We rescued a 6 month golden/chow mix male 3 weeks ago. He is really quite docile and is doing well in puppy class. We have had a hard time with crate training. He cries at night, so I have let him out and he is content to sleep on my bed.
He is starting to claim the bed other times, though. He will get off when told and is understanding that he has to be invited up and can't just jump up. Tonight my daughter came in my room and wanted to hold him. She picked him up off the bed and he jumped out of her arms and moved to the top of the bed. She then went to go get him and he moved again. The 3rd time, he growl and nipped her in the face. Now I know she should have read the signs and walked away-if not the first time, definitely the 2rd time. But the growl and nip concern me. Later tonight I went to go get him off the bed and he rolled on his back and growled at me. I immediately told him off and he got off and is on the floor. He whimpered for a little bit and tried 1 time to get back on the bed once, but has fallen to sleep on the floor.
Do I ban him from the bed? Do we go back to the crate? Is this part of claiming my bed or is there underlying aggression that I need to deal with? As I said, for the most part he is docile and will sit in your lap or be submissive to being held. This was something completely new for him tonight.
Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
He is starting to claim the bed other times, though. He will get off when told and is understanding that he has to be invited up and can't just jump up. Tonight my daughter came in my room and wanted to hold him. She picked him up off the bed and he jumped out of her arms and moved to the top of the bed. She then went to go get him and he moved again. The 3rd time, he growl and nipped her in the face. Now I know she should have read the signs and walked away-if not the first time, definitely the 2rd time. But the growl and nip concern me. Later tonight I went to go get him off the bed and he rolled on his back and growled at me. I immediately told him off and he got off and is on the floor. He whimpered for a little bit and tried 1 time to get back on the bed once, but has fallen to sleep on the floor.
Do I ban him from the bed? Do we go back to the crate? Is this part of claiming my bed or is there underlying aggression that I need to deal with? As I said, for the most part he is docile and will sit in your lap or be submissive to being held. This was something completely new for him tonight.
Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!