Consultation Files: “My Anxious, Submissive Dog Growled at Me”—Now What?
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In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—walks through a real consult: a nervy, “submissive” young Golden who showed teeth and growled when corrected around a prized item. Kati explains why this isn’t a “sudden” change so much as maturity plus prior patterns, how to read submissive postures without getting fooled, and the exact plan to add structure, stop resource guarding safely, and teach a conflict-free out.
Episode Highlights
- “Submissive” ≠ safe: Rolling over/peeing can signal defense; these dogs may be more likely to bite as they mature.
- Maturity shift (12–18 months): DNA-coded behaviors surface; what looked like wiggles can evolve into growls/snaps.
- More exposure, less interaction: Around people, allow proximity without petting—don’t reward the defensive state.
- Structure lowers anxiety: Crate/place, clear direction, and real accountability replace uncertainty with certainty.
- Resource guarding protocol: Never confront/reach into the mouth; pair “no” with a strong consequence and teach out to remove items without conflict.
- Management fails, behavior evolves: Don’t leave guarding intact “because you’re careful”—fix it.
- House rules matter: Humans own the resources (toys/bowls/chews); access is granted and removed at your discretion.
Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
- 00:30 – Who we are: Diamond K9; off-leash obedience & behavior modification.
- 01:31 – Real-life interruption (dogs + playpen chew); back to anxious/nervy cases.
- 02:23 – Why accurate info is rare online; purpose of the podcast.
- 03:20 – Today’s consult: classic nervy/anxious Golden retriever profile.
- 04:30 – Personal story: rushing a soft Golden in a crate → flash of teeth.
- 05:17 – Fast, tense handler energy can trigger defensive dogs.
- 07:09 – Maturity window (12–18 months): innate behaviors begin to surface.
- 08:52 – “Behavior evolves”; using teeth is a normal dog behavior (not acceptable—but normal).
- 09:47 – Case details: cat toy, mild past guarding; owner returns to reprimand → growl/teeth.
- 10:48 – Not “out of nowhere”: an advancement of existing tendencies.
- 11:57 – Why submissive postures often mark higher bite risk.
- 13:19 – Owners checking thyroid is fine, but maturation explains most of it here.
- 14:54 – What to do: more exposure, less interaction; skip belly rubs in defensive posture.
- 16:42 – Teach the dog to come up to you instead; avoid fueling the defensive state.
- 18:36 – Clustered traits: pacing, panting, shaking, jumping—often misread as “happy.”
- 20:19 – Family safety with kids; expect guarding risk over high-value items.
- 21:14 – Kati’s own dog example: wants affection, then growls with eye contact—common triggers.
- 22:59 – Build obedience + structure; direction and accountability reduce anxiety.
- 24:42 – Respect for people/children; resource control (no toy piles/free-feeding).
- 25:54 – Don’t confront: hard eye contact, reaching into mouths is high conflict.
- 27:08 – Guarding fix: mark “No,” deliver a very high consequence (e-collar) so the message sticks.
- 29:13 – Management is brittle; guarding spreads if left alive.
- 30:45 – Teach out: maintain ownership and remove items without conflict; commands complement, not replace, the correction piece.
- 32:09 – Often, solid training alone shifts headspace and guarding fades.
- 33:34 – “Submissive” dogs can still bite—especially through maturity.
- 34:11 – Watch for early signs; prefer exposure to petting; avoid letting strangers touch.
- 35:24 – Closing & Q&A invite (email Kati); keep dogs on the confident, respectful path.