New to Forum: Looking for explanation of certain behavior.

Hi Everybody,

I'm new to the forum. I'm joining to try to find some tips, or gain an understanding about my puppy's behavior. I have a Black Lab who is just under 13 months old. His name is Rocco. He is... well, he's a black lab so you can imagine. Head like a Rock, so his name is fitting. The one thing though, that I just can't understand is his behavior towards my fiance's (D) youngest son. He's 12, but very small. Maybe 70 pounds (the kid not the dog). The dog refuses to leave him alone when he's around (she has joint custody). So if the kid is sitting on the couch watching tv, Roc will jump up and just stand or sit on him. And he just stays there, refusing to get off. If D tells him to get down he just gets amped up. If she tries to pull him down, he nips. I walk in the room and tell him to get down and he does. But as soon as I leave, he jumps back up. It's a problem because he outweighs the kid by 20-30 pounds.

He's great with me, and my kids (son is 24, daughter 20), Is great for the most part with D (he doesn't seem to respect her like he does me), but doesn't seem to care too much for her kids (12 and 15). They don't torment him or anything like that, but it seems that he just doesn't like them. And again, the... over powering behavior towards the 12 year old doesn't make sense. Especially since when left completely alone, as in D and I and her 15 year old run out to the store (say to pick up take out) Roc doesn't bother the kid AT ALL.

We got him together as a puppy, so it's not like her kids are strangers, or new faces or anything like that.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd really appreciate it. It's to the point where I don't look forward to them coming over (I and D live together) because I know it's going to be trouble. Previously I had a lab who lived for 15 years that I got when my son was 6 and I never had any issues like that with him.

Thanks and sorry if this welcome wagon isn't the place to post this sort of question, or questions at all!

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If she tries to pull him down, he nips

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Who does he nip? D? Or the kid? It's sounding a bit like resource guarding behaviour to me, and it's the kid he's guarding. I'd think that even more if it's D that he nips. We have seen a very moderate version in our family where one dog did not like Grandma to pet the other dog. What to do about your case I have no idea, we just ignored the guarding dog. Folks will come along with ideas I'm sure but I wonder if you should get in a good behaviourist to observe and suggest what they think is going on and how to deal with it. Does the kid mind when Rocco lies on him and pins him down?

LOL, can we give the kid an initial for his name too? :) How about TK? The kid just sounds kind of rude to me. :)

I might have a behaviorist come to your home and help you. If the dog is biting, resource guarding and a kid is involved, it seems like something you might want to show someone in person and get a certified behaviorist's take and suggestions.

Behaviorist/trainer does need to be involved.

Thought: Has the 12 year old done any training with the lab? Maybe if the two kids, D and you take him to a basic obedience class. That way everyone will be training the same way and treating him the same. It will also help with bonding.

Hello and Welcome!

Both D and c. (The older brother will be capital C). Like I said, this is new for me... I don't know why Roc would feel the need to gaurd c when c is sitting on the couch watching tv, D is in another room, and I'm upstairs in my home office. Yes, c does mind because Roc is so much bigger and stronger than him. Roc will just stand over him and lean against his chest and c says it's tough to breath. He nips at their hands.

Will have to look into a behaviorist I guess. Here's a coupla' pics. When we first got him, and on his first birthday last month:
Attachment 5911Attachment 5912I'm sitting on a tall kitchen chair!

Yes, he's done some training. D has taken him to obedience class, and then she worked with him and the boys at home. We'll have to look into the behaviorist. Maybe he sees c as a sibling and is showing him that he thinks he has rank because he's bigger. I didn't have this problem with my last lab and my kids so I'm stumped.

Thanks everyone for your answers and welcoming me.

Hi there, just to add what others have said...

Has the 12 year old done any training with the dog? Walks, or feeding him, making him work for food or teaching him some tricks? The puppy may see your son as a litter mate or playmate, when he needs to respect him, and his authority over him. I am not a big believer in the whole "alpha dog' thing, but people (no matter their age) are always above a dog in the family hierarchy. He sits on him, because he can and your son hasn't earned the dog's respect and personal space. Your son needs to make those boundaries, not you, or anyone else. Your wife probably needs to work with him too, so he respects her as well.

Good luck and keep us posted on his progress.