First of all, this is close to a red-zone case where there is a danger of attack. Before attempting to fix this yourself, consult a veterinarian and/or a dog trainer.

You might even want to give Cesar Millan a call.

At 11 weeks, the dog is still developing. For some reason, she feels the need to control the situation, and she does this by nipping/barking: befause you respond to it.

Things I've learned (from Cesar Millan mostly, and by having a dog myself):

You MUST meet the needs of this dog on the following levels, IN ORDER:

Animal: Food, water, shelter
Dog: Exercise, Discipline, THEN Affection
Breed: Most breeds were bred for a purpose. Use that.
Maggie: Once the above are met, you can interact with THIS dog's personality.

It is important for YOU to take the role of "pack leader". By leading the dog and not trying to humanize it, you ARE showing it affection. A dog doesn't need to be held or patted on the head: That's a human thing. It needs YOU to be CALM and ASSERTIVE at all times.

By picking up the dog or holding it when it's exhibiting behavior you don't want, you are, in fact, REINFORCING that behavior. "Positive reinforcement" is a purely human concept. The dog doesn't need to be rewarded for behaving the way you want it to. You should EXPECT that behavior. Anything less is unacceptable. The dog needs to be CORRECTED when this happens, not cuddled. (This is where you need professional advice. I WON'T go into that here).

One last thing: Dogs don't get "mad." Once again, it's a human projection. Dogs can be afraid, insecure, nervous, anxious, but not "mad".

The above may sound "cruel", but it's not. Dogs ARE NOT PEOPLE. They are dogs. It doesn't mean they're not special, or great companions, or hard workers. It means they think/act differently. We have to understand that and relate to them ON THAT LEVEL.
Source(s):
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/


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