Hi

Well Margo is a star at going in her crate at night ..peeing/pooping outside..had one accident in kitchen which was my faul
t..i knew she needed to go and was faffing about trying to get a bag and treats for when she did. and she couldnt hold on..
Anyway we do have a bit of an issue with her growling at people..and nipping us although not people.
I take her to work with me which I am planning to do long term..she has a crate at work and a playpen and i dont ignore her all day we do have playtimes..sometimes when people come near her she growls(even just walking past not looking at her or coming near her)she isnt the kind of puppy that greets people which is my first worry..she backs off but she also growls at them.
Its not just at work its at home too..and she can be fine one minute then just growl at them the next. I know about people letting puppies approach them and crouching etc but its impossible for everyone to do this everytime they walk past what will happen when we go out. I cnt make everyone who goes past crouch down and give her a treat? Her playpen at work is not in an overly usy stop so not too much traffic but i could move her she can go anywhere but shouldnt she get used to people? her crate is in a quite corner with a cover for sleeping so shes not disturbed there.

When people do crouch low she is fine but people have to walk about in my home and at work they cant crawl on the floor to get from a to b (although she still always takes a while to approach even when people are low)she has never gone to nip but it does put people off as you can imagine ah..what a cute puppy ..grrrrrr oh .I dont care what other people think obviously and I know it can her being unsure of the situation but I really want to nip it in the bud as we're worried that the growling may turn to nipping which is especially worrying if children approach her etc.
We did have my partners sister round with ehr two children and she was nervous of them at first the boy being very in her face and she just tried to hide but eventually came round and was fine but its a fine line between being scared and snapping.
When we go out to socialise (us carrying her as final injections next week) she doesnt growl at anyone when we are carrying her.. she is good as gold licking fingers sniffing etc. and she is great at noises bikes noisy cars beeping etc just seems nosey not scared.

I did wonder if she were protecting me but then is that her thinking she is pack leader?. If so how do we stop that? She is not allowed on the couch or upstairs and We make her sit before she gets a toy/ treats and before she gets her dinner but she is also very stubborn.
For example I have taught her to relax on a leash in between my legs , however the book says once the dog has relaxed for long enough you can say 'realease' to allow them to move.. she however looks at me when i say it and start to move as if to say.. 'oh no you wanted me to sit..so im sitting' and wont move..which is quite funny but not exactly my goal.
She also is not too fussed about treats she loves them one minute then couldnt care less the next i always take one for toilet time and when shes done praise and offer treat but which sometimes she loves it but others time just ignores.

When we stand she always goes for our(and other peoples) trousers etc..tugging and growling which we ignore and when she stops we praise but she doesnt seem to be learning that too quickly.

If she is chewing things she shouldnt we can take them from her without her(with a touch of persuasion) biting and she lets us takes her toys and go near her food without nipping or growling so thats not a problem its just other people and when she gets over excited.

I have taken her to a puppy party and she was great playing about didnt groel or bark once and wasnt aggressive with the other pups at all in fact she played the nicest, played well with friendly ones but held her own but not aggressive with ones that took play a bit too far.. but she does growl at some dogs if we're out and shes in my arms(i know this may be because she may feel threatened and me holding her means she is trapped) but its not all dogs some she seems fine with just looks sniffs and looks away ..some she really growls and size makes no difference.
We dont have any friends who have dogs so the party is our only chance at her meeting other dogs until its safe.

Perhaps Im just overreaccting but my partnes mother has a friend who 'has had dogs all her life' and thinks that its not normal for margo to be timid and back off and thinks its down to the fact that we crate (which is some new fandangled thing that they never used to do)her as its making her 'unsociable' If this were true id stop straight away as i want to do whats best for margo not me.
I think maybe she is full of energy and when we can go for walks it may expel some of this ..we do play fetch etc but she can get really over excited and runs round and round.
She is up at 7 and has a nap about 9,30 for a couple of hours and it goes like that throughout the day until bed time which is 7 (although she has dropped in there herself earlier the past couple of days) she is woken at 11.30 then 4 am for toilet and we do wake her as she always fast asleep. ( if we dont then she wakes at 10 past 11 or 10 past 4 herself and wants to go..crazy..)

If she ever does go to nip or gets too aggresive i do a yelp and leave the room..which she has a little cry about but then calms down and we're friends again but sometimes she just repeats it..is this right to do?

Sorry for long post

Any advice would be very great

lisa and margo
x

I think you are doing the right thing by leaving the room. Just keep doing it , staying away for a couple of mins, and then going back to her. Its normal for pups to do this and they do grow out of it, honestly. My hands were like pin cusions a couple of months ago.LOL.
My tip is, always carry a toy for a biting mouth and a pocket full of treats for bribes and good behaviour. Reward every thing they do good and distract them from the bad. Good luck.
Chris

__________________
A DOG MAY OUTGROW YOUR LAP,
BUT NEVER YOUR HEART.

Thanks Chris.
I guess people have this image of puppies being like the the julie andrews song in sound of music..all cuddles and wet noses. when in fact they can be like tantrumy little toddlers. Margo is only 10 weeks and i think she is going through the tantrums already when she cant get what she wants.
We were playing tug with her but soon realised that the toy and out trousers are not totally dissimilar!!
She actually has been much better today..I ignore the tugging but if she growls i just pick her up and pop her in her playpen with no toys for 5 minutes..she calms down and has walked out very sheepish .

thanks