9 week old growling at adult (her mum)

Mrs Skellyngton here....
You have all been so helpful in the past and wanted some advice on how to deal with our 9 week old Ruby.
I spent the day with Ruby in the garden etc. She has been chasing my laces a lot and pulling on my trousers and when she has not listened to 'no' or 'leave' or growling, as advised I held the scruff of her neck and growled (while supporting her or with her on the ground), or put her out of the room for a few seconds time out all things I have been advised. This has worked to good effect throughout the day and she has been given treats and cuddles too. However, late in the afternoon when she again was going for my laces (not in the middle of play) when I went to discipline her in the same way she reacted with aggression, growling, baring her teeth and snapping at me. This is the first time she has done this to either me or Mr Skellyngton.
My questions are;
1. Is this normal behaviour for such a young puppy. I was quite alarmed at the apparent aggression in her.
2. Is there anything you think I have done to provoke this?
3. If this kind of thing happens again, what do I do? Bearing in mind I can not get close enough to put her in a time out room or any of the other ways of disciplining used during the day.
4. Do you think that this can develop into a serious problem?

Thanks guys, looking forward to your pearls of wisdom!

You started the aggression by scruffing her, she is just reacting to you. Thankfully she is still a pup, if an adult dog she could do serious damage to you. Never scruff you pup again.

Either go out of the room and shut the door, which is the safest, or put Ruby out but as she is showing aggression because you scruffed her, I would go out the room myself or the aggression may escalate.

Thanks Mattie. I think that she was just telling me she'd had enough and fair enough I guess. The isolation thing/naughty step or me leaving the room for a few seconds works so will continue with that in the future.
Mrs Skellyngton

now that you have found some thing that work for disapline...
and you have found some thing that dont seem to work...

so just stick with wot you know works....

Your pup is trying to show its dominance to you, i disagree that it is responding as you showed agression. I do agree though that ignoring your pup is the best way to teach acceptable behaviour such as not jumping up etc.

If you allow your pup to be dominent over you then yes it can lead to problems (not necessarily aggression but can be 100% lack of discipline).

If your pup acts like this in the future and you just walk away from it you are saying if you are aggressive to me then I will just accept it and walk away. ie. the dog is in control, it is growing to either be agressive or protective, either way telling you not to invade it space and by just walking away without disciplining the behaviour you are accepting it. You need to give sharp command to the dog "NO" and either send to its bed or a designated area. It is tricky but needs to be sorted now. By no means try and touch the dog when it is showing aggression though.

At 9 weeks old dominating, I don't think so. The domination theory is very old stuff now, dog training has come a long way since then. Barry Eaton's book, "Dominance - Fact or Fiction" is very good for explaining the dominance theory.

At 9 weeks old she is a baby and like all babies is exploring her world trying to find out what is rewarding and what isn't. If it is rewarding she will do it again, if it isn't rewarding, she won't bother again.

Entitled to your opinion but I disagree!! Makes the world more interesting when there are different opinions though x

Roxystaffie wrote:Entitled to your opinion but I disagree!! Makes the world more interesting when there are different opinions though x

When a 2 year old child throws a tantrum, is he/she being dominant or just wan't his/her own way? It is the same thing.

Have you guys heard of a TV Show called the Dog Whisperer? Its a great show that teaches how to train Problem Dogs. You can watch them on Youtube. Check it out......hopefully it will help everyone!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNA8JbnKU94

David <><

How I hate that man and the damage he is doing to dogs, he does have one good thing, he gets the owners to exercise their dogs.

I have had to correct many of the same problems he deals with but my dogs don't shut down, that is extremely dangerous because one day the dog will come out of it and be much worse.

Try watching the clips with the sound down so you can't hear what he is saying and watch the dog and the signals he is giving which is being ignored. He is so busy talking that people watch him and not the dog.