Will this get better?

[Oliver21508]

Hiya

Just to start this thread, I will stop scruffing and rough handling completely. I know that this problem has been my fault and I feel really bad, I just want to know if it will get better.

When we put Ollie's harness on, he backs away and hides in the corner. I think this is due to the fact that we used to force the harness onto him. Now I'm training him to stand in the holes of the harness so I can just pull it up, and I give him a treat when I show him the harness, so he associates the harness with something nice. I've also loosened the harness as I think it was too tight around his belly, and he was finding this uncomfortable. Whilst I was loosening it (the harness was on him), he turned round to bite my hand, and I said NO firmly, and tried to continue and finish as quickly as possible.

Will this behaviour get better? I'm doing training sessions of touching his body and putting his harness on regularly (once a day at least), so will this cure this behaviour?

[Joules]

Yes, it will get better if you carry on as you are.  Obviously Ollie has bad associations with the harness due to the way you started off with it so it will take some time for him to accept it.    Like everything else it will take time and you are starting from further back than the beginning as he has bad associations so you will need to overcome this.  It might take a few weeks or longer though so you will just have to persevere and be patient    Once he learns he gets a treat and fuss for being a good boy and that nice things happen (games, walks etc) when he has the harness on, he will soon learn to accept it. 

Good luck. 

[Oliver21508]

Thanks. I was so worried I'd ruined him.

[Joules]

Thanks. I was so worried I'd ruined him.

No, dogs are very forgiving and I am sure you can turn this round but you will have to be patient. 

And no more scruffing or rough handling ever ever ever!    You don't want Ollie doing what you say because he is scared do you?

[ladylola]

I don't think you have ruined him, but it will take longer. He has to be able to trust you, so never shout or rough handle him. If he's driving you bonkers take a deep breath and walk away and try again later. Dogs can sense if you are stressed and they get stressed too.Don't forget if a dog is frightened it may bite. Time and patience is the only way forward. Reward him when he's good and ignore him when he's not.

[Karma]

To be honest, when we were adjusting Honey's harness, she turned to us and chewed at our hands, as it was something she wasn't comfortable with.
As others have said, dogs are very forgiving, but you need to let him learn to trust you again in his own time.
Does Ollie give a paw?? That's how we started with putting Honey's harness on - putting each leg through on a "paw" command (with associated treat  ).  She soon learned to love it (though still doesn't like it coming back off over her head..... )

[speedyjaney]

i always adjust Jessie harness whilst its off and then try it on for size - if further adjustment required then take it off again etc

She is 5 now and I still adjust that way...lol

[SimonandMandy]

If you are not yet doing paws do start this training, if nothing else it is great fun and a good way to end up with great cuddles.  If not doing get Ollie into a sit and run you hand down the back of his leg and he will put his paw up, hold his paw gently from underneath and then let go (you can increase the amount of time with his paw which is good for grooming as well).  Keep repeating in short bursts each day and then introduce the word paw.  If you teach 1 hand for each leg you can then introduce the hand signal - I just hold my hand out and turn my hand over to palm up about chest height and now get a paw each time.  To put the harness on now we ask for paws so you can combine.

The only thing to watch out for is excitement, Harvey darts away out of excitement these days and its all part of a game, when this happens I just turn away and go and do something quick like have a glass of water and by the time I turn around he is often sat nicely next to me waiting for his lead to be clipped (tho not always... ).

[Oliver21508]

Thanks. Ollie is a very pawy dog. He offers his paw to anyone and even his doggy friend. So it should be easy to teach. Will do that.

[Oliver21508]

Do you think I worry too much about him? I always think if he growls a little, he's going to become a really aggressive dog.

[Cob-Web]

Do you think I worry too much about him? I always think if he growls a little, he's going to become a really aggressive dog.

Growling, just like tail wagging and barking, is a natural form of dog communication and it can mean many difference things in different circumstances 

It can mean that your dog is uncomfortable with a situation; but you will begin to understand him and work out when this is the case - remember that it is a positive thing if your dog growls, it means he has learnt the self-control to give a warning, rather than snap/bite when he is unhappy 

[Karma]

Do you think I worry too much about him? I always think if he growls a little, he's going to become a really aggressive dog.

To be honest (and not meant as a criticism at all) - Yes I do think you worry too much!    It is completely understandable, and many of us are similar - I know I can advise here about relaxing and that growling and even telling off other dogs if acceptable in the right circumstances, yet feel we've failed if Honey "has a go" at another dog...

But please do try and relax - you will soon learn the difference between play growling and warning growls - and as Cob-Web said, it is far better to have a dog that will growl a warning than one that will sit tight until it snaps.  I cringe whenever I see a dog being told off for growling, as it is the dog's only way of saying they aren't happy! 

I do think if you were able to relax  bit more with Ollie you would get more out of each other's company and the training would get so much easier - it's easier said than done when you are taking on the responsibility of training a pup, but the more you can enjoy it, the easier it will be! 

[tiamaria]

Do you think I worry too much about him? I always think if he growls a little, he's going to become a really aggressive dog.

To be honest (and not meant as a criticism at all) - Yes I do think you worry too much!    It is completely understandable, and many of us are similar - I know I can advise here about relaxing and that growling and even telling off other dogs if acceptable in the right circumstances, yet feel we've failed if Honey "has a go" at another dog...

But please do try and relax - you will soon learn the difference between play growling and warning growls - and as Cob-Web said, it is far better to have a dog that will growl a warning than one that will sit tight until it snaps.  I cringe whenever I see a dog being told off for growling, as it is the dog's only way of saying they aren't happy! 

I do think if you were able to relax  bit more with Ollie you would get more out of each other's company and the training would get so much easier - it's easier said than done when you are taking on the responsibility of training a pup, but the more you can enjoy it, the easier it will be! 

Can i just ask a question?

If in 12 months time Reuben growled at my 1 year old nephew - should i be worried, or blame myself for doing something wrong in his upbringing, does it mean he could one day snap at someone?

Im not being petty, but i was under the impression that a dog that growled is one with a bad temperament etc. I dont think i understand?

[Karma]

A growl is not aggression, but it is a sign that something is wrong.
If Reuben growled at your nephew because your nephew had pulled his tail and hurt him, I don't think that would be a sign of bad temperament - rather it would be Reuben telling you his was not comfortable with the situation and asking you to stop your nephew hurting him (in a round about way).  If he growled just because your nephew walked in the room, it would more likely indicate that Reuben hadn't been adequately socialised around children and was afraid (or guarding something) - again it wouldn't be a sign of bad temperament, but it would be a sign that he needed some help becoming comfortable with the situation.

My first dog never ever growled (in my memory), but I don't know if she was told off for growling when she was young (I got her when I was 2) - however I do remember her snapping at a neighbour.  This happened when Bonnie was very old and her eyesight was fading - our neighbour had reached down to pet her, but due to her poor eyesight this frightened Bonnie and she snapped (drawing blood) - I would far rather she had growled! 

[tiamaria]

A growl is not aggression, but it is a sign that something is wrong.
If Reuben growled at your nephew because your nephew had pulled his tail and hurt him, I don't think that would be a sign of bad temperament - rather it would be Reuben telling you his was not comfortable with the situation and asking you to stop your nephew hurting him (in a round about way).  If he growled just because your nephew walked in the room, it would more likely indicate that Reuben hadn't been adequately socialised around children and was afraid (or guarding something) - again it wouldn't be a sign of bad temperament, but it would be a sign that he needed some help becoming comfortable with the situation.

My first dog never ever growled (in my memory), but I don't know if she was told off for growling when she was young (I got her when I was 2) - however I do remember her snapping at a neighbour.  This happened when Bonnie was very old and her eyesight was fading - our neighbour had reached down to pet her, but due to her poor eyesight this frightened Bonnie and she snapped (drawing blood) - I would far rather she had growled! 

Yes i understand. And im glad i asked, because i think i need re-educating. For me a dog that growled wasn't to be trusted,i guess thinking about it, that isnt giving them the credit they deserve - but i understand better now its been explained.

Thanks Karma