It can be very scary when a dog acts differently toward one person or a group of people over others, especially when that dog acts aggressively.  Have you encountered something like this?

A three year old spayed German Shepherd acts aggressively toward a particular man. She acts perfectly fine with everyone else but she does not like or trust him.  His erratic actions hinder their relationship, as sometimes he is calm with her and others “he yells and swats.”  If he is laying on the bed, she will lay by him and ask for attention, but as soon as he gets up, she tenses.  She is a “one person dog,” though she tolerates petting from others.  She has never snapped at or bitten anyone, other than this man.  Her body language when she shows aggression include a wagging tail, low rear and upright ears.  The biggest problem is that the man described is also the owner’s husband.

First, let’s address the body language she displays.  Contrary to popular belief, a wagging tail is not always a friendly sign.  Her lowered rear end, probably a crouching position, is an indication of her fear.  The erect ears shows that she is “on alert.”  When you couple that with the barking, charging, and crouching, you have a dog that is trying to figure out a human, the husband.  What happens?  Is it a snarling, vicious bark?  I doubt that he needs to defend himself from an attacking dog, since they are both still in the house.  To me, this sounds like an attention bark, since it probably gets her attention.  Even though it may be corrective or negative, she gets attention.

The real problem here is the human factor.  If you want this man to be safe, then HE better be ready to make some changes.  The husband is not PART of the problem, he IS the problem.  When she is lying next to him and they both are calm, the dog feels safe.  However, when he gets up, the dog responds by tensing up, as if she expects him to strike her.  She certainly shows signs of fear around him.  What I worry about here is how fast that fear can turn into aggression.  Unfortunately, in a situation like this, when she does bite, she will be likely be put to sleep, when there are things HE can do to rectify the situation.

Dogs do not like to be yelled at anymore than humans do.  They certainly do not like to be “swatted” either.  The unpredictability of her relationship with the husband ruins it.  Some dogs may take this for their whole life, while some dogs may snap one day inflicting a bite that may cost them their life.

Remember, adult dogs have 42 teeth in our mouths.  These teeth serve a purpose, biting down hard, holding the meat and pulling it away from the bone.  Why would a human think they can take that on?  The average German Shepherd bite unleashes a force of 238 pounds of pressure.  They make great police dogs, because not many people can withstand or overcome that bite to get away.  Only an idiot would try to intimidate that!

For this situation to continue incident-free, the husband needs to learn some canine communication skills.  First, it is never acceptable to strike a dog.  If you do, you deserve to be bitten!  As for the yelling, most dogs have a very keen sense of hearing.  Sometimes, my Mom will whisper commands to me.  I think she is just testing my hearing.  This dog is confused.  She wants to understand what she does that causes the yelling and swatting.  Since most of of do not use reason or logic, it is the person that must make the change.

He needs to know that the dog does not understand his actions and barks and charges out of frustration, as if she is asking him, “Why do you yell and swat at me?  It frightens me and I really just want to be loved.”  He MUST change his ways if you want him to be safe around her.  Once she knows to expect a calm demeanor from him, you can work on building a stronger relationship between the two of them.

A few days ago, a friend on Twitter suggested that I weigh in on some issues of an all around “bad dog.”  The problems described to me include growling and bearing his teeth at the family’s 10 month old son and his 6 y old cousin.  He also has some potty training issues, as well as some chewing and scratching of household objects like furniture and door jambs.

I would like to address the issue of most concern to me, and that is the relationship between the dog and the children.  I like to remind humans that dogs and children are not always a good match, especially young children.  Young children have a knack for viewing everything as a playmate or a toy.  Some children simply play too rough, even hurting the dog.  Six years old is about the right age to begin teaching a child how to play with a dog properly.  If you need some direction about teaching your children about dog safety, check out this video.

My suggestion is to never, ever leave any child alone with a dog.  Just as young children do not know how to play with a dog, dogs do not know that they cannot nip and “chew” on children the same way they can with adults.  We play rough naturally, unless we are taught the right way to play.  Since children can also play rough, neither are too good at reading each others body language to know if their pending action will hurt the other.  Typically, children use quick, jerky motions that indicate to a dog that he needs to protect himself, which is a disaster waiting to happen.

Like dogs, children like to play chase, and when they catch their prey, they get very excited.  Often, this can result in the child falling on the dog or holding him against his will.  This is a situation that the dog does not understand this, and he may react negatively to it.  If the roles reverse, it is not just a game of chase for the dog.  Because of the smaller size, he can think that he is  hunting prey.  Dogs generally catch slower “prey” and if the “prey drive switch” is flipped on, he does not care if it is a rabbit or a small child!  As we all know, children are not prey, and due to their newfound mode of transportation, toddlers are especially vulnerable.  They are still learning to walk, and they have many accidents.  We are not aware of accidents, and we do not realize that a child does not mean to do us harm.  However, we will react and not always in a good way.

Your dog needs to learn proper socialization skills with humans, especially the smaller ones.  I suggest that you place a leash on your dog to control his actions.  Remember, YOU CANNOT TRAIN WHAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL. With the leash attached, you will be able to confine him to a timeout area if he growls and shoes teeth toward any human, regardless of size or age.  Dogs are among the most social creatures on the face of the earth, and we do not like to be banished away from everything.  You should use a stern “NO” as you pick up the leash, but nothing more.  You do not want to give him any more attention for a negative action.  After a few instances, he will associate growling and showing teeth with the banishment, learning that behavior is not a “good” one.  This is not something that will be learned immediately, so you will have to repeat this until he learns.  When you are training your pup, you cannot do something once and decide it did not work.  The bulk of training is repetition.

If your dog still poops on the floor, that means he is not fully potty trained.  That is no fault of the dog, because an untrained dog is caused by a bad owner.  My suggestion in correcting this problem is to consult my potty training guide, and if you run into trouble, there are several articles to support you here.

To tackle the chewing problem, you can do two things to correct the behavior.  First, as a preventative action, you should spray Bitter Apple or something equally poor tasting on the areas where he chews.  If you opt not to spray, you cannot correct him for it, unless you catch them in the act.  Now, keep your eye on him and if you catch him chewing, give him a firm “NO” and put him in the confined area we discussed above.

Keep me posted on your progress!

Photo by Claire DeLand

As with many people, dogs can grow grumpy in his their age.  Today, we are examining the behavior of an abused rescue with a history of biting, Mojo.  Recently, things have taken a turn in a negative direction, as he tried to bite his mom and another person he knows really well.  His mom does not know what she should do.  The catalysts for his mom’s e-mail to me involve their morning routine.  Previously, she could say “go get in your house” and he would run to his crate.  Now, he hides under the bed, and upon retrieving him, he snaps at his family, even breaking the skin on one successful snap.

Generally, a nine year old dog would be considered a senior dog, but there is not a set standard for determining this.  Whether a dog qualifies for the senior discount at Shoney’s varies greatly among different breeds, as well his size.  There is a saying about getting old and becoming set in your ways.  There is plenty of truth to that statement.  Personally, I do not like change in my world.  In fact, most dogs do not like change, especially us older ones.  Also, older dogs do tend to voice their dissatisfaction more frequently than younger ones.  Without spending any time with him, I think that he may be trying to communicate some type of pain.

That means that a trip to the vet is in order.  Upon arriving, it is imperative that you explain every detail of the recent issue to your veterinarian.  Ensure that your pooch is checked closely for arthritis, ear infection, decreased hormone productivity, loss of hearing, as well as eyesight and dental problems.  Mojo’s mom mentioned a noticeable increase in water intake in her request for help.  Excessive water intake can be a sign of several conditions, including kidney disease, diabetes and Cushing’s Disease.

Diabetes is the result or a dog’s pancreas shutting down or significantly slowing production of insulin, a hormone that helps the body process sugar in the blood.  Sometimes, diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces insulin that the body is unable to use.  In dogs, females are more likely to have diabetes, and overweight dogs have a higher incidence.  Diabetes can affect any breed, it is is prevalent in Miniature Poodles, Schnauzers, Pugs and Samoyeds.  Symptoms of diabetes include, increased thirst and urination, cloudiness of the eye and weight loss, despite an increase in appetite.

Cushing’s Disease occurs when adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, and it is common among older dogs.  Symptoms of Cushing’s include weight gain, weakening of the legs, an increase in water consumption, thinner and darker skin, an increase in appetite, hair loss, urinating more frequently and the introduction of a “pot belly.”

Kidney Disease can have any number of causes.  Some symptoms of it are an increase in thirst, a need to urinate more frequently, a loss in appetite, ammonia breath and a lethargic demeanor.

Photo courtesy of Claire DeLand

You may have noticed that we are focusing on the lone physiological symptom, increased water intake.  I think it may be Mojo’s physical condition affecting his behavior.  The increased water consumption goes hand in hand with an increased need to relieve himself.  When he is confined to his crate, he is unwilling to soil it.  His recent behavior indicates that he is upset because he cannot relieve himself in his crate.  Having to “hold it” for an extended period of time is not good for anybody, especially older dogs.

I suggest confining him to a tiled area, like the kitchen or bathroom to see if his mood changes.  I suggest a tiled area for its ease of cleanup of any urine messes.  In my opinion, a few cleanups is worth it to making your dog may be more comfortable, if you cannot increase his trips to his potty spot.  Once you have a diagnosis from the vet, he may be able to prescribe some medication for your dog and his condition.  With medication, he may be willing to return to his crate when you leave for work.

I am interested to know what the vet says about him.

Across the country, many towns, cities, and counties are taking part in a movement to promote better animal welfare.  They are enacting ordinances making it illegal to tether a dog outside unattended.  While it has already become law in some places, it is spreading to be the law in all places.

Chaining a dog or any animal to a fixed object in a permanent manner is wrong and cruel.  Dogs are among the most social creatures on the face of the earth.  They crave contact with other beings, especially their families.  You have probably noticed that I rarely refer to humans as dog or pet owners, but rather their family, because that is what we are, family.  We are not meant to be tied up outside away from human contact.  Can you imagine what a dog in that situation must think?  His scenery never changes, and the only attention he gets is when someone comes out to throw a bowl of food at him.  If he is one of the “lucky” members of the chain gang, perhaps someone gives him clean water a few times during the month, allowing rainwater to suffice in between.

Would you want to live like that?  I bet your answer is no, and some may trivialize the situation by saying, “Oh, it is just dog. What is the big deal?”  Just like you, a dog is a being that feels pain, cold, heat, hunger, frustration, anxiety and loneliness.  Imagine what would happen to someone who treated a child the way many “outside” dogs are.  The parents would be jailed for neglect.  They would be taken into homes and businesses, because it is wrong to leave a human in such a state.  The only expectation that these do-gooders have is a little gratitude or a little praise.  Chances are, that a human will take your good deeds and never look back.  No one would leave a human to suffer any of the stresses that these animals endure. The dog will be there through it all.  He cures his own anxiety, frustration and loneliness by providing companionship to his human.  The pain, the cold, the heat and the hunger?  He will bear it all to provide for his human.

Some of the arguments used by those who oppose the anti-tethering ordinances include

1. The owners cannot keep them in the house or apartment they are renting.
2. The dog is not housebroken.
3. The dog was barking too much.
4. The owners think “It’s just a dog.”

My responses, in order, to these arguments are quite simple.

1. Move.  When the owners moved to the house or apartment, they knew that a dog was not allowed.  If they moved there while they were already in possession of the dog, shame on them.  If they acquired the dog while they were living there, why did they choose to get a dog?
2. Train him.  I know several potty training resources off hand.  In fact, one merely has to click here to find one of the best ones I know of.
3. Putting a dog outside does not solve the barking problem.  It merely exacerbates it.  Outside, there are more stimuli and reasons for a dog to bark.
4. If “it’s just a dog,” why do they choose to sleep indoors sheltered from the rain, snow, cold, and heat?

Regardless of geography, we must stand together to stop the chaining and tethering of animals.  We are not lawn ornaments, and we certainly cannot protect anything tied to a chain all the time.  Take a few minutes to visit the best resource of anti-chaining information on the Internet.  Then, take a look around your own neighborhood to see for yourself how many people tether their dogs outside and thus, much support is needed to end a chaining ban for dogs.

Here in Georgia, I have a lot of work to do.  We have nearly 160 counties, but only the counties of Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, Clarke, Bibb, Chatham, Cherokee, Douglas, Gwinnett, Liberty, and Rockdale currently have bans against dog chaining.  If you are a fellow Georgia resident and your county is not listed, you know what you need to do.  If you are reading this in another state, contact your county or parish government to inquire whether or not there is a ban.  If the answer is no, get busy!

A small note about this cause:  the signature color is red, so every time you hold or participate in an event in support of a chaining ban, wear your red proudly.  You can even use the color to signify your unity at local government meetings to show your support like we did when we supported the tethering ban in Fulton County, Georgia earlier this year.  Universally, red signifies stop, and enough red will cause politicians to stop and hear you message!

The late Paul Harvey says, “Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animal suffering? Because government is not. Why not? Animals don’t vote.”  Lucky for us, animal lovers do, and their numbers grow everyday!

Many dogs have a natural instinct to chase something.  Those triggers are usually activated by some fast, unexpected movement, like a bicycle, a cat, or even a car.   All dogs, regardless of how sweet they can be, are capable of predatory aggression.  Training when he or she is young will help you to control this natural instinct.  Unfortunately, if they are successful at chasing down and killing their prey early in their lives, the habit can be extremely hard to break.  As evidenced by their wild canine cousins, wolves, dogs are predators.  Many generations of domestication, selective breeding, and training have dramatically reduced their predatory instincts. Continue Reading

Food aggression is something that I do not put up with in my pack.  When my brother, Tax, joined our family, he was food aggressive.  He would growl and snap when anyone approached either his food or water dish.  I gave him a few days to get used to our family and our place, but I could not have anyone in my pack aggressive about food, so it was time for me to rule with an iron paw! Continue Reading

Lately, we have been getting TONS of questions about aggression issues.  These questions have led to some great articles on other topics, but it looks like aggression in general is a very broad and vague topic.  If you have questions about aggression, we have an excellent series about the different types, how they manifest, and how to treat or manage them.  You can find the articles that address aggression (both as part of the series and recent questions about it) here.

As a guide to help you decide whether your dog has some aggression issues, check out the questions below and keep track of how many apply to your canine family: Continue Reading

Last September, a reader adopted what they think is a Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix puppy from a rescue at approximately eight weeks of age.  Throughout most of her puppyhood, she had a very timid personality, and she was always extra cautious of people and inanimate objects, but she was always very playful with and intrigued by other dogs.  Now, the family is starting to notice some behavior at 1 ½ years old that is disturbing to them. Continue Reading

It seems like you have a wonderful dog, you have given him a great home, but when you go out to the off leash dog park, things change, right?  Being off leash is truly a fantastic feeling.  Running around with the wind blowing through your hair as your ears flap in the wind is almost as much fun as riding in the car with our head hanging out of the window.  However, such a fantastic joy as it is, being off leash is ALWAYS a privilege.  This is something that needs to be earned. Continue Reading

There are times when you have conversations with “dog” people that know little or nothing about dogs or their behavior.  They are often looked to for suggestions and advice because they hold a position of influence.  Oftentimes, they will dispense advice throwing words around that they may have overheard in a conversation.  Some of those words or phrases can be dangerous in the hands of untrained, uneducated individuals.  Phrases like fear aggression are among those that are dangerous.  They think that because they were thinking fast enough to throw out that phrase, it will impress people, increasing their influence among those they encounter.  Some of these people do not have a clue as to what fear aggression actually is, let alone what can be done to modify or manage it. Continue Reading