Using Caution When Dealing With Fighting Problems
What is in the dog's mind when it attacks every dog it meets or just has one
enemy around the corner? Most of it is show of strength, very often a cowardly
show of strength aimed at other people's toy dogs who can't answer a bully back.
Face that same bully with a big dog likely to answer back and it will disappear
into the distance, for the dog knows who will be boss even in its own race, and if
it senses superiority of physique or brain, it will automatically be subservient.
That is why young dogs lie on their backs, all four feet in the air, when they meet
an older or stronger dog; they know who is boss and are showing the other dog
so by exposing the tummy to an enemy. That is why dog owners should know
that this trick is not a nice one really and should be checked at an early age, for it
is purely one of a weak animal giving in to one stronger in mind and usually an
enemy at that.
Few owners would like to think their dogs look upon them as enemies, but that is
the case. When a dog no longer looks upon you as a potential enemy it stops this lying on its back as protection, although many dogs in later life do it because
their owners have scratched their chests, which they like, and they hope for it
again. But primarily it belongs to the defense mechanism of the dog tribe. The
mind of a dog that fights always has at the back of it the wish to be the boss of
the tribe, and he fights other male dogs who are sexually mature to make sure
there is no risk of his being questioned as "lord of all he surveys." Muzzle that
dog and let him loose with the dog he has previously fought and nine times out of
ten he will realize he is at a disadvantage and show no signs of aggression.
That is why dogs with fighting problems should be muzzled and then freed with
trained dogs or non-fighters. They then learn to enjoy themselves in a
community and the wish to fight goes away. Often, having muzzled, introduced
and trained them for a short time together, formerly bad fighters are lying side by
side without muzzles after a few minutes.
Your own personality needs to be strong to deal with fighters, because fighters
are usually adult dogs. Few puppies fight, few females fight; therefore your mind
must be stronger than that of the potential fighter so that you are the boss, not
either of the dogs. If the dog is sex-mad you can do nothing but neuter it.
Muzzling is only a stopgap, not a cure. Owners who won't have their fighting
dogs neutered should always have them muzzled in public places.
Using Caution When Dealing With Fighting Problems
Dog Aggression Toward Its Owners
Dog Aggression Toward Its Owners
A dog that growls at and/or bites its owner does so for some reason, even if the
behavior appears "unreasonable" to the owner. A complete medical
examination, including tests for hormonal balance, neurophysiologic function and
allergies, may reveal the underlying cause.
This has been especially helpful in dogs that have swings in mood. When
growling or biting has erupted as a consequence of scolding or punishment for
such behavior as chewing, jumping, general unruliness, or overprotection of food,
these problems must be treated at the same time the program to correct
aggression is initiated.
The Owner's Actions Owners must understand that their dog growls or bites at
them as a result of defensive feelings. Even the dog that growls when ordered
off the couch is reacting defensively, as it feels its dominance status has been
threatened. If scolding and punishment provoke aggression, the dog is reacting
to a perceived threat to its physical safety. In either of these situations, the
owner's threatening behavior is producing negative results.
