Dog Community

aggression towards humans

Posted : 5/10/2007 11:57:18 PM

i need some advice.....i carry my peke a lot. i used to carry her with her belly up while i scratch her belly. all of a sudden she started growling at me when i would do that. she also would growl at some of my family members if they pick her up. should i do something about that or should i just not carry her like that anymore? i dont want it to seem that shes got the best of me (i want her to still recognize me as the one in charge) but i dont at the same time i dont want to be annoying.

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/11/2007 6:51:38 AM

Little dogs are still dogs, and should be trained as any other dog. Check out this book:
[linkhttp://www.amazon.com/Little-Dogs-Training-Pint-Sized-Companion/dp/0793805376]http://www.amazon.com/Little-Dogs-Training-Pint-Sized-Companion/dp/0793805376[/link]
It will give you lots of hints for dealing with a tiny tyrant. [

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For now, don't pick her up and give her a reason to bite. The first thing to do if her aggressive behavior occurred suddenly is to take her to the vet and make sure there is no physical reason why she no longer likes to be handled.

Xerxes

Posted : 5/11/2007 10:38:28 AM

My family has a 17yr old peke. She has always vocalized when she's first being picked up. That being said, Pekes can have their backs injured very easily. And any sort of pain in that back will cause an angry reaction.

And even though they were originally sleeve dogs, pekes are a very proud dog. Perhaps your dog is letting you know that being held like that isn't very fun for her anymore.

I agree with Anne, for now don't attempt to pick her up. Start a NILIF program. This will establish leadership without confrontation.

Good luck and I wanna see some pics![

]

J M

Posted : 5/11/2007 11:10:49 AM

Medical reasons aside...maybe she is telling you that she prefers walking to being picked up and/or carried. My pom doesn't like to be carried. Not only is that a long way off of the ground but he has more than sufficient energy to propel himself forward and walk, and prefers to use that energy.

Personally, I don't see it as being aggressive. To a dog, a growl is just another means of communication. She very well could be just trying to tell you something.

But, I do agree with Anne...small dogs are still dogs and need to be trained as such.

My pom loves clicker training...it is an energy drainer for sure.

Chuffy

Posted : 5/11/2007 11:57:03 AM

Ditto ditto and ditto. I would just stop picking the dog up, get a vet check and implement NILIF.

At the same time gently and slowly acclimitise your dog to gentle handling and brief periods of being picked up - say, on to a low table or similar. I can understand completely you don't want to annoy the dog, but small dogs do still have to accept this kind of lifting and occasional restraint as this is often how they are examined or groomed..... A clicker might help you here - have a look in the clicker section [

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rygar126

Posted : 5/11/2007 11:59:19 AM

thanks spirit for the book recommendation. i just bought it. so i guess for now....i'll let her be. i'm being more strict on the "i'm the alpha" training, i.e. walking out the door first, eating first, not letting her sleep or jump on the bed...etc.). it looks like she more cranky during the evening when she's hungry. i also took her to the vet, and nothing is wrong. im just waiting on results from bloodwork and a urine culture. i havent really considered clicker training but i'll research more on that. btw, what NILIF training?

janet_rose

Posted : 5/11/2007 1:12:23 PM

Links on NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free program):
[link>http://www.ozarkdogs.com/nilif.htm]http://www.ozarkdogs.com/nilif.htm[/link][/size]
[link>http://www.ozarkdogs.com/boot_camp.htm]http://www.ozarkdogs.com/boot_camp.htm[/link][/size]
[link>http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm]http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm[/link] [/size]
[link>http://www.petresources.net/dogs/train/nilif.html]http://www.petresources.net/dogs/train/nilif.html[/link][/size]
[link>http://www.greyhoundlist.org/nothing_is_free.htm]http://www.greyhoundlist.org/nothing_is_free.htm[/link][/size]
[link>http://www.nomorehomelesspets.org/behavior/dog/nilif.htm]http://www.nomorehomelesspets.org/behavior/dog/nilif.htm[/link][/size]
[link>http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nothingfree.htm]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nothingfree.htm[/link][/size]
[link>http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/articles/dogs/002-01.htm]http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/articles/dogs/002-01.htm[/link][/size]

Chuffy

Posted : 5/12/2007 3:56:29 AM

NILIF basically just means your dog gets nothing he wants unless he does something for you first. Not just dinner or treats or petting, but having a door opened, having a lead put on or taken off, being allowed in the cra, being allowed out of the car etc etc etc.

I've found that this programme is adequate to establish leadership and I don't bother about eating first or going through doors 1st or what have you. The "leader" controls the resources - NILIF is a way of demonstrating to your dog you do this as well as practising basic obedience with him on a dily basis in "real life" situations.

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/12/2007 5:50:30 AM

Sometimes, even if nothing else seems to be physically wrong, even slight vision or hearing changes can affect balance or the fear factor in some dogs. It's also possible that she never liked being held, and is comfortable enough in her surroundings to try to tell you that. If she is approaching the age of maturity for her breed, she could be asserting herself fully as an adult and telling you not to take liberties with her any more. [

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For the dog's point of view, climb a ten foot ladder and look down. [

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rygar126

Posted : 5/12/2007 6:44:29 AM

good analogy. im slowly introducing the NILIF training. thanks everybody for your advice. i'll be sure to update you guys on her progress!

Cita

Posted : 5/12/2007 12:52:54 PM

I've known very few dogs that enjoyed being carried on their backs. It's a very vulnerable position (exposing the soft fleshy tummy) and makes a lot of dogs feel uncomfortable and threatened. It can also be hard on their backs for some dogs, as most dogs aren't designed to lie down like that for extended periods.

Sounds like you're taking good steps. If your dog only minds when you carry her on her back, I'd just suggest not doing that anymore. You can try gradually desensitizing her to it (maybe teach her a "roll over" command) in case you need to do something like groom her stomach, but in general I think she's just letting you know she's scared and/or uncomfortable.

rygar126

Posted : 5/18/2007 12:04:09 PM

update....ive been enforcing the "dominance" techniques and the NILIF training from time to time and it looks like shes improved. she'll growl at me when she we play fetch sometimes (very rarely tho) but that results in "end of the game" and banishment (putting her outside). but yeah..i would say theres some improvement.

J M

Posted : 5/18/2007 12:24:08 PM

It's not so much about dominance or alpha. It is more about controlling resources and having the dog work for those resources.

When you go to work, don't you feel good when you receive that paycheck? It's like a reward for a job well done.

Dogs like to feel useful and sucessful also.

Andrew9239

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