Not quite as typical as it sounds I dont think.
I have a 23 month old Yellow Lab that has started growling and getting his hackles up at me in the last few months. I dont think he playing at all.
Background is that he is a VERY talented pup.He learns quicky usually. And wants to please me, most of the time. He was force fetched last summer, by a pro, and started doing hunt tests. Trainer loves him.I am brand new at handling or training.He has done great.No one has had anything to say about him, but positive. TONS of drive. Very fast and athletic. He is going to be great. We hunted him this fall, and he did great.
He is a house dog at home.We have 2 kids 6 and 8. The only time he has not been a house dog is when he was training with a pro for 2 months. I saw him for group training and one on one training 2x week for most of this time.
So, here is the part I cant figure out. He is great with the family during the day. He is everything you want in a family dog. Typical goofy, attention loving lab.Protective of his family and his property but otherwise non-threatening. He is not aggressive to other animals.In fact he could care less about other animals most of the time.
At might he is different.
A few months ago I was watching a video that had been linked on here. It turned out to be a "trainer" that was abusing his dog with the Ecollar. My dog was lying at his feet. When he heard that dog he went ballistic. I turned it off immediately , but my dog kept snarling at me.I took him outside immediately and played with him, but he was stand offish for a day or two.
Now intermittently he has been doing the same thing, without any provocation that I can tell. 98% of the time it is after dark, and rarely a little the next morning. About 6 weeks ago he started this one night right after I aired him before bed.I ended up grabbing him by the collar, and he went nuts. First time my wife had ever seen it, and it scared her.I rolled him then, but it was a FIGHT.
I had back surgery 4 weeks ago, and cant get physical/alpha roll him at all.
I am asking for advice because when I went to bed the other night, he came at me.I turned on the light to be sure he knew it was me, and he didnt quit. Told him to knock it off, and he got louder.Took him outside and threw a dummy, and he finally calmed down.It is getting more frequently.I dont trust him at night any more.
He got growly with a male jogger that ran near him this week. But ignored females that day.
My wife thinks it is only men that set him off. In fact when he starts with me, she can usually call him away and put him out. 10 minutes later he is usually OK..
I am not sure if this aggression toward me,him trying to be alpha, or if it is fear for some reason. Happens almost always at night. I know his sight is good, he does 150 yard marks without any difficulty,He has never been beaten, or even struck that I know of.He does have a collar he always wears when he is exercising or training. In fact he loves it. He has NEVER been aggressive to my wife or kids.
Normally he will follow me around all day. Sleeps at my feet, etc.I talked to his parents owners. Their dogs have never acted like this. His brother doesnt act like this.
I really love this dog. As do my kids. I dont want to have to get rid of him. And I dont want to alpha roll him if it is fear, I figure this would make it worse? If it is him trying to be alpha, what do I need to do? I just dont know why this behavior.And I NEED to fix it. We dont want him to be a kennel dog.
Thanks for any insight,
Mike
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I have a 23 month old Yellow Lab that has started growling and getting his hackles up at me in the last few months. I dont think he playing at all.
Background is that he is a VERY talented pup.He learns quicky usually. And wants to please me, most of the time. He was force fetched last summer, by a pro, and started doing hunt tests. Trainer loves him.I am brand new at handling or training.He has done great.No one has had anything to say about him, but positive. TONS of drive. Very fast and athletic. He is going to be great. We hunted him this fall, and he did great.
He is a house dog at home.We have 2 kids 6 and 8. The only time he has not been a house dog is when he was training with a pro for 2 months. I saw him for group training and one on one training 2x week for most of this time.
So, here is the part I cant figure out. He is great with the family during the day. He is everything you want in a family dog. Typical goofy, attention loving lab.Protective of his family and his property but otherwise non-threatening. He is not aggressive to other animals.In fact he could care less about other animals most of the time.
At might he is different.
A few months ago I was watching a video that had been linked on here. It turned out to be a "trainer" that was abusing his dog with the Ecollar. My dog was lying at his feet. When he heard that dog he went ballistic. I turned it off immediately , but my dog kept snarling at me.I took him outside immediately and played with him, but he was stand offish for a day or two.
Now intermittently he has been doing the same thing, without any provocation that I can tell. 98% of the time it is after dark, and rarely a little the next morning. About 6 weeks ago he started this one night right after I aired him before bed.I ended up grabbing him by the collar, and he went nuts. First time my wife had ever seen it, and it scared her.I rolled him then, but it was a FIGHT.
I had back surgery 4 weeks ago, and cant get physical/alpha roll him at all.
I am asking for advice because when I went to bed the other night, he came at me.I turned on the light to be sure he knew it was me, and he didnt quit. Told him to knock it off, and he got louder.Took him outside and threw a dummy, and he finally calmed down.It is getting more frequently.I dont trust him at night any more.
He got growly with a male jogger that ran near him this week. But ignored females that day.
My wife thinks it is only men that set him off. In fact when he starts with me, she can usually call him away and put him out. 10 minutes later he is usually OK..
I am not sure if this aggression toward me,him trying to be alpha, or if it is fear for some reason. Happens almost always at night. I know his sight is good, he does 150 yard marks without any difficulty,He has never been beaten, or even struck that I know of.He does have a collar he always wears when he is exercising or training. In fact he loves it. He has NEVER been aggressive to my wife or kids.
Normally he will follow me around all day. Sleeps at my feet, etc.I talked to his parents owners. Their dogs have never acted like this. His brother doesnt act like this.
I really love this dog. As do my kids. I dont want to have to get rid of him. And I dont want to alpha roll him if it is fear, I figure this would make it worse? If it is him trying to be alpha, what do I need to do? I just dont know why this behavior.And I NEED to fix it. We dont want him to be a kennel dog.
Thanks for any insight,
Mike
