My dog growled getting off the bed. Is it stubbornness or dominance?

My concern is more that he growled at you when you tried to get him off the bed. Some dogs begin to feel they are our equals when they are on our level, such as on the couch or in the bed. If he is becoming “bossy” or obstinate, then I would recommend keeping him off the bed. Also, if you need to get him off the bed then entice with a treat, or have a leash on. Do not grab or pull his collar as the growl may escalate to a bite. If the crate worked well then I recommend going back to it. Good luck, and thanks for using Pet Coach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Simba is either resource (you and/or the bed) guarding or trying to assert dominance over your husband. I would not allow Simba on the bed until your husband is in the bed OR Simba isn't allowed in the bed at all! the second is my recommendation. This is unacceptable behavior and should be taken seriously. Growling may lead to biting and that is not acceptable. You can also have a light leash on him so that you can pull him from in between the 2 of you to prevent a bite. Personally Simba should be removed from the bed permanently and trained to sleep on a bed on the floor or trained to sleep at the bottom of the bed. I wish you the best!

It is not uncommon for dogs to develop such jealous type behaviors and it is important to recognize the potential dangers in such a situation. A calming diet or supplement can help and i recommend you create a separate area, indoor crate or kennel that she can use with chew toys, beds and food /water. Practice when you are home alone initially and then put her in before people call if possible. If she is calm enough, get the other person to feed and walk her also so she has a more positive association

Congratulations on adding Teddy to your family! Puppies can be frustrating at times. The behavior described is consistent with a frustrated puppy. It is not unusual for a puppy that is frustrated to bark, growl or completely ignore things that you say. He is not trying to exert dominance he just may not really understand what you are asking. Your best bet for getting Teddy to follow your directions is to have a consistent training plan and use high-value rewards. When you tell him no, he doesn't really understand what you want him to do. You will likely have better luck telling him what you would like him to do. For example, if you want him to walk nicely on a leash it's better to teach him a look command rather than just yank on the leash to get him to go where you want. Using a look command will tell him what you want him to do which is keep his eyes on you rather than what's going on in the neighborhood. This is a great resource for starting a training program with your puppy: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/store/The-Puppy-Primer.html

This sounds like a difficult situation for all of you. Dogs can growl for a variety of reasons as a warning to other animals or people. Behavior issues are complex because there is rarely a cut and dry type of answer that fits all situations. It's possible that Blue is territorial around his bed and/or feels threatened by your daughter. I strongly recommend consulting a veterinary behaviorist (https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709) before the situation escalates. Until your behaviorist consult, be sure to keep Blue and your daughter separated with physical barriers (e.g. doors and gates), and remind your daughter not to approach him. The main goal is maintaining everyone's safety.

Yes, shepherds are a very dominant breed. You need to get this behavior under control before she gets much older. I don't know if you have any professional dog trainers where you live, but if you do, I suggest you consult with one. Dominance behaviors, if you try to correct in the wrong manner, can be very dangerous. A professional can help you do this the right way and safely. If you do not have access to a professional trainer then I suggest you read this website and try to incorporate the training methods described. ( https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-psychology/pack-position/5-keys-to-handling-a-dominant-dog ) ( http://inch.com/~dogs/taming.html ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, sorry to hear about Commander. Aggression may indeed by a difficult behavior to manage and very important as it can create a dangerous environment for himself and those around him. Here are some tips on aggression and how to manage this. Hope this helps and best of luck. Introduction Aggression is a common problem faced by many dog owners. It is commonly misunderstood to be based in dominance. In actuality, there are various reasons that dogs can react aggressively. Most commonly these acts are based in fear or anxiety. This handout, will attempt to help you differentiate whether your dog’s aggression is based in dominance or another stimulus, like fear or possession. However it is not meant to replace visits and discussions with your veterinarian. Common types of aggression • Fear aggression: Many commonplace human behaviors are threatening gestures to dogs, but their reactions are often times very subtle and easily missed by most people. Anything that can cause your dog to feel distressed or uneasy can illicit an aggressive reaction. Such things include: sustained eye contact, pressure over the top of the head, lifting the dog, bending over the top of a dog, certain force-based training techniques, or trying to take something of high value away from the dog. • Territorial aggression: Dogs can react aggressively when a person comes into an area that it regards as its home. There is often a basis of anxiety in dogs that have territorial aggression. • Possessive aggression: When aggression is directed toward a person that the dog views is approaching something of high value (food, toys, family members). • Redirected aggression: When the dog is frustrated by the inability to reach an object or person that elicits its aggression and instead acts aggressively toward a person that is within reach. • Dominance aggression: True dominance aggression is very rare. Most often aggressive acts are based out of another type of motivation. Usually what is assumed to be dominance aggression is actually based out of fear or anxiety. What is your dog’s motivation for its aggression? It is important to watch the body posture of your dog during a time of aggression to determine the underlying emotional state of the dog causing the aggression. Here are some examples of what to look for: Fearful or submissive postures • Avoiding eye contact • Lowered head and tail • T ense body posture • Ears to the side, back or down • Horizontal lip retraction • Licking lips • Yawning • Crouched body posture • Moving slowly or freezing • Submissive urination Dominant postures • Sustained eye contact • Ears erect and forward • Vertical lip retraction • Forward-leaning body posture