Miniature Kujo

Pepper is 17 weeks old & for some reason does not seem to connect with me. While I am the person who feeds him (by hand at times) takes him out for bathroom visits, etc., he insists on growling at me & nipping at me. I plan to take him to obedience school beginning Mon., but I'm beginning to wonder, if this dog was a mistake. Can this behavior be corrected? He will playfully nip at the children & rarely ever does this to my husband. With me, he really seems to mean it. He growls as well as shows his teeth. Any suggestions?
Lydia/Pepper

• Are you sure your children haven't been teasing him. These are the traits that come from one teasing a maltese. They may be and you are unaware of it.
  Elsie

• I had a little guy that used to do that, although he wasn't particular about who he growled at. He was exerting his dominance over as many people as he could. In a dog's world they establish an order. There is the "Top Dog" Sounds like your little guy wants to be the top dog and is challenging you for that place. When I had that problem, I grabed "Andre" turned him over on his back (a posisition of submission for a dog) and grabed the hair under his chin with one hand. I looked him square in the eye and firmly told him I would not let him growl at me and not let him bite at me. I did this every time he tried it. He soon accepted the fact that I was "top dog" In the dog's world, a dog that is submissive will not look you in the eye, and they will assume a lower posisition around another dog ahead of them in the pecking order. They will even roll over and expose their tummy to show submission. Use these characteristics to teach your little pepper that he is not going t! o be the boss. You have to show him you are not afraid of him and that you are in control and will not let him growl or bite you. This behavior has to be stopped every time it occurs. He'll get the message, he may get mad at first, Andre did, but I didn't let him scare me off. I persisited, and Andre finally became loving and submissive although he did continue to rule the other dogs and children in the house, he was not agressive to them. I hope this helps. Good luck--
  Tricia

• In answer to your question. ..No, this is where my concern comes in. My children are 5 & 2. I do not allow them playtime with the dog unless I can supervise & I watch every interaction they have with the dog. Being careful to correct even the slightest errors. My 2 yr old basically ignores him except to occassionally give him a kiss & the 5 yr old plays very lovingly with him (playing fetch, running, or just sitting and watching tv). Neither the children nor myself or husband has been mean or rough with him. When we attempt to correct any bad behaviors, we clap to get his attention & then give a firm "NO". I guess I need to work on hiding my fear of dogs & hope that he does well at obedience school.
  Lydia/Pepper