Overprotective/Aggressive Dog

P

puzzles

New Member
Nov 11, 2006
7,629
0
0
32
Bedfordshire
Hullo :)

Firstly, I'd just like to say how interesting I find it (and awful!) that I have owned dogs all my life and yet when it coems down to it, know very little theory about them; however I have never owned a horse and yet am up to my eyeballs in the theory! :eek:

Anyway ... my family have owned our Yorkshire Terrier-cross (unsnipped) dog, Digby, since he was 12 weeks old. he is now about 6 years old and has for a long time been very aggressive towards other dogs out on walks; not showing any signs of fear, with a waggy tail etc, but seeming threatened of some sort as he will snap at them and bare his teeth very aggressively even to much bigger dogs, especially when our other dog (whom he is strongly attached to) intereacts with other dogs. This has led to actual fights. I feel so ashamed and irresponsible. As she is a very sociable sweetie pie, this is often. We usually tell him off with a verbal growl and encourage him onwards, and my mum sometimes gives him a meaningless tap with her hand. However it's not practical to keep him on a lead all the time (he is usually off) and my parents have tried a muzzle with very little success (Digby hated it and mananaged to pull it off).
He is a resuce dog with an uncertaina nd isnecure past (he was found alone with his mother as strays, was separated from his sole sibling and then from his mother all very quickly). He is VERY strongly attached and protective over my dad particularly, and my mum. I feel that these things may pay a major role in his behaviour. he is not easy on the lead (he pulls) but my parents just accdept these flaws and fondly blame the dog - when of course it is utterly our fault! :mad:
I find myself in a difficult situation because I just can't abide any physical reprimandation and need to find a fair, clear and effective training method(s) only my parents are not particularly philosophical about this sort of thing.
Is there anything I can do, considering my lack of training freedom, resources and money?
Don't worry about being kind, just be honest.

Any advice/opinions/experiences/general comments would be much appreciated.

:)

x
 
Last edited:
It sounds like a very insecure little dog who is attacking others because it has no idea how to interact and has no established pecking order with his own pack - ie your mum and dad. He needs to be treated like a dog and not a cute toy/child substitute as it is the dog that suffers at the end of the day as mentally it is a dog and being treated otherwise confuses the hell out of them!! Yes he is small but dogs don't see themselves like that - their brain and instincts are the same as a great dane, it does not mean either that he needs physical punishment but he does need rules just as any pack has!
He needs discipline and consistency at home too to make sure he realises he is the bottom of the pecking order - dogs like to follow a leader and get security from that - which is never going to happen if your parents are not willing to do anything about his behavior, it sounds like you are just going to have to put up with an anti social unhappy dog!
The fact he is a rescue and was split from his sibling makes no difference at all - his current behavior is caused be people not him as you have had him since he was 12 wks old he should have been socialised as a puppy and gone to puppy classes and been neutered. It is still not too late but he needs to go to some kind of trainer to establish walking on a lead - it does start at home too though - don't feed until after you have eaten, don't let him on furniture/beds or if he is allowed then not until you say so - if he is sleeping on your bed then get him off and make him sleep in a bed on the floor - crate train if necessary. Get him used to wearing a muzzle at home and only put it on when you are playing with him so he learns it is not a bad thing - he really needs to wear one for his own safety too when out. If he gets protective over your parents then tell him NO and banish him somewhere he can be ignored for a bit so he learns not to do it - do not let your parents cuddle him etc when he does growl as that is just re-enforcing his bad behavior.
Watch some of those Dog Whisperer shows on TV as he is very common sense and retrains all the owners as they are the source of the problems!!!:rolleyes:

I would also get him neutered asap, it probably won't make a huge amount of difference to his behavior now as he is 6 but it will mean he is less likely to develop prostate problems and testicular cancer when he is older - operating on a younger dog is less risky than having to do it as an older animal especially since he is a small dog.
 
I agree with everything you've said. But like I said, realistically there isn't much I personally can do about it and when I nag my parents about it, they don't think it's very important.
I do put into practise the 'littler' things, such as not letting him sleep on my bed, asking him to move out of my way when I am walking around or want to sit in the sunny patch in the garden etc, but definitely need to be consistent and clear about it.
It is very frustrating as I know it is completely our fault, and I get very angry about it when we've been in tricky public/social situations, reminding my parents that if another dog gets badly bitten then we would be held liable etc ... it's just a shame because, other than this, Digby is an extremely affectionate, trusting, playful and happy dog.

Thanks for your advice & honesty :)

x
 
My dogs is the same but he is only 9months old and its pretty annoying.

He isn't treated like a toy and is very obedient but I feel as though he needs socialising more but, for some odd reason :)rolleyes:), I can't find a willing dog and owner to help me out :p
 
Aggression is not acceptable in any sized dog, and it really should have been addressed when he was a puppy. At 6 years old he has got into the habit of going for other dogs (and i bet he gets picked up when he does - so he thinks he's being rewarded for it!) so it will be hard to change.

He really does sound like he just needs LOTS of socialisation (with dogs that are not part of his pack, that doesnt really count!) but finding people who are willing to put their dogs in the position of potentially being attacked is the issue. When you walk him and he does it i would give him a sharp check with the lead and a loud and stern "NO". Dogs react as much to your voice and body language as they would be being physically reprimanded. You could also try carrying a spray bottle filled with water and spray it at him when he looks like he is about to go at another dog.

It will be hard work to get him out of the habit, but your parents really need to try cos if he bit someone whilst they were breaking up a fight he has started you could have some serious problems...
 
Firstly I would DEFINATLY castrate him, some dogs will always think with their balls, if he dosnt need then then this is the kindest thing to do PLUS if he does snap at another entire male dog then there is less of a threat of retaliation from another whole male.
HTH
 
i think its a bit of a male terrier thing - my male bedlington is fab in every way except when he meets other dogs when is is super agressive - hes had lots of training including sessions with a pet behaviourist & the training aid we found most useful was a correction collar - the sort with a remote control - when the dog does soemthing you dont want to happen - in his case bark, growl & go for other dogs - the collar emits a warning beep, if he doesnt stop the behaviour then he gets a short blast of compressed air from the collar - it meant we could start socialising him & he very quickly became better in dog company - now i only need to make the beep noise with my mouth very occasionally if he becomes agressive & we can walk him in public
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom
Back