS: Feed
me, take me outside to potty, throw my toys, repeat...
Dear
Wilma Wayne,
I have a 2-yr old Catahoula Leopard Hound. To say she's energetic
is an understatement. She spends a lot of time outside running
(she also likes to run around inside, too). She responds to basic
commands well. There's really only one major problem with
her...her tail wagging. She wags her tail like every other dog
does, but when she gets excited, there's no stopping it. She wags
it fast and furious...to the point where she is causing physical
pain to anyone who gets hit with it. Do you have any suggestions
as to what I can do to make her stop hurting people with her tail?
Nothing has worked so far.
Help!!!!!!
Amanda
I wish
I had a tail to wag! It sounds like you have a typical
Catahoula on your hands. One way you can help her and your
friends is with obedience training. Try training her that
when she wants attention, whether she wants to play, be petted,
or anything else, she needs to come and SIT by your side (or the
person she wants attention from). When she sits she can be
petted, or you/your friends will throw the ball again, or
play with her in some other way. This will at least put
her tail wagging on the ground and not in the air at thigh
height! She may also calm down when she is in the sit
position. If she knows that someone will do something
if she is sitting, she may concentrate on that instead of her
hyperactivity, and therefore sit still. It's worth a shot.
Dear
Wilma,
My
German Shepard, Shana is 9 months old and before I got her spayed,
she was 90% potty trained to go outside. Ever since her operation,
she won't go potty for me outside. Please help with any
suggestions.
I
love Shana very much!!!
Thank
You,
Anntherese
Dear
Anntherese,
Congratulations
on your new puppy! Puppies can be so much fun, but
when they are not going to the bathroom in the right place, it
can be frustrating. It sounds like you may have to do your
housetraining once again. You should read our New
Puppy article: scroll down to the Housetraining section for
some tips. You can also read some of the other letters I
have responded to that are very similar to your problem.
Sometimes,
puppies have this forgetfulness with housetraining. It may
not be related to her being spayed, but I would take her to your
Veterinarian first to make sure she is okay physically.
She may have a urinary tract infection, bladder stones or other
health problems that could have similar traits to housetraining
problems. Once your Veterinarian says she is okay, then
try some of the basic housetraining lessons again.
Hi,
I
have a cat that is around 9 months old and she's already
potty-trained, or so I thought. When we brought her home when she
was an itty bitty baby, she was fine about using her litter
box. About a month ago, we saw that she had urinated on the
kitchen floor. We assumed it was an accident. Tuesday night, my
parents came and told me that she had peed in their bed. And this
morning, she peed on the rug in front of the bath tub. Her litter
box is RIGHT NEXT TO IT. I just don't understand. Your help would
be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Christina
It
sounds like you have a little problem on your hands. The
first thing to do is take your kitty to the Veterinarian to make
sure she is okay physically. She may have a urinary tract
infection, or some other health problem that could be causing
this behavior. Once your doctor gives her a healthy
check-up, then you need to start over with the litter box
training. Please read see the articles on New
Kittens (see the section on Housetraining, but read the rest
as it is very good information) and Elimination
Problems, Feline.
I hope
you are able to retrain her very quickly. If you need more
help, please feel free to write. I can always stop chasing
bugs or chewing on my owners things to come and help.
Hello,
My
3 year old golden/lab mix has a problem. When I take him out, he
only likes to play in the park. He will not go for long walks and
being 130lbs he just sits down and refuses to move. I have had him
since he was 8 weeks old and do not understand this problem. Also,
we have a commuter train that runs through town and he is scared
to death of the trains and refuses to walk that way as well. Can
you help me? I don't know what to do to change this problem.
Thank you,
Pamela
Dear
Pamela,
I
understand your puppy’s problem. I would not want to go
for long walks either, and playing in the park sounds so great!
I am kind of lazy though. I wish I was that big and could
just sit down and not move! Luckily, I think this is a
behavior issue, not a health problem. I would get him
checked out by your Veterinarian first though to make sure.
Once he has given you a healthy report on bones/joints, muscles,
tendons/ligaments and maybe even some blood work/radiographs, then
we can think about training.
He
may not like the noise that comes from the train. They can
be pretty loud. This can be overcome, but it will take a
lot of patience and time. First, we need to have short
sessions outside when the train comes through. Take him out
on a leash, but stay close to home. When he hears the train,
tell him it is okay and give him either lots of love or maybe a
treat. This way he can start to associate the sound of
the train with good rewards. You can even use this technique
with the walks too. Once he settles down, after several days
and the trains passing near your home, then move a little
farther away from home. He soon may learn that the
noise of the train has not hurt him, you have kept him safe, and
he gets lots of love and a few treats when it comes. Be
careful though, some dogs learn quickly that they get treats when
they are good, and may not do anything unless you give them one!
We don't want him to learn this. So make sure the treats are
small, one or two bites, and that he gets more love and praise.
Slowly progress closer and closer to the train. Do not get
too close though, we don't want either of you to get hurt.
Make sure the collar is tight enough that he can't slip out of it
and get away, but not so tight that it is choking him. Also, be
sure to have a good hold on the leash. If he does get
frightened and tries to run, we do not want him to get loose or
injured by the train. Hopefully this will help. Just
go slowly and take your time. You are not training him for
something to save his life; you just want him not to be scared.
If he never gets adjusted to the noise, that is okay. We can
do things in the home when the train comes, since they come around
like clockwork, to help him out.
As
for only wanting to go to the park, I understand. Try to
teach him that he can have just as much fun on a walk as he can in
the park. Play with him and give him treats, or love, when
out for very short walks in the beginning. Again, slowly progress
to trips further and further away from home. Remember, he
does not like walks, so go slowly and only go half the distance
you want him to go (you have to go back home the other half).
I would hate for you to get stuck a few blocks from home with him
sitting down and refusing to move! Again, be patient and
understand he does not know what you are trying to teach him and
why.
Best
Wishes,
Wilma
Wayne
Dear
Wilma Wayne,
I have a male miniature schnauzer who will be turning 2-yrs old.
When we got him at eight weeks of age, he had not had his dewclaws
removed and tended to chew on this area of his forelegs. We have
since had these removed; he did great during the surgery and
healing up afterward, that was about a year ago. He now seems to
have this habit where he chews and licks on this area and chews on
his feet. He is a pampered indoor dog and I can find a reason for
him to be acting this way. I would like to break this habit but
don't know how to do it. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Patty
Dear Patty,
It
sounds like you may have a baby with allergies. Just like
humans, we also can have allergies to different things. Chewing
on the feet is the most common sign of inhaled allergies.
If you live here in the South, it could be inhaled allergies
such as pollens, grasses, molds, or other seasonal allergens.
We exhibit this by chewing on our feet, legs, rear, losing hair,
scratching our head, watery eyes and even sneezing.
Sometimes, it can even be food related. I suggest taking
your baby to see his Veterinarian to make sure he is okay and to
check his feet/legs to make sure there are not any other
problems. Then, you can discuss about how to treat your pet for
allergies. There are some easy medications to use, or even
changing foods to one that does not have any common food
allergens in it. Removing the most common food allergens
(beef, corn, milk, wheat, chicken) from his diet may be a big
help. These are the easiest tasks with which to start.
Dear
Wilma,
I have a 5-yr old female tortoise shell cat named Mystere that we
adopted from the Humane Society three years ago. She's a very
friendly cat, and friends and family who generally don't care for
cats seem to love her. She's not at all timid and very
mellow. She also lives with an 8-yr old Westie mix and a 2-yr old
Doxy Poo. And, they get along well except for the occasional
game of "Catch the Cat", which she seems to enjoy.
Anyway, I have a 4-yr old daughter and the cat seems to adore her.
Anytime you see my daughter in a chair, on the couch, or in bed,
the cat is right there on her and my daughter is petting her.
The cat has bitten each of us before. It's not necessary to be
petting her; you could just be sitting next to her, she'll reach
out and give you a bite. It doesn't generally hurt, but it's very
startling.
In the last week, the cat has bitten my daughter three times on
the arm and twice on her cheek. I tried to find out what led up to
this situation, but my daughter insists she was being nice, and
she's not at all an aggressive girl. We've had plenty of
discussions about not poking the cat in the ears or scratching her
belly, and she's really pretty good about that, but there are
occasions when she forgets. The two facial bites have been when my
daughter wakes up in the middle of the night and pets her.
I absolutely love this cat and so does my daughter, but I can't
allow this behavior to continue, it's becoming too regular.
What should I do?
Thanks,
Jenny
Dear
Jenny,
I am
sorry to hear about Mystere biting you and your family.
Cat's are very finicky and they want things their way, not anyone
else's way. I would first take her to your Veterinarian to
make sure she is okay. Sometimes pets will act strangely if
they are not feeling well or if they have a problem (pain
somewhere).
Once
your doctor gives her a good report, then we need to think about
behavioral issues. It is not uncommon for cats to come to
their family, ask for petting/loving and then bite them when they
have had enough. This does not make this behavior okay.
We need to teach everyone how to behave, even the cat. It
sounds like you are doing a good job with your daughter, but kids
are kids. She may be rough with handling/playing/petting
even though she thinks she is being gentle. Maybe try some
supervised times to watch how they interact. Sometimes
though, it sounds like it cannot be her fault ( the cat biting her
while she is sleeping). Again, cats like to decide when they
want attention and when they don't. It is hard to punish a
cat for something because they will get even. They think
they are above punishment. Try doing time-out with Mystere
when she bites. Tell her NO!, then put her in a room by
herself. Maybe she will learn that if she wants attention,
she cannot bite. On the other hand, if she is biting because
she does not want attention anymore, this training may reinforce
her behavior (all she has to do is bite, and you will leave her
alone).
Watch
when she and your daughter interact to try to find out why she is
biting and go from there. The best thing I can suggest is a
feline behaviorist. Ask your Veterinarian for a reference to
a reputable behaviorist, someone who has spent a lot of time
trying to deal with cats. They are too much work for me; I
just like to chase them.
Good
luck,
Wilma
Wayne
Hi,
We adopted a 6-month
old female boxer a little over two months ago. She did not come from a
good home, no love, socialization, etc. We had her updated
with her shots, had her spayed and then she broke her rear
leg!! No time to get her used to us. Many small
problems with her that we are working on, the biggest problem is
she goes to the bathroom in her crate!!!! She used it as a
bathroom for about the first month we had her, then it stopped
for almost 3 weeks and now it is back again!! We just
moved her crate into the living room (3 days ago) because the
new crate is too big for my small kitchen and two out of the last
three days she had gone to the bathroom in it (#2)!! Nothing
else has changed and she has plenty of chances to go before we
leave for work. Any help???? PLEASE
Thank you,
Lorraine
Dear
Lorraine,
I remember
when I was a puppy and trying to learn how to hold it and where
the appropriate places were to go. It is hard.
Unfortunately, not all puppies read the book on crate training.
MOST dogs won't urinate or deficate if they have to lay in it,
or their toys, blankets, food/water, etc.. This does not
mean that the puppy will not ever be housebroken, just maybe not
crate trained.
I
would first take her to your Veterinarian to make sure that she
is healthy. If she has any intestinal problems (parasites,
illness, etc) that could be causing her to eliminate in her
crate, then you need to get that taken care of first. If
she is healthy, then we need to start new training ideas.
You
mentioned that you just bought a bigger crate. Maybe the
bigger crate is too big. If a puppy can deficate in one
area and not have to lie in it, then she will continue to go in
the crate. You may not be able to go back to the smaller
crate if she has grown out of it, but adding things to the
bigger crate to take up space would work. Maybe put one or
two big balls or bowls in there. This way, the only room
left is where she can lie down.
You
also mentioned that you just moved the crate to another
location. Maybe she does not like this location.
Maybe it is too cold/hot, drafty, noisy/quiet, dark/bright, etc.
Try the crate back in the other location, even if it is only
there when you are gone.
Sometimes
it's as simple as forgetfulness. Just when you think we
are housebroken, you find accidents in the house or crate.
This happens with puppies, just keep going. Make sure your
routine hasn't changed, or the puppies. Stay consistent
with your training. Make sure everyone in the house is
following the same guidelines. Don't give up hope.
You may just have to bathe her a few times during the day until
she gets the hang of it.
Good
luck,
Wilma
Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
I
am writing because I feel like this answer will help me make one
of the hardest decisions in my life. My English Bulldog, Cyrus,
is almost 5 years old. When he is startled by noises in
his sleep, he'll suddenly attack. In the last few weeks,
he has woken up out of a sleep and gone after my adult son and
my husband. He is very stubborn and sometimes aggressive
with food and chews. I am upset with his actions and I am
wondering if there is a solution or if I will have to put him
down. I love him so much, but I'm wondering if he was
interbreed so much that his temperament is something that can't
be changed. Please let me know. I await your answer.
Thank
you so very much for your time.
Cyrus's
mom Kathleen
Dear
Kathleen,
I am
sorry to hear about Cyrus. I hope that you can help Cyrus. It
sounds like he has a family who loves him and takes care of him.
Please try these things first before thinking of euthanasia or
finding him a new home. I don’t know if he would be any better
in a new home/environment. The changes could cause some anxiety,
nervousness, and other unruly behaviors. If sleeping somewhere
where he is comfortable startles him, then a new place would
definitely startle him.
The
first thing to do is to take him to your Veterinarian. To make
sure he is healthy, have your doctor do a full physical exam and
ask him to check his hearing, then run bloodwork to make sure
everything else is okay. Once you get a "thumbs up" that
Cyrus is physically healthy, then we can work on other things.
If he
can get startled while sleeping, Cyrus could have a hearing
problem, sleeps very soundly, or might have Cognitive Dysfunction
Syndrome. The hearing is the easiest to diagnose. If your
Veterinarian does diagnose him with partial hearing loss, then
there are some things you can do to help his aggression. First,
make sure nobody startles him while sleeping. When approaching
him, stomp your feet and call his name loudly. This way, he wakes
up to hearing you and feeling your vibration and he should not be
startled. This should also work if he is just a sound sleeper. You
should also start other obedience training for deaf dogs. Using
hand signals and treats, instead of voice commands. It can be very
scary for a pet to not be able to hear anything anymore. They don’t
understand what has happened and may react violently. I have heard
(haha) about deafness in Bulldogs. This is not so uncommon. He is
five years old and may be having some genetic hearing loss.
Contact his breeder, if you can, to find out if they have had any
problems in his line with deafness.
The next
thing to consider is Cognitive
Dysfunction Syndrome (please read our article). This will
answer some questions. CDS is not usually seen in pets this young,
but it can happen. If he does have CDS, then there are medications
and even acupuncture treatments
that can help. Talk to your Veterinarian, he may be able to point
you towards a licensed Veterinary Acupuncturist in your area.
You did
not say how long you have had Cyrus. I have heard of pets being
aggressive and easily started while sleeping if they had some
traumatic times in their life. Maybe while sleeping, another dog,
or child, in the house would attack him, bite him, or was mean to
him. This could explain some of the behaviors.
As for
his food aggressive tendencies, you need to start all over with
obedience training. This includes teaching him where the food
comes from and that you are the boss. Start with feeding him from
your hands. Make him enjoy being fed from your hand. Your whole
family needs to participate. Keep doing this until he is totally
relaxed and enjoying the time with you. Then start to feed him
from his bowl and your hand. Slowly incorporate back, his eating
from his bowl only. Hopefully this will help. If not, you may want
to seek a behaviorist about this. Please do not get bit,
scratched, or hurt in anyway.
Good
luck, and give him a lick for me,
Wilma
Wayne
Hi,
I
have a 9 wk-old German Shepherd puppy. I have been trying to
teach him walk on a leash. He won't walk or come. He acts
like he hates me and is scared of me. Will he get over it? I
have had German Shepherds before with no problems. He has
been running away from me not wanting to be with me.
Sharon
It
sounds like you have a 9 wk-old puppy on your hands, nothing
unusual. I remember when I was a puppy and my mommy and
daddy put a leash on me. It was very scary. He is
not scared of you, just the things you are wanting to do.
As pups, we are not used to things being put around our necks
and being pulled places. We are used to running where we
want to go, not where you want us to go. Be patient.
The
first step is leash training. To help with leash training,
put the collar on his neck, and attach the leash so that the
attachment is under the neck, not over the neck. When you
pull on the leash, there will be a v-shaped hole just in front
of his throat. This will allow him to breathe when you
pull on the leash. Don't worry about hurting his
neck/spine. You will not be pulling him hard or over rough
surfaces. If you attach the leash on the top of his neck,
when you pull forward you will be putting direct pressure on his
throat. When you are doing your short 10 minute training
sessions with him, make sure it is on linoleum, tile, or other
slick surfaces. This way, when you tell him to come and he
resists, you can drag him on the floor sliding him to you and
not hurting him. Every step he makes in a forward motion,
praise him. Give him lots of rewards (treats, love,
kisses, etc.). We love treats! When you give him the
treat, make sure it is a very small piece (one bite or two).
If you give him something that will take awhile to eat, he will
forget you are doing training, forget what progress you have
made, and it will take longer. Give him the treat, then
continue with the command to come/heal and reward again when he
takes that step forward. Soon he will learn it is much
easier to take the steps forward and get the reward, than to
resist.
Good
luck with your training. It is also a good idea to enroll
yourself and and your puppy in obedience classes when he is
finished with his puppy vaccinations and over 6 months old.
We want to make sure he is protected from viruses before putting
him around other dogs. He will be a big boy when he is
grown, and the obedience training early will help. Ask
your Veterinarian if he/she can refer you to some respected
trainers or classes.
Hi,
My dog is a Lab and she turns 4 months old on 4/23/05. I
just saw that one of her teeth is broken and bleeds. The bottom of
the tooth is still in her mouth, but the top is gone. It is the
eyetooth (the long one in the front) and I don't know if she is
just losing a puppy tooth or if should I bring her to the vet?
Jane
Your
puppy may be losing her puppy teeth. The tooth you
describe is her canine tooth. Most puppies start losing
their puppy (deciduous) teeth around 3-4 months old, and their
adult (permanent) teeth are coming in, pushing the baby
teeth out. If the tooth that she has lost or has broken
was small, pointy, curved, with a purple tinge to the top, does
not have a root attached or may even look hollow, this could be
her deciduous canine tooth. The bottom of the tooth
that you may see or feel in her mouth may be her permanent
tooth coming in. Please take her to your Veterinarian to
make sure she is okay. If she has broken a permanent tooth,
she may need a root canal (if the pulp is exposed and therefore
painful to her), to have the tooth pulled or maybe nothing at
all if the tooth is not causing any problems. The bleeding
may be from her gums where the deciduous tooth was attached
(they do not have a root structure like the permanent teeth, and
the gums help keep them in place until the permanent teeth
push them out).
By
playing with her with some of her toys, you can help her lose
her deciduous teeth. The rope toys that have the knots on
both ends are great. When she sinks her teeth into it and
you play Tug-of-War, you will help loosen any teeth that are
ready, or almost ready, to come out. Then, you may not have
deciduous teeth stay in or break when the permanents come in.
Most mommies and daddies do not find any of the deciduous teeth
when they come out because we usually swallow them. This
is okay. Mine are being saved for a keepsake. Sorry, no
doggie tooth fairy.
When
the deciduous teeth stay in and the permanent teeth erupt, this
can cause problems. Sometimes, it causes overcrowding in
the mouth and the teeth do not line up right, are crooked, or
other there can be other problems. This is similar to when
your wisdom teeth come in. Usually you humans have to get
them pulled because there is not enough room. By having
the deciduous tooth and the permanent tooth so close together,
this traps bacteria and tartar in between the teeth. This
causes gingivitis, periodontal disease, and possibly root
problems. Please have your Veterinarian check this when
she is examined.
Dear
Wilma,
I
have five Shih-Tzu's
and one of the males is aggressive with only one other male. I am
afraid he is going to hurt him. I can't figure out why he is
the only one he reacts to. I have only one girl and she is the
mother of one of the other dogs. I just walk by and out of the
blue the aggressive male goes for his neck. Please help.
Can
this be corrected? He is four and it just started this year. I
can't figure it out, they all are so loving. He is loving with me
and loves to be held but it is just this one dog. I am afraid he
is going to hurt him as he has already bitten his neck and scratched his
eye. What if we are not home? However, when they are alone
all day in the one room, this does not happen.
An additional problem I have is that one out of the five does not
like to go to the bathroom where all the other dogs go (on the
newspaper). He goes in other spots of the house.
I also have a few of them that eat their poop? What's that all
about?
Phyllis
Dear Phyllis,
It
sounds like you have a house full. Unfortunately, when you
have that many dogs in one house you are bound to have some
problems. The first thing I want to recommend is to get
them ALL spayed and neutered. I think this may help some of
your problems. It is also the best thing for the babies.
Please read Spaying your pet and Neutering
your pet.
Neutering/Spaying
them may not fix your problems since they are older now. By
neutering them and therefore removing the testosterone which
drives the dominance behavior, they may be able to get along
better. Some of the behaviors you have listed may have
become a habit by this point and you may not be able to do
anything. But sometimes after neutering, pets become more
docile to you and others.
Now, on
to your other issues. The
first one is the Coprophagia (or eating
of their feces). There is no specific evidence of why
dogs do this, but one of the most common reasons behaviorist
believe is to show dominance. The most dominant dog in the
pack will eat everybody else's feces to remove their scent from
his yard. That way if any other dog comes along, he/she will
know whose territory it is. Some dogs will eat any and all
feces in their yard, including cats, yuck!
This is a common problem, that can be
cured! There
are several things you can try. The easiest treatment is
with a powder called For-bid. You will mix this in with ALL
the dogs meals twice a day for 2-3 days. When the powder
mixes with the intestinal tract it makes the feces taste bad.
When the dog then tries to eat the others' stool, he will get a
bad taste in his mouth and hopefully not want to do it again.
It may take several days or even a week with the powder to see any
difference.
Your
other problem was the inappropriate urination/defication of one
dog. This may be another sign of dominance. That dog
may not want to urinate/deficate where the other dogs do, so that
he can leave his scent in other parts of the house making those
areas his territory. It may also be that he is not allowed
to go where everyone else does, if he is the lowest dog on the
totem pole. Or it may be that he wants your attention.
If he feels he is not getting enough attention from you because it
has to be shared with the others, he may do whatever it takes to
get any attention from you, whether it is good or bad. I
prefer the good attention myself. I strongly recommend training
ALL the dogs to go outside to use the bathroom. It is
difficult for us to understand what and which paper
to go on. The grass is so much easier.
The
final problem and the most scary is the aggression shown by the
one male. This is a dominance problem and you need to fix it
right now before someone gets hurt. The one dog who is
showing the aggression may believe, or has already proven, he is
the alpha dog. He will then try, or succeed, to pick on the
lower members of the pack. He may be trying to tell the
other dog, that when you are around, you are to give attention to
him and not the other dog. You may not see this problem with
any of the others if they have succumbed to being lower on the
totem pole. The alpha dog does not need to remind them of
where they sit in the hierarchy. The aggressive dog may pick
on the other dog, if the other dog is trying to be alpha also. When
you are away, the alpha dog may not feel he has to show his
dominance, or maybe because he is not having to worry about who is
getting the attention and who is not. Again, neutering all
of them may help. I would hate to see or hear that they were
injured in a fight, or you were hurt because you got caught in the
middle. His
aggression may have just started since he is an adult and
realizing his capabilities of being dominant.
I hope I have
helped. You may want to take him and yourself to a
Veterinary Behaviorist to try to fix this so that all of you can
continue to live together.
Good Luck,
Wilma Wayne
Hi,
I
bought an English Bulldog puppy a week and a half ago and I'm
hoping you can help me solve a couple of problems. First of all, I
have 4 children and my pup (Bosco) is constantly nipping at their
feet and hands. I try to discipline him to stop, but he can be
pretty stubborn. I feel bad sometimes because he is young (8 1/2
wks) but I know he has to stop this now.....any suggestions? Also
are these puppies really slow at housetraining? He does go outside
to go to the bathroom, but he still messes in the house...I think
I may be expecting too much too soon.
Thanks
for any help
Sincerely
Tracy and Bosco
P.S. Wilma is a beautiful dog
Dear
Tracy and Bosco,
Thank
you, I think I am beautiful too! I tell mom and dad every
day how lucky they are to have someone as pretty as me as their
child.
Puppies
can be challenging, stubborn, and a lot of work, but it will be
well worth it later. First, read Non-aggressive
training for puppies, it should answer several questions.
Here are
some simple ways to train Bosco not to bite hands, feet, or heals.
The first way is to allow him to have your finger in his mouth.
When he does, press your thumb nail gently onto the tongue, but
hard enough to elicit a yelp. This will tell him his biting
hurts you and it will also hurt him. Usually this works if
you are consistent. Make sure you do the same training, for
anything, every time! If he is allowed to bite on some occasions,
or only one of the children, he will not learn. Everyone in
the house needs to follow the same rules. Another way is to
put bitter apple or tobasco on your feet, hands, or heals before
play. When he gets a taste of this in his mouth, he will not
want to bite you again. Do not apply much, only a few drops
or so.
Your
other problem is housetraining. You may be expecting too
much to soon. 8 1/2 weeks is a little young to be perfect
every time. This is similar to asking a 2-yr old child to be
completely potty-trained. It is possible, but not likely.
Here is another good article from our site entitled New
puppy. It discusses many important topics for a
puppy's health, including house-training. We really like the
crate training method. It may sound mean, but there are many
advantages to this. First, and most important, is teaching
bladder control. Since most puppies will not urinate or
deficate if their toys, body, or food and water have to lay in it;
they have now learned how to hold it. Next, is where to go.
Since the puppy has held it during the day or at night, you now
can teach him the acceptable places to potty. If he is free
roaming the house, he will potty anywhere and not learn that
outside on the grass is where to go.
The
other reason to do crate training is safety, for him and your
house. You know that while he is in his crate he is safe
from many dangers that lie in his reach in your home. For
example, the children's small toys, electrical cords,
clothing/shoes, etc. He could get a hold of these and
chew on them, which he could possibly choke on them, get
electrocuted, or he could swallow the object and lodge it in his
stomach or intestinal tract. If any of these happen, the
only help for him is surgery. You only need to use the crate
until he is housebroken and out of the puppy chewing stage.
Some of my dog relatives actually enjoy their crates. They
see them as a safe haven from children, company, etc.
Enjoy
your new puppy, and remember, puppies are like children; short
attention spans, want to learn, but will make mistakes, and you
have to give us lots of praise. When he is doing something
he shouldn't be, tell him NO!, then give him something he can do,
and praise him a lot for doing good. He will remember the
praise and will try to do more good things.
Yours Truly,
Wilma Wayne
Hi,
My girlfriend owns a 2 yr-old female yellow Labrador named Mocha.
My girlfriend also owns another older female dog, named Chrissy.
Chrissy is a 14 yr-old Brittany. Mocha and Chrissy are very close,
Mocha has been around Chrissy since we brought Mocha home at 8
weeks of age.
My
issue is that Mocha will not go to the bathroom anywhere else but
in my girlfriend's back yard. We take them, Mocha & Chrissy,
up to our summer camp and they are allowed to freely roam without
being leashed and Mocha will not go to the bathroom even after
seeing Chrissy go. Mocha will hold everything for over 24 to 36
hours, until she gets home. She will not go on a leach, when
walked in the neighborhood and on trips. Again, she holds
everything until she gets home.
When
at home, her bathroom habits seem normal, wanting to go out about
every 2 to 3 hours. At home, she does signal that she has to go to
the bathroom by going to the door and waiting until we open the
door to let her out. At the camp or other trips she does not
exhibit any other strange behaviors, it is just that she doesn't
go to the bathroom. Why?? And, is there anything that we can do to
encourage her?
Thank
you, Monty
Dear
Monty,
What a
strange behavior. I don't know if I have heard this one before.
I have heard of some dogs not going to the bathroom anywhere but on
grass, but never only in one place! I guess that helps poop
scooping duty when you go on walks!
My
suggestion to you would be to let her know that it is okay to go to
the bathroom in other places. You can, I know this will sound
gross, take some of her stools and urine, that you have saved in
a cup, to these places with you. Wherever you want her to go,
place the stools and pour the urine on that grass. Once she
smells her scent there, she may go to the bathroom. Usually, we will
go just about anywhere, especially if we want to leave our scent.
Try doing this and see if it helps. There is not any harm in
her not going to the bathroom for 8-12 hours, but any longer could
cause problems.
Another
thing you can try is housebreaking her again in those spots.
Once you have gotten her to go to the bathroom, everywhere but
at home, praise her and give her cookies. I will do anything
for treats, so I'm sure she will too. Once she realizes she
can go at the camp, or elsewhere, she will start to urinate and
deficate there easily and the behavior needs to be reinforced.
Good Luck,
Wilma
Wayne
Hi
Wilma, please help me
My 2 yr-old male Labrador (80 pounds) became pretty aggressive since
3 weeks ago; he also began chasing his tail a lot. Also, he humps or
mounts everything that gets under his paws: towels, his bed sheets,
etc .
I went
to my Vet and he prescribed Prednisone (or something like that for
his tail) and I read today that the medication can make some dogs
more aggressive. Yesterday, he bit me. Not hard but like a "leave
me alone" bite. Today he was neutered. How much time do I have
to wait for his hormones to go down?
Also, I know it is not
normal for a Labrador to have such character traits. He was normal
and sweet three weeks ago. He is getting the same exercise, the same
food, everything is the same. He had all his shots on time.
I love my dog so much, but I am scared. Have you seen cases like
this? Do you think he is going to get better? My Vet does not have
an idea. He told me not to neuter him, but it was my choice.
Now I am scared of my own dog.
Do you recommend any books I can read to know more about what is
happening to Blackie? Can this be hereditary? I don't know Blackie's
parents.
Please
help,
Wanda
Dear Wanda,
I am sorry
to hear about Blackie and his behavior changes. It is uncommon
for a Labrador to be aggressive, but I have heard of a few.
He may have started to become possessive over his belongings as
a way of showing his maturity (he has reached manhood in dog years).
A lot of
behavior is learned from our owners. For example, my parents
treat me like their baby which is wonderful for me, however, as us
alpha dogs mature, this behavior from owners tells us it is okay to
be dominant. You will need to make drastic changes in how you
treat Blackie.
In the
wild, dogs will start to become sexually active when we leave puppy-hood,
and the males have to display this and practice on any and all
females who will tolerate this. Not many will, but they will
learn how to act like a mature dog. His aggression might also
be related to the testosterone. He was not only maturing
sexually, but also mentally as well, and he was trying to display
that. That doesn't mean his behaviors were okay. It is
never okay for any human to be afraid of their own dog. You
need to take control of this situation.
I have to
commend you on neutering him. This may help his behavior but
there is no guarantee. Sometimes, if you have your pet
neutered, whether it is a cat or a dog, after maturity, the
behaviors exhibited can become a learned habit, not a natural one.
For instance, Blackie mounting his toys. If he did it
frequently, he may have learned the behavior, effects, and outcome
and he may continue to do it not because of testosterone, but
because he knows the feelings he gets when he does these things.
His
actions may be something he learned from his parents, siblings, or
hereditary, but it is hard to say. Usually, if we have any
aggressive tendencies, you would have seen them before two years of
age. Not always, but usually. You did not say if there were
any changes in the household such as new pets, visitors, increased
time away from the home, etc... These can be major stress factors.
The
medication he is on, Prednisone, can sometimes have a side effect of
behavioral changes. It is rare, but it can happen.
However, it sounds like this started before the
medications. If any of this is hormonal, typically the
hormones will be fully out of his system in less than 60 days.
I would
recommend that you and Blackie see a Behaviorist. There is one
at Texas A&M University in College Station at the small animal
hospital. Hopefully they can help you. If you are in a
different state, try your closest College of Veterinary Medicine for
a referral. I am glad to hear that he did not hurt you and gave you
a warning, but no dog should ever bite the hand that feeds them.
I personally love those hands way too much. I hope the two of
you can work this out and live a happy and aggression-free life
together.
Your
Veterinarian may want to take some x-rays of his hips and pelvis as
pain is a common cause of increased irritability.
Good Luck
and take care,
Wilma
Wayne
Hi
Wilma,
I just adopted a 1 1/2 yr-old cat from the local Dumb Friends
League. She is a gray tabby and very, very sweet. She is very
loving and talkative. She meets us at the door whenever we come
in.
My problem, when I first got her they told me that she was potty
trained. For the first month or so, she was very good and used her
box all the time, this was back in November. In mid to late
December,
she started urinating on my leather ottoman.
The
first couple of times I put her down in the laundry room and
closed the door and left her in there for 20 minutes; the laundry
room is also where her box is. I did this in hopes that she would
get the correlation. Then I caught her urinating on a sofa that is
located in the room next to the laundry room! She has the
understanding that she's in trouble for it.
I
took her into the vet to have her checked to make sure that she
didn't have a urinary tract or bladder infection - all tests came
up negative. The time-out in the laundry room does not seem to be
working.
I previously had a dog and when I potty trained her, I kept her in
a kennel for 8 days, taking her out for play time and bathroom and
the rest of the time she was kept in her kennel. After the 8 days,
I never had a problem with her again. Should I follow the same
rules with the kitty?
Any suggestions, wisdom, and help you can pass along would be most
appreciated. Thanks again.
Frustrated, Colleen
Dear
Colleen,
I fondly
remember my days of pottying inside, oh how I miss them. I
had many accidents, but I finally learned.
Unfortunately
dogs and cats are different when it comes to housetraining.
It sounds like your problem may be behavioral, not forgetfulness.
I'm glad you had her checked out by a doctor first to make sure it
was not a medical issue. Since we know this, we can start
the retraining.
I heard
a Behaviorist discussing this issue not too long ago. He
said that you can retrain a cat by placing her in a carrier for a
few hours at a time. This is similar to you putting her in
the room with the litterbox, except most cats will not urinate if
they have to lay in it. So now she is holding it. Release
her from her carrier after awhile and put her in the room with the
box. When she goes, try to praise her. If you just
lock her in the room, she may only associate the room with the bathroom
and not the litterbox.
This
behaviorist also said cats never forget where to go, they know exactly
what they are doing. This leads me into my next topic.
Some
owners think their cat is stupid for missing the litterbox, but
this may not be the case. I have seen kitties back up to a
litterbox, then squat to go and completely miss the box!
They may be doing this on purpose to get your attention. If
this is the problem, you need to figure out why your kitty wants
to get your attention. Have you had any disturbances in your
house lately? For example, has your work schedule changed,
any new friends coming or staying over, new pets in the house, or
have you changed the normal location of the litterbox?
Some
cats are very particular about what they are going in. Some
cats will only use a litterbox once, and not again until it
is cleaned. If you changed brands, or type of litter, that
may have upset her.
I don't
know if you will ever get the smell out of your furniture.
You may try to find some kind of pheromone / urine eliminator.
Once a cat has urinated on something, especially fabric, it is
extremely difficult to remove the odor (from your cats sense of
smell anyway). Your cat will continue to urinate on those
objects as long as she can smell her scent there.
Here are
a few additional sources on this topic: Pawsperouspets.com,
Perfectpaws.com,
Hartz
Web Site & Merck
Veterinary Manual.
Good luck,
Wilma Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
I
have a 1-yr old Shih-Tzu; I got him at 11 months old. His behavior
has gotten worse over the last month or so. He is fantastic with
me and my children, but if ever a stranger approaches him, he
barks, growls and attacks. He has bitten someone on the leg not so
long back when they came to deliver a parcel. I can't take him for
a walk in fear he will bite someone again. His barking continues
and he gets so angry if I invite someone in the house.
But
it's not just in the house. If I take him to the vets, his
behavior is very worrying. I have tried to get him a muzzle, but
am finding it difficult to get one to fit him. How can I begin to
correct Buddy with his terrible behavior? I have even tapped him
on the head and shouted firmly NO when he tries to attack someone.
He does lie down on the floor for a split second as if he knows he
is doing wrong, but he just continues again. I am very concerned
with him now. He is getting worse each day and I'm so afraid that
one day he may even turn on my children.
Any
help would be great, Samantha
Dear
Samantha,
Darn
delivery guys, I try to bite those guys too! However, there is a
difference between nipping
(herding behavior) and biting.
It
sounds like you have reason to be concerned. You seem to be
trying all the right things to train Buddy not to bite, growl, or
bark, but he is not listening. You can try some different
training techniques with him. When he exhibits a bad
behavior, tell him NO!, make him sit or lie down, and make him
stay until you are ready for him to move.
When you
answer the door, have Buddy on a leash. This way you can
control him. Do not let Buddy decide when he can stand back
up or leave the area, that is for you to tell him. If
he leaves the sit/lie/stay position before you tell him to, make
him get back in it. Repeat the process until he is
listening and learning.
Once he
does mind you and is sitting and staying, you can then verbally
release him with a command like "You're free!" Then,
reward him (positive reinforcement) for his exceptional behavior.
Give him lots of treats (his favorite kind) and love, and leave
the impression in his mind that being good with manners and obedience
will get him treats. When he is bad, use negative
reinforcement. You may want to do several practice runs with
a friend or family member. You can also use this technique
while on walks. It is good for any dog, especially a biter,
to learn to sit and stay when people approach.
Unfortunately,
I am afraid you may not be able to change Buddy. He may only
get worse, and may eventually bite you or your children. Do
take him seriously! Buddy will need a firm and strong owner
if he is to get over this. You cannot be afraid of him!
However, be cautious and smart. Do not leave him alone with
the children until he can be trusted, and he may never be.
Also, do not take him on walks until you can control him fully and
without a doubt. You are lucky that Buddy's first bite case
did not become serious.
I would
also suggest that you and Buddy make an appointment with a Behaviorist
or a well respected Obedience Trainer in your area. Your
veterinarian will likely know both a Behavior Specialist and a
well respected Obedience Trainer.
Sincerely,
Wilma
Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
First
off WW, you are gorgeous!! I have some kitty questions, no
offense. I also have two dogs, Brutus and Molly. I love them
all. Anyway, my first kitty question is...I have a new
kitty, black, no white, my favorite. He sucks my ears, only mine,
and he is my shadow...which was my last black cat who died at 13.
I
really don't mind. I had a cat that licked till he went to sleep
and he was such a great companion. My son says he hates him, only
because this cat seems to only show me love. He thinks I am his
personal tree at times. I love the attention, but was always told
they only did this when weaned too soon, he was not. Never got him
till about 4 months old or so lived with mother and siblings till
I took him. Can you tell me why he does this? And is it bad to let
him as it is so much easier; he is very pushy!!
Question
2... I have a 2-yr old cat who loves to wake me by chewing on my
fingers purring the whole time.
Just
curious, Mary
Dear Mary,
Thanks
for the compliment! I think I'm pretty cute myself. It
sounds like your cats love you very much. Sometimes, cats
will nurse on their owners to show affection and to let you know
that they know you are their alpha cat. Grooming is often
done by cats in packs.
The beta
cats (or those who are not in charge) will groom the alpha cats
(the ones who are in charge) to show they respect them and will
take care of them. Same is true for feeding time. The
alpha cats get to eat first, then everyone else. Your two
cats may be doing this same thing. In some cases, cats have
been seen nursing, sucking, chewing, or licking on objects, people
or each other if they were weaned to soon and were not shown the
appropriate social behaviors of cats by their mother.
I would
not worry about your kitties. It sounds like you guys have a
mutual relationship: they chew, nurse, lick on you and you love on
them. Your son may not understand this relationship, or he is
jealous. I wish I could nurse on my owners, but I slobber
too much! Many cats are one person cats. Meaning, they
attach themselves to one person in the household, and follow,
love, and care for only the one person. Seems kinda silly to
me. I like to love on everyone who comes close enough!
So, don't worry about that.
As for
the clawing on your legs. That sounds like it hurts. I
would invest in a scratching post or something they can scratch
on. This may be a marking type behavior. When cats
scratch on an object (e.g: a tree, post, you, etc.), they are not
only sharpening their claws, but they are also leaving their scent
behind. The younger kitty may feel he has to claim you
since the other kitty was in the house first (I assume). As
long as everyone is getting along and you don't mind the
scratches, and finger and ear sucking, then continue as
usual. I would make sure you clean any scratches very
thoroughly, since kitties use a litter-box, and get particles
stuck to their claws and feet.
Say
hello to Brutus and Molly. I hope I have answered your
questions. Good luck with everyone and take care of the
kitties.
Love,
Wilma Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
We
just adopted a Boston Terrier that had been in a puppy mill. She
had been with foster parents for 1 month previous to us. She is 1
1/2 years old and has probably been bred 1-2 times. She doesn't
really know how to play and we aren't sure how to teach her. Do
you have any ideas or thoughts on this? We have tried buying toys
but she isn't interested and is probably unsure what to do with
them.
Thanks, Temie
Dear
Temie,
Congratulations
on your recent adoption! It is glad to hear a baby is
getting a second chance. I am glad she is out of the puppy
mill, and in a wonderful home.
I'm sure
you both are frustrated with the situation. You want to
teach her how fun life can be with toys, and she does not
understand why you keep putting the fuzzy objects in her face.
This may just take some time for the two of you to work it out.
Instead of buying her lots of toys, start with a few. Don't
bombard her with too many choices, we are easily overwhelmed.
Maybe
start with something that is soft that she can hold in her mouth.
When she grabs it, or even acts like she might be playing, reward
her. You can even use treats as reward or just lots of baby
talk. This is a common problem for babies who were not
given the chance as a pup to learn all of their socialization
skills. Once she learns how to play with the first toy,
introduce another. Sometimes our owners think it is best to buy
and give us lots of toys, but usually we get bored with them.
If you give her one toy at a time, each one will seem like a new
treat. Please have patience with her while she learns.
I also
would like to mention spaying. If she has not been spayed
yet, I would recommend you have her spayed soon. Having her
spayed reduces the risks of many health problems including
pyometra, uterine cancer, and mammary (or breast) cancer.
Please see our article on Spaying Your
Pet for further help. She has been through a lot in her
little life so far, this would help to reduce the chances of more
problems later.
Thanks
and Good Luck,
Wilma
Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
My
dog Heidi is a German Shepherd mix taken out of the pound and
given to me a few months later when she was just about a year old.
She is now about 20 months old and I think a bit neurotic.
When
I leave the house and put her outside with a treat, she refuses to
eat it (unless it is a real bone) until I return. Because of heavy
rain, I have left her in the house for short periods and she won't
eat the treat I've left until I return. Okay, sometimes she will
suck on one of my dirty socks but not touch the treat until I'm
back home. Is this normal she misses me behavior, or is she in
fear that I won't return?
Thanks,
Anne
Dear
Anne,
It may
be a little of both. I know a Boxer who has done this all
her life with her food. When her owners leave the house she
will not touch her food until her owners return home! And
then she gobbles up a full meal! She will also eat as much as
possible when they go to leave, like she is storing up just in
case they don't return. They have had her since she was an
itty bitty pup. That is just her way.
Heidi
might be saving her food because of her past, or it just may be
one of her quirks. If she was not fed regularly, or not at
all, or her owners left her to fend for herself, she may be saving
it until she gets really hungry. She might be afraid you
won't return and that she will go hungry. Since we do not
know her history, it is hard to pinpoint exactly why she does
this. As long as she is eating her full rations twice daily,
is active, and no vomiting or diarrhea, she should be okay.
You may want to take her to her doctor and have her checked out to
make sure she is completely healthy.
Now
let's talk about real bones. Honestly, feeding real bones is
never a good idea. When eating real bones, it is quite
possible that Heidi will break off large shards of bone and
swallow them. These pieces act like glass in the intestinal
tract. Surgery could be needed to open up her intestinal tract and
clean out all the pieces, and then she would need hospitalization
to support her body while she recovers. Bones shards
can even be deadly.
I would
also be careful about leaving socks and other small objects around
that she can swallow whole. These too, can cause many
problems. The most common is an intestinal blockage. The
sock gets stuck in her intestinal tract, and therefore nothing
passes. This will definitely need surgery to fix. She
will stop eating, or eat and vomit afterwards, and become very
ill.
I hope
this has helped and congratulations on your adoption. It
always bring a smile to my wrinkled face when I hear of babies
getting a second chance. Take care of each other.
Sincerely,
Wilma
Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
Hi, I
have a purebred Shitzu female. She is 6 years old and had
her first litter of pups. Now everything was fine until she had
the pups. I find she is pooping and peeing in the house now. She
is let out often but has stopped letting us know when she has to
go and she is going on clothing and furniture. Any suggestions on
how to re-break her of this. She never did this before.
Thanks,
Chrissie
Dear Chrissie,
It
sounds like we may have some training to do. Sometimes dogs
need to be re-housebroken. If some traumatic events happen,
like whelping puppies, not getting all the attention anymore
because of puppies, giving away those puppies, it can cause a girl
to do things she knows she is not supposed to do.
She may
be deficating on your clothes to get your attention. She may
be urinating on your things to leave her scent. She may also
have a urinary tract infection, or intestinal parasites, or both,
and that may be the problem. I
would suggest taking her to her doctor to make sure she is healthy.
Once they have determined she is, then we can work on the behavior
issues.
The
first step is to pretend she is a puppy again and start her
housetraining all over again. Crating her during the day, taking
her outside as soon as you get home, use your word for
"potty", and praise her when she is good.
Hopefully she will pick this back up again, and realize she gets
more attention, positive attention, when she is good, and no
attention, or bad attention, when she is bad.
I have
heard about babies "forgetting" where they are supposed
to go to the bathroom many times. It will take persistence
and time to retrain her. You may also need to retrain her
how to tell you when she has to go outside. Make sure that
her visits outside are fun and enjoyable for her so that she wants
to do them often, and to please you.
I do
also recommend to have her spayed. She is getting older, and
having puppies will be hard on her. Also, by having her
spayed you will reduce her risks of pyometra, mammary or breast cancer,
uterine cancer, and other problems. If she has pyometra,
which can be life threatening, she will need an emergency spay
surgery, antibiotics, hospitalization, and a longer recovery
period than a normal, healthy dog. Please read our article
on Spaying Your Pet. It has some
useful facts and figures to help your decision.
Your Truly,
Wilma Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
I got
an English Bulldog from the Humane Society last week named Lovey.
Lovey is 4 years old. Lovey is very sweet, and has adjusted to me
and her surroundings but she does not like my 2 cats. I cannot
give up my cats. One is 12 years old and I've had her since she
was born.
It's
not fair for me to keep my 2 cats upstairs (they are declawed
inside cats) even though they liked it up there even before Lovey
came. Lovey is kept downstairs. How can I get Lovey trained to
accept my cats? The kitties were there first. I do have a dog
crate that holds a dog up to 90 lbs. It is for Lovey. Should that
be used in the training? Please help.
Thank
you, Dellie
Dear
Dellie,
Congratulations
on your adoption! It is good to hear older dogs are
being adopted and given second chances.
Being an
English Bulldog myself, I understand your frustrations with Lovey.
I like to bark and growl at cats also. She may have been
given up for adoption because of her problem with cats and maybe
her previous owners did not have the time to help her, or couldn't
change her ways. That may be something your whole
household can live with and learn to tolerate or not.
Crate
training is wonderful for housebreaking puppies, but not as useful
in this situation. You want Lovey and the cats to get along.
Keeping her in a crate during the day and having the cats roam
the house may not be the answer. You may need to keep the cats
away from her during the day when you are not there, for
instance, in a room, keep Lovey downstairs and the cats upstairs,
etc.
I can
suggest to you a slow acclimation with Lovey and the
cats. When you are at home, you can train Lovey not to bark
or growl at the cats when they are in her sight. Tell her
NO!, then praise her for stopping her growling, give her a toy to
play with, then praise her for playing with the toy. This
may train her that when she sees the cats to go get a toy and
play.
Playing
is much more fun than being scolded at, believe me, I know.
Unfortunately, I do not have all the answers. You may need
to seek a behaviorist to help you and they may not even be
able to help. If Lovey does not like cats, she may never like cats
no matter what you do. On the other hand, it may just take
time. Praising her when she is good, teaching her which are
the right behaviors for a dog in your house, and time may help.
I hope I have given you some things to think about and try.
Good Luck,
Wilma Wayne
Dear
Wilma,
What
should I do when my puppy (6weeks) is very aggressive when playing
with my two older dogs? He growls at them and tries to bark. Is he
going to still be aggressive to these dogs when he gets to be four
months old? By the way, he is not aggressive toward my family.
Aggressive
Puppy Owner
Dear aggressive puppy
owner,
I am
sorry to hear you may have an aggressive puppy on your hands.
Since I was a puppy myself once, I can relate to the barking and
growling at others in my family.
You need
to figure out if the barking and growling is just puppy behavior
or is he trying to assert dominance over the others. He may
even be trying to find his spot in the hierarchy. Puppies
play, socialize, and learn their place in the hierarchy from being
with their littermates at this age. Since he is not with
them he may be expressing this on your other dogs instead of them.
Puppies
play by barking and growling at toys, other pack members, and even
inanimate objects. Play behavior is exhibited by a
wagging tail, front end on the ground and rear and tail in
the air, lots of movement, bouncing back and forth, with a happy
or high pitched bark or whine, he may even roll over on his
back to expose his belly. If he is actually being aggressive
(ears flat on the head, lips raised, teeth showing, tail out, and
a sawhorse stance, very little to no body movement, and a low
growl or rumble) then you need to try and stop this behavior now
before he gets older and bigger.
You also
need to look into the breed of dog. Things like, does this
breed tend to be aggressive toward other dogs? Do they do
better in a one dog only household? If this is a large breed
dog and will get bigger than the other two when full grown, you
will have a problem on your hands. I hope I have helped.
You may also talk to a behaviorist about the specific concerns and
behaviors you have about your puppy. Luckily, since your
puppy is still very young, you can usually stop any bad behaviors.
Once he is an adult, it will be much harder.
Good Luck,
Wilma Wayne
 Looking
for questions posted here previously? Wilma
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