[Moose]

Side note: as we tried our best to socialise moose with other dogs and went to puppy school etc, we've trained him in terms of sitting lying and a few tricks like play dead, he hasn't had much socialisation with children because we are a young couple and I have nieces and nephews but that's it! No friends with children. Anyway, in terms of his aggression the only thing I can think it might stem from is his separation anxiety??? (which I noticed is common in cockapoos) because he had that quite bad when we first got him

 

[fairlie]

I might have broken every single rule you've ever been told....Rufus sleeps in our bed, demands pats and we've never rolled him. Ouch for the car hit, poor little guy!. Rufus is also ball obsessed and plays with other dogs as you've described. Maybe his ball can be used for some of the training? When Rufus was young and bossing us around our trainer recommended a lot of tug games where we called the shots and he had to release on command. I'm not sure what 2nd would say to that, she is a pro.

 

[Moose]

I might have broken every single rule you've ever been told....Rufus sleeps in our bed, demands pats and we've never rolled him. Ouch for the car hit, poor little guy!. Rufus is also ball obsessed and plays with other dogs as you've described. Maybe his ball can be used for some of the training? When Rufus was young and bossing us around our trainer recommended a lot of tug games where we called the shots and he had to release on command. I'm not sure what 2nd would say to that, she is a pro.

Haha. So many people and their differing views of owning a dog! I've never told him off for demanding pats because I think it's cute. Yeah we do play tug games but I always make sure I win!

 

[2ndhandgal]

Poor chap - and yes being sore will have made him more grouchy and likely to show aggression (I am also more likely to show aggression if I am sore )

Sounds like you have done pretty well with his training and socialising and just a few bits to sort out

In my view the majority of aggression stems from insecurity of some form so not surprised to hear he also had separation anxiety (Molly did too) She guards things because she is afraid of losing them, as she gets more secure and happy with things she feels less need to guard them, if she knows things will be taken off her straight away this makes her worry more and so she guards them more and this all fuels and aggression - she is not saying she is the boss - she is saying they are her security and she does not want to lose them.

Nosing to get a pat is fine if you are happy with a dog asking for that which sounds like you are - it is a bit of a pain at times (Molly - yes I mean you) but is not going to lead to your dog taking over the world.

I love tug games - fantastic for teaching pups to be gentle with humans (game stops when they touch the hand with teeth) great to teach a dog to release on cue (stop when asked and the game continues) and I let my dogs win some of the time. The last sock Molly stole she allowed me to take it from her with only a bit of tension so we then played tuggy with it for a while, I asked her to give it to me and she did and after another brief tug I left her with the sock.

 

[RuthMill]

We play tug too but I make it fair and let the girls to win every now and then. I don't believe in dominance.

 

[DB1]

I had Dudley as a pup at the height of all the dominance theory stuff and I feel sad that we spent a lot of time ensuring he knew we were pack leaders and were possibly tougher on him (not physically though) than we should have been, having said that he always has been quick 'cocky' for want of a better word so i still don't know, one thing he will not do is drop a tug toy unless you put a treat right under his nose, i'd love him to just drop it on command - any suggestions?

 

[2ndhandgal]

I had Dudley as a pup at the height of all the dominance theory stuff and I feel sad that we spent a lot of time ensuring he knew we were pack leaders and were possibly tougher on him (not physically though) than we should have been, having said that he always has been quick 'cocky' for want of a better word so i still don't know, one thing he will not do is drop a tug toy unless you put a treat right under his nose, i'd love him to just drop it on command - any suggestions?

The way we teach drop the toy to pups is with a small tuggy toy you can mostly fit in your hand. Easiest to play tuggy down on the ground then gather as much of the toy into your hand as you can and hold it steady against your leg and just ignore - with bigger dogs two hands might be needed to hold steady but the idea is the toy is as still as possible so no game - the second he lets go you yippeeeeeeee (literally if that will not scare him) and play again vigorously. Repeat a few times and most dogs quickly get the idea that the way to continue the game is to let go. At that point you can give it a name and start to say the word as you gather the toy to you. Eventually you just say the word and the dog releases.

If that does not make sense I will try and borrow a pup and video it!!

 

[DB1]

Thanks, that has reminded me I think we tried something similar, when you then play vigorously do you slow down and do the same to end the game or let them have it that time?

 

[2ndhandgal]

For teaching to start with I would repeat the playing and getting releases a few times then the final time let them win the toy so they always have a really nice reward of another game for releasing the toy.

 

[DB1]

Thanks, (and sorry for hijacking thread moose).