Malone is aggressive with me only> help!

[maloneandme]

Malone is a sweet, lovable dog and he is learning his commands so well, even did an open-palmed 'leave-it' this morning with a treat.

But often, after I take him for a walk, and bring him back into our back yard, he thinks its "playtime" and starts to run circles around me, and go into an aggressive play-attack mode. He tries to bite my legs and ankles.

Our trainer recommended always turning my back to him and ignoring him when he does this, and use cattle kicks (or one leg bent to keep him away) to fend him off.

This doesn't seem to work. How can I stop this aggressive behaviour? It only happens when he gets "riled" up, and sometimes if we're on a walk. I am very hard on myself and feel terrible about this.

[mandaz000]

Aspen does it too...At first i thought she was being aggressive now i'm wondering if she just gets so wrapped up in play mode she isn't thinking straight. I started just getting out of her way and letting her run the circles. I've also aimed a water bottle at her and she runs in the opposite direction. I'm curious to see what others say if it's truely aggressive behavior, or if there brain gets so caught up in play mode cause they are so riled up that they arent thinking clearly?

[Tanya]

1 - this is NOT aggression. it isn't appropriate I completely agree, but it is NOT AGGRESSION!
he is simply trying to play with you. this is how alot of labs play, very rough and fully body. my dog did this to me when I got him worked up (exited).

2 - is there a way you can change your routine (espeicially if this only happens right after a walk) to make it so he can't get into this mode?

3 - how many times have you tried your trainer's technique? It usually takes quite a few efforts (and being consistent) for things to work (no magic bullet).

What do you normally do (if not this technique).

Are you able to give a command when he gets into these modes or no? (likely no, but luckily when my boy did this to me awhile back I was able to stop him with a firm "sit").

I agree with the water bottle recommendation above, if water alone isn't working either mix with lemon juice or go for straight lemon juice (those little yellow bottles) in the mouth. NOT my prefered technique but with some dogs you do have to pull out the lemon juice. This requires you to plan ahead adn pick up teh water/lemon juice BEFORE the time your pup normally goes into crazy play mode. And will require consistent repetition.

Are you the one that does the training with the pup? Not that this is entire the cause of this (not at all in fact) but it may help in making thigns better.

ETA: also always be careful when kneeing/kicking at a dog, sometimes we can accidently hurt them - not my prefered technique, keeping your back turned repeatedly is usually enough)

[BigBrownDog]

Sounds like a normal puppy to me. Can you direct this energy with some fetching or get your puppy with similar aged (safe - vax started) puppies or a female adult dog?

Not sure what a "cattle kick" is supposed to look like but I would not be working with a trainer that advises kicking a puppy.

This is not aggression.

[Tanya]

Can you direct this energy with some fetching or get your puppy with similar aged (safe - vax started) puppies or a female adult dog?

I like thsi idea - if your dog has a toy (ball, other) he loves have that with you (or somewhere you can quickly pick up as you get back from a walk but before he goes into crazy play) and throw it for him to redirect. This will work great if he does this only when you return from a walk (or at times you can predict). I would definately try this BEFORE any physical action (cattle kick) or even before the lemon juice/water idea.

A tip given to help me with Rocky when he did this was to tether him to a tree (or something safe) and entice him to play (build him up to crazy play) and then stop if he gets into "incorrect play" mode by simply backing up and turning my back to him. Teaches him that THAT kind of play means being ignored, and appropriate play gets lots of attention and praise and play in return.

[maloneandme]

1 - this is NOT aggression. it isn't appropriate I completely agree, but it is NOT AGGRESSION!
he is simply trying to play with you. this is how alot of labs play, very rough and fully body. my dog did this to me when I got him worked up (exited).

2 - is there a way you can change your routine (espeicially if this only happens right after a walk) to make it so he can't get into this mode?

3 - how many times have you tried your trainer's technique? It usually takes quite a few efforts (and being consistent) for things to work (no magic bullet).

What do you normally do (if not this technique).

Are you able to give a command when he gets into these modes or no? (likely no, but luckily when my boy did this to me awhile back I was able to stop him with a firm "sit").

I agree with the water bottle recommendation above, if water alone isn't working either mix with lemon juice or go for straight lemon juice (those little yellow bottles) in the mouth. NOT my prefered technique but with some dogs you do have to pull out the lemon juice. This requires you to plan ahead adn pick up teh water/lemon juice BEFORE the time your pup normally goes into crazy play mode. And will require consistent repetition.

Are you the one that does the training with the pup? Not that this is entire the cause of this (not at all in fact) but it may help in making thigns better.

ETA: also always be careful when kneeing/kicking at a dog, sometimes we can accidently hurt them - not my prefered technique, keeping your back turned repeatedly is usually enough)

First of all, thanks everybody! And it helps to know I'm not the only one...

Yes I can probably change the routine so that it doesn't give him an opportunity to go nuts.

I have tried the technique probably about 3-4 times, so perhaps I need to just keep doing the work before I see results.

If he's inside and he does this, I give him a time out in his x-pen for a bit.

When he's in this mode, he won't listen to commands. I tried 'sit' with him last night when he was like this and no dice.

My husband is also training the dog, but I spend the most time with him.

I will maybe try that water bottle suggestion.

Thanks again guys for assuring me. He is a sweet lovable dog, and he's ALWAYS submissive with other dogs, this only comes up with me.

[honeys dad]

I know this has been said, but it bears repeating..this is puppy behavior, not aggression
my wife carried the knee scars as a badge of courage during our little monster's
"defiant" stage...on some level, the pup is finding its place in the overall pecking order
it will work out...just keep up the exercise and training...good luck

[maloneandme]

oh thank you honeys dad!!!
I need to be reminded of this - that this too shall pass.

Good news - I took him on a walk tonight, and his crazy mode came into play. I repeatedly turned my back to him (didn't even have to use the 'cattle kicks':P) and EVEN got him to sit before it escalated too much. Rewarded the sit with some praise and kept calmly walking with him. Once we came home (usually the time he goes into crazy mode again) I stuck him in back yard, unlocked and entered front door, and collected him at back door. He is now happily chewing away in his x-pen! YAY!

[Sams Mom]

Malone is a sweet, lovable dog and he is learning his commands so well, even did an open-palmed 'leave-it' this morning with a treat.

But often, after I take him for a walk, and bring him back into our back yard, he thinks its "playtime" and starts to run circles around me, and go into an aggressive play-attack mode. He tries to bite my legs and ankles.

Our trainer recommended always turning my back to him and ignoring him when he does this, and use cattle kicks (or one leg bent to keep him away) to fend him off.

This doesn't seem to work. How can I stop this aggressive behaviour? It only happens when he gets "riled" up, and sometimes if we're on a walk. I am very hard on myself and feel terrible about this.

Sam used to do something like this. She came back from walks more hyper than when we left. She was over-tired. 20 minutes in her crate and she was a new dog. Calm and relaxed and able to be social.....

I figured this out one day when I couldn't take anymore. My Dad offered to watch Sam while I napped. When I awoke, I found out that she slept the entire time I did.

[maloneandme]

Sam used to do something like this. She came back from walks more hyper than when we left. She was over-tired. 20 minutes in her crate and she was a new dog. Calm and relaxed and able to be social.....

I figured this out one day when I couldn't take anymore. My Dad offered to watch Sam while I napped. When I awoke, I found out that she slept the entire time I did.

I completely agree. I think that is totally the case with him. He is overtired and starts acting out. Just like a two year old!