How To Handle Aggressive Dog Behavior In Small Breeds
Large breed dogs often get a bum rap for becoming aggressive, violent animals, but in quite a few cases, it is really the smaller breed dogs that really bite. Smaller dogs’ reputation as adoring, cuddly, cute companions may be warranted, however a poorly handled small dog is often more unsafe than a pit bull. Understanding the reasons behind aggressive dog behavior can help owners minimize the chances of their dog hurting another person and help eliminate the aggression entirely.
As funny as it might sound, lots of smaller dogs really do suffer from insecurity due to their size. If you see aggressive dog behavior only if individuals are standing or walking around, odds are, your dog is afraid of being stepped or sat on. Be very careful to not pick up or coddle the dog if it begins barking at other people walking past; it might identify that as a reward, and instead of calming down, will just become even more obnoxious. Instead, remove your dog from the area while people are moving around and ignore the barking. Allow the dog back into the room only after it has quieted and everyone is seated.
One more typical reason small dogs tend to bite is simply because they’ve been mistreated by a previous owner. That is especially true of dogs that are normally loud and “yappy.” Again, the most effective alternative is to take the dog out of the area and ignore all attempts to get your attention until your dog is calm. Offer a quiet, safe place where the dog can watch you and your guests until finally it determines that nobody is really a threat.
Charging is an aggressive dog behavior that must not be tolerated for any reason. Small dogs will charge at people they don’t know, and even close members of the family, to exhibit their dominance. Under no circumstances permit your dog to dominate a human! Address charging quickly and firmly; keep a spray bottle of water close to the door and any other place where charging is likely, and use it. Spray your dog directly in the face and tell it, “no,” using a loud, clear voice. Water will startle your dog, and it will soon find out that charging is inappropriate. If this method seems cruel, keep in mind that small dogs could be killed by a single kick by a frightened child.
Although mouthing might be playful in some dogs, and is usually harmless, dogs have to understand that employing their teeth on a person is completely wrong. Mouthing can at times cause unintentional biting, particularly when smaller kids are playing with your dog, so all mouthing, nipping, and biting have to be discouraged. If licking is okay in your household, you can encourage licking rather than biting by placing butter, bacon grease, or salad dressing on your hands. Permit the dog to lick it off, yet move away and say, “no,” the second your dog attempts to nip or mouth you. Eventually, your dog will learn that biting leads to losing a treat, and will stop trying to bite.
With dogs who are truly out of control, expert training is the next step. An effective trainer will work with you and your dog to determine the causes for the aggression, and can then work one step at a time to train your dog to behave. As a final resort, however, some dogs could need daily medication to control their behavior. If training does not help, speak to the vet about prescribing a mild sedative, and buy a good kennel to keep your guests safe.
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