I adopted a dalmation one week ago today. He is less than 2 years old and is still "intact" (have an appt. on Mar. 2 to take care of that). So far he has been a very gentle, calm, sweet dog but he just did something that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. He climbed up on the couch beside my 3 year old daughter and was sitting almost on top of her. She didn't want his weight pressing on her so I called his name and patted the couch beside where he was sitting for him to move. He started growling at me. My other dog then started growling at him, but he just stared me in the face and continued to growl. I was afraid to get near him because it was a serious growl, like, I'm warning you lady, don't mess with me. He was being asked to do something he obviously didn't want to do so he growled. What concerns me is the fact that I have children. Do I trust this dog in the house with my kids now? What if one of my children does something he doesn't like, is he going to attack? Is this an unneutered male dog thing (never had an male dog who was left unneutered before)? I just calmly walked away from him while he was growling and it was over in a matter of seconds - he is bringing me toys to play with him now and being sweet like he normally is. Any ideas?
Maybe its just me but if you have a dog that you are afraid to get near because he growls, then either you need to get rid of the dog, or dont have dogs period. Once they know you are afraid of them, you will never be the boss.
Maybe I should clarify... I was afraid to go near him because he was practically sitting on top of my daughter. I was thinking of her, not me. If he tried to bite me, my other (very protective of me) dog would have probably attacked him and then there would have been a dog fight beside my daughter. I don't know this dog's background and how he was treated in the past. That makes him a little scary when he is growling at you for no reason, ya know?
You still need to establish boundaries. Do you allow you dogs on the furniture? If not, then get that established now becasue once you let them up there they will ALWAYS be up there. We have a Greyhound and she was abused so when we got her we were afraid to discipline her in anyway but you have to get passed that and make sure they know there boundaries. If your dog is anything like ours they will test you but will abide after continued enforcement by you.
All my dogs are on the furniture. Dalmations are very vocal. My male would moan. Almost like a growl but just complaining. Do not let the dog get the best of you . Use a water gun to train him and you should be fine. Especially assert yourself after he comes home after surgery. He will learn his place.
I've noticed that he is vocal. When he stretches, he groans and moans. Sometimes, he makes a very soft growl when I'm rubbing him and I've been saying he is talking when he does this because it isn't threatening in any way. Do you think his growling was just his way of complaining? It is harder to take in an adult dog because you don't KNOW the dog like you do a dog you've had since it was a puppy. I'm sure I'll learn his ways soon enough but that just freaked me out a little because it was so out of the blue. Oh, and yes, they are allowed on the furniture because we like to snuggle with our dogs and I don't want to have to sit on the floor to do that. Of course, my little dog doesn't shed so I'm having to adjust to the way the dalmation does. I have a white fur coat on my couch these days. Good thing I have an industrial strength vacuum!
Ready, that would freak me out big time!!! Obviously I am no trainer but the boundaries need to be set immediately with your new dog (which is beautiful, btw). He needs to understand that you are the boss of the house, not him. I'm not saying beat the crap out of him, every chance you get, but he needs to learn NOW, you are the boss!
What needs to be figured out first is,why did he do it. There is always a reason. Its hard to know without seeing the dog,his surroundings,the way he interacts etc. Off the top of my head ,I think maybe you have allowed him too much freedom too quickly. You said you only got him a week ago(if I read correctly). He's as confused as you are and he needs rules and boundries,right now he thinks the job of "pack leader"is up for grabs.
Did your Dal show its teeth? Could it have been smiling and vocal at the same time? We have Dals and one smiles and moans. The other is dominant and growls when her territory is invaded. If you would like to PM feel free to do so. I have lots of great resources on Dals.
I agree with your pets pal. One thought, when a dog stands over someone or another, they are sort of saying "This belongs to me" They are the boss (alpha) to it. First off: I would get him neutered faster than you could type a reply. Next, I would set some serious bounderies. While I allow my dogs on my den furniture and in my bed, that was a priveledge that was earned. I know many trainers say not on the furniture because that puts the dog at your level, I respect them and all, but once a dog knows where they stand with me, that I love them but I am the boss, they get furniture privlidges in my house. They know, somehow, that when we visit friends, they do not go on anyone elses furniture. I would not leave this dog alone with your children until you have a pretty good idea of how it is going to react. An ounce of prevention... Now, Dal people, please don't beat me up here... I love Dals, but they got real popular with the Disney movie and they started getting breed by every backyard breeder looking to make a buck. The result is offspring that might not be well bred. You can take the 'breed standard' and apply it to every pure breed dog that comes down the pike. Emotional and health discrepencies can be all over the place with any breed that gets a bit too popular. Ask any experienced shelter person and they will tell you, Jack Russels, Cocker Spaniels, Dals and some other breeds come in droves sometimes. Many will not pass behavior testing, many have a bite history. Just be real careful in the meantime.
He wasn't standing over me because I was standing up when all this took place. But he did rise from a lying position to a standing position during it. I think he was testing me now that I look back on it. Too bad we aren't born knowing dog language! He has an appointment on March 2, the earliest I could get, to be neutered.
No, because he did it a couple more times last night and no children were around. I wasn't freaked out by it the other times so I stood my ground and spoke firmly to him and he tucked his head down in a cowardly manner. He, honestly, was acting like a bratty kid all three times and did it when he thought I was telling him to get off the furniture. He must have had rules that he didn't like in the past. :lol:
This dog doesn't act trust worthy,you need to keep a close eye on him, I wouldn't trust him around my kids,,,they don't hear good and sometimes they are unstable(the dog,not your kids) :lol:
New Dog's Temperament FIRST, please do not hit your Dalmatian...aggression can spark aggression. USE A WATER BOTTLE.. works great on most dogs, and in Dalmatians in particular. Without being with him in the situation you are describing it would be hard to make a determination of what caused him to react that way. Any time you take a dog from a shelter situation, you don't know what you are getting. We do it all the time and do find that dogs who don't understand the chain of command assume that the role of pack leader is up for grabs. You should never leave your children unattended with any dog, Dalmatian or any other breed until you have had them long enough to be trusted. Right now, your Dal still doesn't know what is going on and why he is where he is. He may be hoping this is his new home, but he isn't sure of that yet. Most behavorists believe that dogs see children as other dogs, not humans.. they don't have a human smell until they reach puberty. I don't claim to be an expert on this, but I have talked to several trainers and behaviorists who believe this to be fact. Dalmatians do "talk".. he may have been telling you (in a very unacceptable way) that he and his new friend did not want to get off the couch. At that moment, a spray bottle to the face would have reinforced the fact that you are in charge, not him. Once you have him neutered, he will be less likely to want to take over.. but remember, it can take a month or more for those hormones to completely disappear. Don't give up on him too quickly. Have a crate available in the living area where he can have some 'time out' away from the kids, but still a part of the family. Enroll in an obedience class with him.. this is the absolute best way to teach your dog who is in charge. Dalmatians are wonderful indoor family dogs and very loving with their family. They are also class clowns and goofballs. I guarantee that if you get him neutered, give him time to adjust, be strict with obedience training, and allow him to become part of the family, you won't regret the time and effort spent. Dalmatians are the most loving and people oriented breed I have ever been around. Please feel free to email me privately if you have any questions. Debi
Thanks Debi. This dog has obviously had some sort of training before. He sits, stays, shakes hands and begs on command. No one told us he knew these things, I just gave the commands and he did them. He definitely needs some more training when it comes to leash walking - he walks me now! I would never hit him. I was able to just speak firmly last night and he obeyed me. He already sees my husband as dominant over him, I guess he is testing me a little more. I don't leave my younger children unattended with any of my dogs because dogs are dogs, and they can ALL be unpredictable. Especially with a child who may pull a tail or accidentally step on a paw.
I agree with the water bottle method. When my 4 legged babies are doing something I disapprove of, all I have to say is "squirtbottle" and they usually stop immediately (esp if they are playing too rough).
Mafiaman, I spank my children when they need it too (spank, people, not beat!). I have another dog and I will pop his rear end if he acts up, but that is because I have had him since he was a puppy and I know him and his temperment. If that dog ever offered to bite me, I would fall on the floor and die of a heart attack before his teeth ever reached me, it would shock me that much. He is such a great little guy and only wants to please me, so if he does something he shouldn't do, all I have to do is give him a little swat, tell him no, and he learns not to do it again. But, with this new dog, I wouldn't pop him because I haven't raised him from a pup and I don't know how he was treated in the past. He may interpret a little swat to the back end as a beating coming on and react negatively to that - know what I mean? An update on the growling situation. He WAS talking to me! I've just never had a dog that growl talked before so I misunderstood him. He has been doing it more and more and it isn't a threatening growl like I first thought, it is more like he is loudly protesting. Very funny once you realize what it is that he is doing. :lol:
I don't believe in striking a dog with a hand, newspaper or anything else. The dog usually doesn't understand what they are being struck for, and while I have neighbors who insist that they 'wooped their dogs into being obedient' it appears they cower in fear more than respect and love. I am waiting for the day my neighbors dog gets tired of being hit and possibly neuters the idiot for all of the beatings its' gotten. Everybody has a breaking point, it's likely dogs do as well. I have rescued dogs who were beaten, two live with me now as my own. It took a years before I could grab a magazine or newspaper or wave my arm without them looking like they didn't know whether to cower or stand up and fight. Dogs usually are eager to please, they want to make you happy, mine know instantly when I walk through the door how my day was. If only humans were that open and receptive to each other.
No worries Polenta, didn't take you for a dog beater :lol: Just wanted to make a point for anyone who doesn't know you and might think it is cool to swat their mutts for sport. And that remark about being long-winded...I hold the record for that. When I get larangitus (sp), my hubby says "The World is Blessed" - When I break a couple of fingers, the board will agree :wink: PS...before anyone gets ticked by my 'mutts' reference...I have 4 mutts and I mean it as a term of endearment...I LOVE MUTTS!
