Most
people see a dog's snarling, growling or
biting as a breach of trust. We see it as
an owner's breach of trust with the dog.
People
see a biting dog as bad. But the dog is
not bad, his canine methods are bad for
people. Understanding this difference is
crucial to helping your dog improve his
behavior. Why? Because almost all aggression
is owner taught usually by a lack of knowledge,
sometimes by design.
How
does aggression develop or appear?
Aggression
is rarely unprovoked. Unprovoked aggression
will have a neurological and or physiological
basis. This is rare in a city pet and requires
immediate medical intervention supported
by your behavioral instructor.
Aggression
is rarely unexpected. A dog is always aggressive
for a reason. Often, people not understanding
the dog, will not understand the real In
our daily interactions with our dog we can
actively or passively teach them to express
themselves inappropriately with humans.
Let's
explore why a dog will snarl, growl and
bite. A pack of dogs requires cooperation.
Anything that destroys it is unwanted in
the pack. Any violence is unacceptable.
A dog will use his teeth, mouth and body
in clear, ritualistic and socially acceptable
ways that every dog understands. But the
clear, inhibited use of the teeth and body
allows the dogs to gain what they want or
need. In the human pack, dogs will try these
same methods.
If
the leadership in the household is confused
a dog will give many warnings and indications
that they must accept the very responsibilities
the
Aggression
from the Boss Dog
Rarely
do we see a dog that bites because he likes
to bite humans. In some cases a dog is dominant
and is prepared to treat you like a lower
status dog. Such a dominant dog will use
appropriate dog methods to control you.
And he doesn't really care what you think
about it. We rarely see such dogs in our
daily practice. And most aggressive acts
in a city dog's life are not based on dominance
issues with humans.
Aggression
from the Bratty Dog
Some
dogs are inappropriate because they are
brats - dogs with no proper guidelines,
control or boundaries- who are running amok.
A human gave them the world for free and
is now wondering why their dog has taken
it. These dogs will snarl, growl and bite
because they have learned that such tactics
get them what they want.
Dogs
are born to manipulate and to find their
place in a pack. Often owners will love
their dog but not provide him with the guidelines,
consequences or boundaries they need to
act appropriately. Dogs need teaching and
love if they are to become decent, reliable,
self controlled members a human pack. A
dog with poor confidence will be terrified
that no one is in charge and the behavior
described above can often occur. A dog that
is confident and cheeky can take your poor
leadership as an open invitation to fill
the empty shoes left available.
Punishment
or aggressive techniques are not the proper
response to such behavior. These dogs are
the way they are because of owner permissiveness.
Why should the dog be punished because the
owner has failed in his responsibility?
Such a response to this type of aggression
is irresponsible and downright cruel.
These
dogs need clarity, rules and a chance to
earn their freedoms and rights. Such a dog
needs to learn through your change of behavior.
As you learn to be a good guide and teacher
- a good leader - your dog will start to
learn how to be a nicer, more self-controlled
companion. Your responsibility to your dog
will build his responsibility to you and
to his world. And you dog will be as happy
as you with the change. Our job will be
to help you learn how to change and keep
your dog from making anymore poor choices
while both of your learn a better way to
live together.
Aggression
from the Scared Dog
In
almost all cases when a dog bites, fear
is the major factor. This is usually a learned
response to a dog's interactions with people.
Sometimes a dog can become totally terrified.
This learned fear is often added to a dog
that already has a genetic predisposition
to be nervous or shy.
A
dog can be a runt and has learned early
that they get trounced on when they check
out the world. Some dogs are born to a mother
that is nervous or shy and passes this on
to her pups. These dogs in a litter will
be less likely to try things out and will
miss out on important development that comes
with experimenting and learning about their
world. Their first reaction will always
be to back away from the thing they are
worried about or to try to scare it away.
If
such a shy dog learns he can make people
back off if he growls, snarls or bites he
will use these methods. What else can he
do? He is scared, the people won't listen
and leave him alone. The only way he can
be safe is to make the people go away.
Dogs
that bite because they are scared do not
deserve to be punished. Nor does it make
sense to waste energy and problem solving
time scared dog doe snot need you to be
angry with him and confront him with aggressive
techniques and punishment. And he does not
need to be 'shown whose boss' as some so-called
trainers would have you believe. Such dogs
need leadership but not of the 'I'm the
big tough guy and you better listen”
type.
A
fearful dog needs someone who will make
him feel safe. They need to go into homes
that understand their problem. They need
someone who will provide them with the environment
that gives him a place, a job and the chance
to sort out their fears and learn.
Owners
actively teaching in a way that creates
aggression
There
is another category of aggressive behavior
that many owners encourage. This is a dog
that has been systematically taught by their
owners to use their teeth in their interactions
with the owner.
An
owner who roughhouses with their dog is
teaching their dog to use his teeth with
people. Sometimes they do it because it's
fun and sometimes because they want their
dog to be rough and tough. Such an owner
will wind a dog up but will not teach any
of the manners that would accompany such
play in a pack to assure these displays
and games are appropriate for the pack.
Don't be a poor dog teacher when it comes
to teeth games. Think about it. If you have
taught your dog that when he is excited
or over-stimulated he can use his teeth,
how far removed is this from a scared or
nervous or pushy dog using his teeth to
deal with a perceived threat or an attempt
to control. Don't be responsible for giving
your dog such an option. Dogs use their
teeth and body much differently than we
do. They are as articulate with their teeth
as we are with our words. How they use their
teeth on a person, the mere fact of using
their teeth, is a very significant way of
'talking for a dog.
We
will teach you how to play appropriately
with your dog and how to teach your dog
proper etiquette with the people in his
world. We teach you the two prime directives
for a dog. They must never touch a human
being without permission and never, ever
use their teeth on a human being. This is
an owner responsibility to teach. Don't
let your dog hurt someone because of your
poor teaching. Your poor teaching may lead
to your dog paying the ultimate price of
his life.
Aggression
taught by aggressive actions
Sadly
there is one more area of aggressive behavior.
It's a dog that has been physically, violently,
and/or abusively, punished for misdemeanors.
Such physical confrontation with a dog declares
that physical confrontation is okay. We
have already discussed how a fearful dog
will respond. A more confident dog will
eventually physically confront his or her
violent owner or someone he perceives as
weaker. Often the weaker someone is a child.
Such an owner has declared that physical
confrontation is the way of the world. Using
his teeth is the dog's version of physical
confrontation. Often such owners handle
their dog this way because silly and dangerous
trainers have taught them that this is how
you must deal with a dog.
Such
owners will often look to a change in style
when they are faced with the results of
their dog's snarling, growling or biting.
Sometimes they wake up and begin to learn
how their dogs think and how to teach safe
behavior. But far too many times such owners
believe this is how a dog must be handled.
They never take the step of seeing that
violence and aggression only teaches and
leads to more violence and aggression. If
their dog behaves aggressively they see
it as the proof that they must be aggressive
to control this 'wild beast'. They never
see their part in creating the monster.
It is almost impossible to get these people
to see a better way for them and their dogs.
We pity them for such an incredible lack
of vision and we resent their incredible
stupidity.
All
Aggression
Aggression
is often a combination of each area discussed.
We will analyze your dog's general behavior
and the resulting response to experiences.
And we will look at how you have taught
and guided the dog, directly and indirectly.
Both dog and human have created the situation.
But it is only the human that can initiate
the changes in their own behavior that will
start to change things for the dog. Your
dog is ready to change. Your dog wants to
feel safer. Your dog does not want to be
in charge. He wants to have a job and make
good decisions. He's waiting for you. He
needs you. Help him!
P.A.T.T. your dog today
