behavior problems.

[lokisgirl]

Hi all! Thank you for welcoming me into your group! I read a few posts about peer pressure to add more babies to the family lol. Well I am all for that once we get moved to a farm someday. Right now we are in a small town in a small house. We have been lucky but many of our friends have had neighbor problems. I did one day, as I was in the house Loki got loose, I was right behind him in my pickup but that didnt stop this man from whipping his car to the wrong side of the road (diagonally parked on a residential street) He started running and screaming at my dog then at me about him not being on a leash. I tried to explain that Loki was properly leashed or confined almost all the time but that all dogs get loose, he did not care, he scared my poor baby. And seriously I was angry, I think that if he did not want the dog around him then he should not get out and chase him (it was not his yard)It was very frustrating. I have neighbor dogs in my yard all the time yet this once my baby gets loose and i get in trouble. But that is not the problem today, my problem is weird. I have a very well socialized dog, he plays everyday with neighbor kids, comes to the nursing home i work at regularly and the residents love him, I have seen him try to play with other dogs before that get upset with him becaues he is big and playful. He is about 90 lbs, 1 year old. He had always been very friendly with other dogs even if they get cranky with him but today he met a 13 week old rottie and snapped at him several times. I don't know, maybe it is normal, and they would get along eventually but I have never seen him act that way before towards anyone, any animal, not even cats after getting smacked. How can I stop this behavior before it gets out of control? Or is this something that will probably not be a big problem? He did not bite, just got grouchy and snappy, snarled a bit.Otherwise he has always been well behaved, not even getting into trash or eating shoes, very happy puppy. Any advice is appreciated.
 And do not worry, He was not trying to eat the kids in the following pics lol, this is his daily activity, Everyone has a blast.

[LuvmyMal]

I agree with Jacks Mom, Loki could have been teaching the pup, or it could have been an issue with the pup sending the wrong energy to Loki, dogs can sense a lot more than we can. I have 3 malamtues and all 3 have way different temperments. Tonka is very calm, will not snap unless she has just had enough with a dog or it is coming at her. Nala will play nicely with other dogs, but she can also get grumpy (we tribute this to her hip dysplasia). Little Adak so far seems to have a temperment of Tonkas, but with a sweetness to it. Watch Loki's stance if it happens again, I have learned not to let me dogs go up to other dogs or let other dogs just come up to mine, but to let them be in the same area for a short while first.

[lokisgirl]

thank you both, I think I agree with you as Loki has never really exhibited this behavior before. I thought that next time instead of letting the pup run all around him and play like puppies do that maybe I or Todd should hold the pup and just let them sniff for awhile and maybe relax the frenzy of meeting new animals.

[Nicole]

thank you both, I think I agree with you as Loki has never really exhibited this behavior before. I thought that next time instead of letting the pup run all around him and play like puppies do that maybe I or Todd should hold the pup and just let them sniff for awhile and maybe relax the frenzy of meeting new animals.

Well, the teaching behavior is a good thing! If the pup is running all over Loki, he needs to know (from a grown-up dog) that babies need better manners! I'd say let Loki do what he needs to do, unless it really seems aggressive.

[CrazyLoveRosie]

Please still be weary whenever he encounters the same dog again until you observe his behavior more. There's a neighborhood dog that also shows a bit of aggression with Rosie whenever we pass by their fenceline, showing his teeth, barking violently. One day his owner had him outside the fence when we were walking Rosie across the street and the dog just decided it wanted a bite out of Rosie. He only got a mouth-full of fur, but it was still quite scary for us.

[Edwpang]

There is a very educational article about this from Suzanne Clothier:
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/sayhi.html.
I have a very playful puppy myself, who would jump at any dog going near him and licking in their face. Some of them would bark, or showing their teeth, others just ignore him. I just realized after reading the article that my puppy's rudeness is causing this "aggressive" behavior...

[sc.trojans]

Sounds like very typical discplining behavior with a puppy. Puppies learn best by having adult dogs teach them what is "rude" and what is "acceptable" and vocalizing discipline is typical.  This is nothing that should be corrected or discplined in your dog as long as he is communicating his discipline and displeasure of the behavior vocally and not trying to harm.  You do want to avoid having him go over the top with his discipline - this is a judgement call however but it is about ensuring the punishment fits the offense so to speak.  It is very rude for a puppy to get in an older dog's face, bat at the face or try to jump in the face - these are valid offenses that should be lectured against

Also keep in mind that a lot of behavior will likely change with your dog as he matures.  If he is only 1 year old now, he is adolescent and will potentially become more selective about what behavior he will tolerate and who he wants to socialize with when he reaches maturity.  People often go through a period of shock adjustment at about 2 1/2 years of age with big dogs as they change behavior and get more status within selective groups.

Just to keep in mind....