a question for anyone with dog behavior knowledge?

Question

Can you tell me why my Great Dane puppy (8months) play fights with my son (19) when my son has him jump to his chest (like "give me a hug") paws at shoulders. he mouths at him (not biting) and low growl. My son doesn't like or encourage him to do this and he doesn't do it with anyone else who let's him jump on them like that. It becomes a conflict because it irritates my son and I don't like it. Does anyone know what the dog is "saying" when this happens. Just the other day my brother - n- law let him do that and he just licked his face and did mouth him but no growling or getting too out of control. I've told my son not to let him do it all, but he likes getting the hug and other people let the dog do it too. Sorry if this is confusing, and please only respond if you know what I'm trying to say and you have a suggestion.

and no my son has never hit him, he's his buddy. but he (son) has "pinned" him (dog)on the ground playing around with him.

Answer 1

I'd have to see the interaction between the puppy and your son at other times - but, this puppy at 8 months is now like a teenage male (hormonally). If the puppy jumps up on other people's shoulders with no growling involved, there's something in his relationship with your son (or how the dog perceives it) that's causing it.

For now at least, your son has to stop letting him jump up on him. Sounds like the puppy is beginning to think he's the alpha in that relationship. Suggest to your son that he do a little simple obedience with the puppy (at home only, no classes). Work on sit, stay, down, come and heel. Give the dog lots of praise, treats or both. Simply obeying your son's commands should change this relationship back to where it should be.

I do think, though that it's also partly the puppy's age, but it's not something that should be allowed to continue because it could escalate. Once this dog is sure in his mind that your son is in a higher position in the household than he is, things should be ok.

Answer 2

It does indeed sound like a dominance interaction. He may have singled out your son because he is the next "in line" and has inadvertantly allowed the pup to consider him an "equal".

You would be Alpha female, your Beta dog will vie to be Alpha male...your son is his perceived competition for that post.

After this exercise, it would be prudent to not allow your Dane to jump up at all... lesser dogs have hurt people; it is a bad habit that can get out of control; and it is a dominance tool.

Have a sturdy collar on your animal. Not a "choke chain" unless it is fixed not to cinch. (which really is a training aid that should not be left on as a collar).

Your dog should understand what "No" means by now. Since "jump" is a useful command, I use it appropriately. So "No jump" is the command I would give; or your son could simply use "No!".

When the dog is up and begins mouthing, your son should hook his thumbs through the dog's collar, step forward into the dog (bumping him may be appropriate) while pushing him back and down to a sit... all with a firm (but not loud) "No!" and "Sit". When the dog settles to a sit in front of him, he should gain eye contact for a moment and repeat the command "Sit" firmly. Your son should "act alpha" by standing tall (no bending and getting in the dog's face) and feeling confident (that gets easier too). Then give the dog an "away command", which ever he is most familiar with. ("Git", "Go lie down", "Go to bed" etc)

Your son will assert his dominance by making the dog do his bidding (the down and sit); he will reinforce it with a verbal cue and eye contact; he will again require the dog to submit by another command (the away). This is all with the supposition that the dog has no agression towards your son.

Be aware, the eye contact is a challenge and can intimidate or provoke a reciprocal challenge, so it must be fleeting enough to not be an outright threat. It is important for him to not show his teeth at this time (smiles don't mean the same thing to dogs). If there is a chance of active agression, then someone stout on an attached lead may be required. Not you. Having a lead on the dog anyway will help in controlling a resistant sit by stepping on it

This should be repeated until the dog will not jump up and mouth. When the dog is hesitant to jump up at all, you are on your way to finishing the "no jump" training. Your son should regularly work your dog through some simple obedience exercises until his dominance is established in that slow puppy mind. Danes are usually "puppy brained" until about 2 years old.

Other reinforcements are to have your son feed the dog meals on occasion (taking the "provider" role). Not getting down to his level in posture or play (no roughing on the floor for a while). Also, lots of love and attention to strengthen the bond.

Danes are highly intelligent and quite trainable, so this should not take long to remedy. You should stand away from the lesson but not with your son between you and the dog... nor the dog between you and your son. You should say and do nothing unless there is an act of agression... they must settle it between themselves.

Something else to consider if you have not already, is to neuter you dog if he is not of breeding quality.

I hope you find this strategy useful.

Answer 3

The dog is establishing dominants over your son. Your son must not let the dog continue to jump up on him.Especially if the dog is growling while doing this. It's understandable that your son would see this as the dog giving him hugs. But this is not what the dog is thinking of when he does this. The dog is thinking "I'M the alpha dog" over your son. This can turn into a bad situation for your son if the dog thinks that he is dominant over your son. If the dog continues to believe he is dominant and your son does something that the dog does not particularly like he could show aggression towards the boy. (NOT GOOD) This is what a dominant dog will do when a member of his pack is acting inappropriatly in the dominant dogs mind. Your son can get hugs from the dog without him jumping up on him. If the dog jumps up your son should emmediatly push the dog down off of him and with a stern voice give a "NO!" and when the dog complies then give him calm praise to reward the proper behavior of getting down. If the dog persist in jumping up on your son he must be even more firm with the dog by grabbing the side scuff of the neck and without hurting the dog force the dog to the floor making him roll on his side and give "NO! DOWN!" (Alpha Roll) until the dog shows submission by going limp. The dog may even submissivly pee which is ok. It's just another way the dog will show submissiveness. As soon as the dog shows that he has submitted and is still and calm; let the dog back to his feet and give calm praise"GOOD BOY" as a reward for being submissive toward your son. He very well may begin to get out of controll emmediatly after you let him back up. If he does? repeat the alpha roll untill he doesn't do this anymore. But after your son has established dominance over this dog do not allow the boy to ever let this dog jump up on him ever again because the dog will begin to revert back to the idea that he is dominant over your son. Danes even though they make a great family dog are still a very dominant natured breed. They were originaly bred as guardians and were used in ancient battles because of their size and natural ability to be a furocious soldier. And are a very powerful dog and have a very dominant nature and you don't want him to think that he is dominant over anyone in your emmidiate family or in the dogs mind your pack. Good luck

Answer 4

Yes, you are correct, you write in a confusing fashion. I can barely figure out what you are trying to ask, so I'll answer what I think is of concern to you.

The dog is doing this because he has not been taught that it is incorrect behavior. And his incorrect behavior stems from the fact that he is challenging your son (Or anyone he jumps on) for the alpha position in your family. (Dogs are pack animals, there is always an alpha..... In most families, the dog accepts the adults as the alphas, be they men or women. Your dog doesn't know, because he has been allowed to continue the challenge, since he is jumping on everyone.)


( I assume you wish this behavior stopped. If not, read no farther....)
You stop this behavior by having people not allow the dog to jump on them. When he does with anyone, that person should gently crunch his hind toes with their foot, and tell him, "Down". The dog has no idea where the crunching is coming from.... The dog will associate the jumping with his toes being crunched (you are not trying to hurt him, just give him discomfort great enough that he will begin to think before he jumps.) This must be done with everyone who the dog jumps on. It is no joke to have an undisciplined Dane all over the place. Use enough force repeatedly to train him. The alternative if he is jumping, and leaving the ground is to raise your knee into his sternum -- again, not hard enough to fracture or rupture anything, just discomfort. He won't know where the knee is coming from either..... You can find this method of dog training in any book of dog training. The trick, is the repeated word, "Down" When he begins to understand that word, you can say it to him and he will obey, even before he gets his front paws off the ground. You all must be consistant --- EVERY time he jumps on someone, he MUST be deterred, and you MUST repeat the word "Down" if you ever hope to correct this really aweful error you have made in his training so far....

Hope this is what you asked, sorry if it isn't.

Answer 5

He might be trying to dominate your son. You have to stop the dog jumping on him and make sure you son is higher up than him. Your son should eat before the dog and then feed or treat the dog. You should not let them play aggressive games until teh issue is resolved. Some dogs have a dominate personalty and you have to really work with them. Make sure your son helps withthe training and uses the commands with an authority voice. When the dog starts to do the bad behavior, stop everything and put him in his time out zone ( the crate). THEn a few minutes later, let him out after he does a few commands from your son, like sit, lay sit come.

Answer 6

Your dog is exhibiting play behavior, which is natural for a puppy (even a big one). That's good, but it is time to show him what is acceptable and what is not before he thinks that jumping all over everyone is OK. The growling can be part of play, also, but it could also indicate that your son intimidates the dog in some way. Dogs can sense fear, discomfort, etc., and it may make him feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, the dog may be trying to assert his dominance over your son. He may see him as a rival, even if a friendly one.

Answer 7

Sorry to say, but everyone that responded is mainly WRONG.

This dog is taking the role of the "alpha male" in other words he is trying to be the boss, or well he IS. You need to contol the dog and tell him this is not acceptable. When he does this, take by the collar (i know this sounds mean, but it does not hurt the dog at all!!) and lift him up, so his feet are on the ground but you are holding him up high. When you do this tell the dog "cut it out right now!" say this in a deep voice like if you were to tell your son to go clean him room for the 20th time :o) You need to be very strict and not let the dog get away with this behaviour

If you need more help on biting, peeing inside, pulling when you walk, or any other things contact me at:
[e-mail]

I would love to hear back from you, and trust me, dont get frustrated, and patience in the rule. I will be waiting to hear from you and good luck with your dog.

Answer 8

Sounds like a dominance issue. Since your dog and son play/rough house together, perhaps the pup looks at your son as a litter mate (an equal) and is trying to establish his dominance over your son. Cute when he's a puppy maybe, but I'd not let this continue as it could become a bigger issue as the pup matures. Please keep in mind the size this pup will eventually attain and get control now. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

Growling is not always what we think. I had a male dob that growled when he was extremely happy, almost liek a cat purring except he sounded mean. There is nothing to worry about with the dog growling if it is in play.
Also I would encourage your son to pin the dog in play, this shows the dog who is boss. It is a form of dominance training.

Answer 10

the dog just thinks your son is just one of his pack buddies. They are just playing out a pretend dominance role. What you son NEEDS to do is. when the dog does that growl he should in a loud scary assertive voice tell him no and maybe a swat in the ***. Dogs must know their position in the pack, he doesnt growl at anyone else because he respects them