Serious behavour problem

I sold a puppy to a couple last year that although they had never owned a Dane her mother had one and the wamen had her head screwed on properly so I allowed them to have one. The pup in my opinion was never socialised properly and became wary of strangers to such an extent he started growling. When he was told off he started growling at his owners so they had his knobs off, he is too young for this as Danes don't mature until at least 18 months. He is still being naughty with them and I have pointed out this op is not an intant cure and they need to see a behavourist in fact I having been telling them this since the pup was 6 months old.

Can anyone give me any advice to pass on, all the other pups are happy friendly things and I feel bad because I bred him.

I cant help with the behaviour problem but if you have been telling them since he was 6 months old to see a behaviourist and they havent I would ask to take the pup back and rehome him with experienced people. Its not your fault, obviously like you said they havent socialised the dog properly. As I have mentioned before I have owned a dog that hadnt been socialised properly. Those first 6 months are the most crucial time in a dogs social development.

I offered to buy him back last year but they won't part with him. I warned them what would happen and pointed out that a Dane is a very big dog to turn nasty my OH had one donkeys years ago and it attacked his mother, the only thing he could do was pts. I have a nervous black girl and we don't know why but she is harmless just runs away, this boy is anwering them back they also went amd bought another pup not a Dane when he was about 4 months old to keep him company. Danes can be wary of strangers but that is why they should be taken out and handled with kindness, not that these owners are mistreating the pup.

I am just stumped, if they won't sell him back to me there is nothing I can do but be there when they need help.

I have had a problem with Star being wary of strangers and growling at them if they tried to touch her. Her fear started at about 11 months due to some bad experiences at the vet. We never had any problems in the family though.

About the wariness of strangers, Shadowboxer gave some brilliant advice for Star and it is working. I dont let people approach Star, she approaches them. That way it is on her terms. I can tell by her body language whether she is comfortable with them.

Star was socialised constantly but her run of bad luck at the vets happened in the winter and we did not meet many strangers throughout that time, so I know where our problem came from.

Does the pup go to dog classes

No Carole although i told them to when he had finished his vacinations, she just used to take in round to her mothers to play with her dogs. I feel that i am beating my head against a brick wall with them I want to help not just because he is my puppy but they don't seem to listen.

I have advised perhaps a herbal remedy might help calm him.

I use chamomilla tablets from Boots, if I have to go to the vet. I tried a few others, one of a remedy for highly strung and another for dominant dogs. Cant say whether the remedies helped or whether it was more socialisation and meeting on Stars terms.

The dog can be helped it just takes a lot of hard work as you probably know.

It is awfully difficult to give advice over the net on this type of problem. Unless one can observe the behaviour one stands the chance of doing more harm than good.

However, from what you have said, my immediate reaction is NOT to tell the dog off for growling. He is doing them the courtesy of letting them know that, for whatever reason, he is not happy. If they suppress this instinct to warn there is the very real danger that, in future, he will not warn but will just go in for the bite. The growling may be stopped by various other methods depending on the cause, e.g. removing the dog or the stimulus, distracting the dog, etc.

If he does not like strangers the issue should not be forced. As Carole said, strangers should be asked to ignore him, then to toss a treat to him without making eye contact or speaking to him. When they have gained a measure of his trust they can offer him a treat, again without eye contact or moving towards him. Allow him to make contact on his terms.

It does sound as though the owners are rather inexperienced and the situation certainly would seem to call for some expert advice from a behaviourist or a trainer who is very competent to deal with these issues.

When they brought him to see me last November he backed off barking so I just ignored him but whenever some one went past he would back off growling. He did settle a bit after a while and I was able to gently stroke him but only after he had come to me, but I felt at the time that they had not been strict enough with him when he was younger and he had been allowed to do what he wanted. She was always saying he was her baby and that is why she would not sell him back to me. I used to have problems with them regarding his food she was always saying he wouldn't eat but in fact he was being given too much so would eat one meal be full up and not want the next one. I'm sure they love him to pieces but only now realise that they have caused a huge problem. It has really put me off having another litter next year.

It seems they are unwilling to take your advice which I guess leaves you with little else to offer. It may be a point though that if you do have any future litters to write a contract and make the buyers sign it, and in it you can include items such as 'at all times the dog should be given the correct professional medical treatment if required' you can even cover issues such as rehoming etc.
Did you give them a contract when you sold them the pup?

I used to do contracts because I used to endorse pedigrees but a friend of mine found out the hard way that these contracts do not stand up in a court of law and the Kennel Club lifted the endorsement as the bitch was fit and healthy.

I have spoken to the breeder of the stud dog to see if she has any ideas, I have known her many years, she said sometimes you have to walk away when people won't listen to your advice but I can't do this, I bred him and he is still my puppy at the end of the day and I will try everything I can to help him.